Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-Va.-02) introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at reducing cell phone distractions in classrooms and restoring students’ ability to focus during the school day.
The Unplugged Schools Act and the Mission Unplugged Act take targeted steps to support phone-free learning environments across the country, including in schools serving military families.
“As a father, I spend a lot of time thinking about the kind of world we’re building for our kids — and it all starts with what we’re teaching them in the classroom,” said Vindman. “I’m proud to be leading bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Jen Kiggans to help students unplug. The results I’ve heard from local leaders and students speak volumes. Across Virginia’s Seventh District, school communities are seeing real benefits from keeping phones out of the classroom: more meaningful interactions, less social anxiety, improved focus, and even higher attendance. It’s a simple step that can have a big impact.”
“I’m proud to join my fellow Virginian, Rep. Vindman, on this commonsense, bipartisan effort to help students stay focused, learn more, and connect better,” said Kiggans. “Whether in a public school at home or a DODEA classroom overseas, a phone-free school day means fewer distractions, stronger human connection, and a healthier environment for our kids to thrive.”
The Unplugged Schools Act would create a new federal grant program for K-12 schools that choose to implement “bell-to-bell” phone bans—prohibiting phone use from the start of the first period to the end of the last. The grants could be used for implementation support, such as secure storage, teacher training, and parent outreach.
The Mission Unplugged Act would require all Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools to adopt bell-to-bell phone-free policies. These schools, which serve the children of U.S. military personnel stationed across the globe, would become leaders in restoring in-class focus and reducing screen time during school hours.
A growing body of research suggests that excessive phone use in schools is linked to lower academic performance, increased anxiety, and weakened attention spans. These two bills aim to help schools reverse that trend by encouraging in-person engagement and healthier learning environments.
Both pieces of legislation have received early praise from child development experts, parents, and educators seeking more support for classroom management and student well-being.
Background
Virginia recently implemented a bold shift requiring phone-free classrooms. The change has been celebrated. In March 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.
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