This legislation is supported by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt who is an expert on the positive impact of phone-free classrooms. Haidt is the respected author of the New York Times bestseller The Anxious Generation.
WASHINGTON — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today introduced the UNPLUGGED Act as a first step in restoring quality education by requiring phone-free classrooms across our country.
We all want to ensure that our children have a bright future and that starts with implementing policies that best support a quality education. Schools across our country continue to focus on rebuilding literacy rates and test scores. And yet, stagnant trends
show that academic performance in our schools continues to be troubling. We need a big change.
“My most important job is being a Dad to my son and daughter. That’s why I am so focused on polices that will instill the best values in our next generation. This starts by restoring a quality education across our country through phone-free classrooms. I know how hard it can be to unplug — but the results I’ve heard from local Virginia leaders and students speak for themselves,” said Vindman. “Across the Seventh District, school communities are seeing real benefits from keeping phones out of the classroom: more conversation between students, less social anxiety, longer attention spans, and even higher attendance.”
“No other policy change would confer as big and as rapid a benefit to American schools as freeing students from the constant distractions of the buzzing phones in their pockets,” said social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation. “To support kids’ mental health, educational success, and ability to pay attention – all schools in America should go bell-to-bell phone free. Schools that go phone free almost always report increased student engagement, decreased disciplinary problems, and, most touchingly, teachers say that they hear laughter in the hallways again.”
“The phone policy has helped me become a better student this year. I have the best grades since I started school my freshman year. I’ve accomplished so much this last year because I haven’t always been on my phone and it’s been amazing to realize how distracting my phone has really been,” said Dominic Smith, senior year student at Stafford High School.
“Stafford County Public Schools has seen significant improvements in student mental health, attendance, and discipline since implementing our Off and Away policy. We fully support the UNPLUGGED Act and its positive impact on students nationwide,” said Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D., Stafford County Schools Superintendent.
“As Superintendent of Fredericksburg City Public Schools, I have seen firsthand the transformative impact of our phone free learning environments (Off, Yondr, & Away). When we removed cell phones from the school day, we saw an immediate improvement in academic focus, student engagement, and peer interaction. The UNPLUGGED Act is a bold and necessary step to reclaim our classrooms as spaces of learning, growth, and connection. I wholeheartedly support the legislation and commend Congressman Vindman for prioritizing what is best for students and educators,” Dr. Marci Catlett, Fredericksburg City Public Schools Superintendent.
Background
Virginia recently implemented a bold shift requiring phone-free classrooms. The change has been celebrated. On March 29, 2025, Vindman held a roundtable in Fredericksburg with parents, educators, and local elected officials discussing the growing movement
and need to get cell phones out of the classroom.
The success stories he heard informed this piece of necessary legislation. Like Virginia, eight other states have implemented similar phone-free policies
and are seeing the benefits.
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation is the leading expert on the positive impacts of phone-free classrooms. He’s shared his knowledge with podcast hosts Joe Rogan and Ezra Klein.
Haidt predicts all classrooms across our country will be phone-free in the next two years.
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