Action Steps

Smiling kids running side by side in PE class.

Several schools in Vermont have gone truly phone-free for the entire school day and the results are inspiring. We need to get more voices asking for legislators to support the Phone and Social Media-Free Schools bill (H.54 / S.21) so that ALL students and teachers in VT can have this opportunity.

We need YOUR voice.

Action steps:

1) Please sign this letter of support to Vermont legislators and Gov. Scott. Sign here. (We are at nearly 1300 signatures as of April 21st!)

2) Reach out directly to your legislators about this bill. Find their contact information here. You can find ideas using the Briefing Document (not very long, don't worry). Looking at our FAQ page here can help too.

Often just 1-2 paragraphs is fine! Our bill is now part of H.480, the miscelanneous education bill, so that is what you are asking them to support.

3) Join us!

Tuesday May 26th, 10am: Watch the final Senate vote on H.480 via livestream or join in person. A handful of us already plan to be there in person (note: the Senate Chamber is very strict about their no cell phone rule. Also, no water bottles or other food or beverages). Third readings are often very brief, possibly even without discussion.

--OR--

Wednesday afternoon May 27th? Thursday May 28th?: House discussion and vote. It would be great to have lots of us in the public seating in the House chamber. It’s an historic moment. Hard to predict the timing though. It might not even happen Wednesday. Watch for where you see H.480 in the daily agenda for the VT House here. Livestream of the House is here.

4) Make a Phone- and Social Media-Free policy happen in your local school this fall!

Schools won’t be required to enact this policy until 2026-2027, but we hope some principals use the momentum to start this fall. No need to wait! You can support your administrators to make it happen. If your principal needs some encouragement, reach out to us. We can help.

Five principals across Vermont have used the timelines, data, and model policies in the Phone-Free School Administrator Tool Kit to help them enact a bell-to-bell policy. This is a school procedure that is in the principal’s domain and does not need school board approval, though having allies on the board and faculty helps.

5) Join an upcoming event.

Film Screening and Community Discussion of Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media

Wed. June 4, 5:30-7:30pm ~ Wilder Library, Hartford

Discussion to follow with local community leaders and educators

View the film at home with this link: https://sfcus.jolt.film/watch/cantlookaway

The ReConnect Stowe group: Phone-free Spring Social for families

Tues. June 10, 5-7pm, Stowe Elementary Playground

Bring your own plates and forks and a dish to share. Email MTriffin@gmail.com with questions.

Can’t make it? Visit ReConnect VT to join a local email list for Jericho/Underhill or Stowe.

6) Contact us if you would be willing to help put together an event at your local library. We can offer many different supports to help you find others in your community to participate and maybe even a speaker or some panelists if you like that format!