UPDATE: New Jersey has just announced nearly $1 million in grants aimed at enforcing phone-free learning environments in schools across the state. This funding, totaling $980,000, is designated for 86 grants to 71 school districts and 15 charter schools, with Newark Public Schools receiving the largest share at $176,625.08.
The significant funding is intended to help schools implement a “bell-to-bell” policy, securely locking away student phones from the moment they arrive until the end of the school day. This initiative, which affects students in grades 6-12, responds to rising concerns about social media’s impact on adolescent mental health, as highlighted by Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer.
Newark, as the state’s largest school district, serves over 35,000 students across 65 schools and has emerged as a leader in this initiative. The next largest grant was awarded to Trenton Public Schools, receiving $55,573.44 for their phone-free policy. Newark’s charter schools also benefited, with four schools collectively receiving an additional $39,880.38.
The funding will be utilized for purchasing and installing secure storage systems such as lockers and locked pouches, alongside staff training on the new policies. State officials confirmed that these grants were included in the budget signed by Governor Phil Murphy in June, as part of a broader $3 million incentive program aimed at transforming school environments.
The urgency of this initiative reflects the growing awareness of the negative effects of smartphone usage on students’ academic performance and mental health, including issues like cyberbullying and sleep disruption. “The findings from the Growing Up Online report underscore why this initiative matters,” said Dehmer.
As schools across New Jersey prepare to implement these new policies, the focus now shifts to how effectively they can transition to phone-free learning environments. Parents and educators alike are encouraged to monitor the progress and impact of these changes in the coming months.
Stay tuned for further updates as more details about the implementation of these grants emerge. For a complete list of participating districts and their respective grant amounts, visit the New Jersey Department of Education’s official website.
