COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO
THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 106
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004
January 27, 2025
Nyasha Smith, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Smith,
Today, I, along with Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember s Charles Allen, Matthew
Frumin, Zachary Parker, and Anita Bonds, am introducing the “Heads Up! Distraction -Free
Learning Amendment Act of 2025.” This bill would direct local education agencies (LEAs) to
adopt and implement a policy that prohibits students from using personal wireless communication
devices during the school day. This includes cell phones, gaming devices, and smart watches.
The purpose of the Heads Up! Distraction- Free Learning Amendment Act is to reduce distractions
for students in the classroom and enhance their learning experience. Last year, only 34 percent of
District students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts and literacy and 22.8
percent met or exceeded expectations in math.
i
The non-academic use of internet-connected
devices like cellphones during the school day interrupts concentration, which is necessary for
focused learning and information retention. This type of non- academic use has been linked to
decreases in student learning. In addition, the use of social media on cell phones and other wireless
devices has been linked to detrimental impacts on mental health and the escalation of conflicts in
our schools, which also negatively affect s academic performance.
ii
We must remain focused on
increasing educational outcomes for students. Removing distracting devices at school will
help us achieve these goals .
At last month’s public meeting of the DC State Board of Education, parents, teachers, and
researchers shared testimony in support of phone-free schools in the District. Prohibiting personal
wireless devices in school will help safeguard students’ mental health and allow students to engage
in critical face- to-face play time and socialization with their peers. This interaction is critical to
healthy social development and reducing bullying and conflicts among students.
A growing number of states’ legislatures have moved or are moving to prohibit or restrict personal
cell phone use for students at school, including Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio,
South Carolina and California.
iii
In neighboring Virginia, school districts across the
Commonwealth are required to implement policies to limit cellphone use during the school day.
The Lincoln school district in Nebraska has reported fewer behavioral issues and better
engagement since implementing a ban on phone use during class time in 2022.
iv
The bill authorizes an educator to allow a student to use a wireless communication device,
including tablet computers and laptops, for educational purposes during instructional time. It also
provides a process for a student to obtain permission from an educator or administrator to use a
wireless communication device in the event of an emergency or to manage the student’s health
care. No student will be prohibited from using a wireless communication device during
instructional time if the use of the device is included in the student’s Individualized Education
Program (IEP) or to accommodate a disability .
Under the bill, students will be provided with storage for the wireless communication devices
during the school day. It also requires notification about the policy and ensures that consequences
for a violation do not involve removing a student from the classroom.
Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact my C ommittee and Legislative
Director, Linn Groft, at lgroft@dccouncil.gov. Thank you.
Best,
Brooke Pinto
i
District of Columbia Public Schools, DC Releases 2024 Statewide Assessment Results, ( August 22, 2024) ,
available here.
ii
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, Planning Together: A Playbook for Student
Personal Device Policies, Washington, D.C. (2024), available here.
iii
Andrew Demillo, Banning cellphones in schools gains popularity in red and blue states, AP News (January 16,
2025), available here. .
iv
Caitlynn Peetz, Hall Passes Go Digital to Complement Cellphone Restrictions , Ed Week, ( January 3, 2025),
available here.
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____________________________ _____________________________ 3
Chairmen Mendelson
Councilmember Brooke Pinto 4
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_____________________________ _____________________________ 7
Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Charles Allen 8
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_____________________________ _____________________________ 13
Councilmember Zachary Parker Councilmember Matthew Frumin 14
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A BILL 17
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 21
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To direct local education agencies to adopt and implement a personal wireless communication 26
device policy that prohibits a student from using a personal wireless communication 27
device during the Full School Day. 28
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 30
act may be cited as the “Heads Up! Distraction-Free Learning Amendment Act of 2025”. 31
Sec. 2. Definitions. 32
For the purposes of this act, the term: 33
(a ) “Wireless communication device” means any portable personal wireless device that 34
has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two (2) or 35
more parties, including a: 36
(1) Cellular phone; 37
(2) Tablet computer; 38
(3) Laptop computer; 39
(4) Gaming device; and 40
(5) Smart watch. 41
Sec. 3. Wireless Communication Device Policy. 42
(a) By no later than 15 days before the start of the 2025- 26 School Year, each LEA shall 43
adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that: 44
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) through (5) of this subsection, prohibits a 45
student from possessing a personal wireless communication device during the F ull School D ay, 46
as defined in an Act To provide for compulsory school attendance, for the taking of a school 47
census in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, approved February 4, 1925 (43 Stat. 48
806; D.C. Code § 38- 201(2B)); 49
(2) Authorizes an educator to allow a student to use a wireless communication 50
device for educational purposes during instructional time; 51
(3) Permits a student to obtain permission from an educator or administrator to 52
use a wireless communication device in the event of a health or safety incident, to manage the 53
student's health care, or other necessary circumstances; 54
(4) Provides a process for students to obtain permission from an educator or 55
administrator to access their wireless communication device in the event of a health or safety 56
incident or under other necessary circumstances ; 57
(5) Provides that no student shall be prohibited from using a wireless 58
communication device during instructional time if the use of the wireless communication device 59
is included in the student's: 60
(A) Individualized education program (IEP) or 61
(B) Plan developed under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 62
1973, 29 U.S.C. 794; 63
(6) Provides for appropriate storage of wireless communication devices during the 64
Full School D ay; 65
(7) Establishes a primary and secondary individual at each school who is 66
responsible for monitoring and enforcing the policy with students ; 67
(8) Establishes consequences if a student violates the policy, provided that an 68
LEA is prohibited from suspending, expelling, or removing a student from instructional time or 69
IEP-required services as a penalty for violation of the policy; and 70
(9) Establishes a process and timeline for the LEA to assess whether the policy is 71
working and how to refine it. 72
(b) Each LEA shall notify all enrolled students and their families about the policy and 73
publish on its website the wireless communication device policy established under subsection (a) 74
no later than 15 days before the start of each s chool year for which the policy is in effect. 75
(c) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this act, the Office of the State 76
Superintendent for Education shall develop and share with LEAs a model policy that meets the 77
requirements prescribed in subsection (a) of this section. 78
(d) LEAs are encouraged to engage students and parents in the development of their 79
wireless communication device policy. 80
(e) Upon the establishment of a new policy, each LEA shall inform educators about the 81
policy. 82
(f) OSSE shall be responsible for monitoring LEA compliance with the requirements of 83
this act. 84
(g) OSSE shall share with educators research concerning the effect of the use of wireless 85
communication devices by students in school settings. 86
(h) LEAs are encouraged to incorporate lessons on digital citizenship into their curricula 87
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 88
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 89
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 90
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1- 301.47a). 91
Sec. 4. Effective date. 92
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 93
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30- day period of congressional review as 94
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 95
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1- 206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 96
Columbia Register. 97