DFS Model Legislation Package

The Distraction-Free Schools Model Legislation Package aims to protect students, empower educators, and ensure every classroom tool—digital or traditional—serves a single purpose: helping students learn safely and effectively.

See our Distraction-Free Schools Advocacy Shared Resources Page

Online and digital products marketed to schools often provide unsafe, ineffective, or inappropriate experiences and collect and share student data without appropriate consent.

A lack of regulation has led to:

Technology companies marketing commercial products as “educational” with no accountability.
Collection and monetization of student data for non-educational purposes.
Platforms with advertising, gamification, AI, chat features, and addictive design features in classrooms.
Parents being excluded from decisions about their child’s digital exposure.
Insufficient privacy and safety protections in school technology.
Lower math and reading scores on standardized tests such as PISA and NAEP.

PROPOSED SOLUTION:

Schools that protect our children’s minds, attention, and childhood by prioritizing:

Human connection over algorithmic tracking.
Deep learning over endless screen time.
Tactile learning over constant stimulation
Children over technology.

Core Principle:

Digital products should support learning, safety, and privacy. They should not replace human instruction, relationships, or parental authority, and they should not turn our children into commodities.

Objectives of the bills:

Tiered digital product introduction. Grades PreK to 5: All analog w/minimal exceptions; Grades 6 to 8: Computer lab or shared cart model; Grades 9 to 12: Computer lab or shared cart model or 1:1 used intentionally.
Require districts to create a generative AI framework. No Chatbots.
Provide safe, effective, and privacy-compliant tools.
Prohibit the use of social media for school communication with students.
Prohibit posting student images or information on social media without caregiver opt-in.
Establish a district Technology Advisory Committee.
Digital Product Registry overseen by the State Educational Authority.
Vendor attestation of safety, effectiveness, and privacy compliance of their product.
Training for school technology staff
Parent/caregiver and student right to opt out of using digital products