A Bill to Ban Smartphones in K-5 Public Schools
Conditions Title I funding on a written policy banning student smartphones from first bell to last bell in elementary schools.
To receive Title I funding, an elementary school must adopt a written policy prohibiting personal smartphone use from first bell to last bell.
Documented medical, IEP, or safety exceptions are permitted.
$60 million to support secure lockable phone storage in low-income districts.
Department of Education reviews policy compliance during routine Title I audits.
Mechanical parts, sourced & timed
Use this as your pre-round checklist. Memorize the source citation. Time yourself to the delivery target.
- Bill / Number
- H.R. 76 — A Bill to Ban Smartphones in K-5 Public Schools
- Funding source
- $60M ED Title IV-A for storage hardware in low-income districts.
- Timeline
- Compliance by next Title I audit cycle.
- Realistic — many districts already have policies; this codifies them.
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Education (Title I review).
- Yes — Title I conditioning is well-established.
- Penalty for non-compliance
- Loss of Title I share for non-compliant schools.
- Source citation
- Beland & Murphy (LSE/CEP, 2016), 'Ill Communication' — cep.lse.ac.uk.
- Delivery time (read aloud)
- 1:00 (60s)
Parents need to reach their children during the day, especially for safety.
Schools have functioning office phones — parents reached kids successfully for 100 years pre-cellphone. The bill's Sec. 2 also carves out medical and IEP needs. LSE (2016) found bans raised test scores most for low-achieving students.