We are a group of parents, teachers, students and community members who care about ensuring Montgomery County Public Schools are a safe, distraction-free learning environment for all children. We launched our Schools Beyond Screens chapter on April 30, 2026 via a Google Group and in a few short months grew to over 1000 members.

District-Level Advocacy

We engage in district-level advocacy in part through the Montgomery County Council of PTAs’ Technology Committee, and in part through this chapter. Please join us by completing this Interest Form, and you will be added to our Google Group and receive action alerts and updates!

State-Level Advocacy

We also engage in state-level advocacy through the Maryland state team of Distraction Free Schools, a nationwide movement of parents working to pass legislation for phone-free schools, social-media-free schools, and intentional and safe technology use in schools.

Along with parent advocates in other Maryland school districts, we helped pass the Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone Free Schools Act in 2026, which requires all school districts in Maryland to create a policy that prohibits personal device use, including smartphones, for the entire school day for all grades.

The DFS Maryland team is currently working on legislation to ensure devices in schools are used intentionally and safely. You can join this effort by signing the Maryland team’s Community Letter of Support.