Bill > A4864

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the Distraction Free Schools Grant Program. The program is to provide grants to public schools to promote the limited use of cell phones and social media platforms during regular school hours and during school-sanctioned events where the student is under the direct supervision of a teaching staff member or employee of the public school. The bill requires the Department of Education to develop and recommend best practices and programs concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms for public schools receiving a grant under the program. The recommendations are to, at a minimum, (1) provide age appropriate and grade-level differentiated policies concerning limiting student use of cell phones and social media platforms; (2) be consistent with State and federal law including accommodations provided in a student's Individualized Education Program or educational plan; (3) permit student use of cell phones in the case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger; (4) permit student use of cell phones upon submission by a parent or guardian of documentation from a health care professional indicating that the use of a cell phone is necessary for the health or well-being of the student; (5) address smartphones, cell phones with only text or voice, and other relevant devices, including smart watches; (6) list options that may be utilized by a public school for cell phone storage, including pouches and cell phone lockers; (7) provide recommendations for a public school to establish network-based restrictions to prevent the use of, or access to, social media platforms; and (8) detail protocols for communicating the school's policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms to students, their families, and teaching staff members. Additionally, the bill requires the department to provide technical assistance and training to public schools that receive a grant under the program. Under the bill, a public school wishing to participate in the program would submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. As part of the application, the public school is required to demonstrate how the grant funding will assist the school in limiting student use of cell phones and social media platforms. The bill stipulates that a public school is not required to implement the recommendations on best practices and programs developed by the commissioner as a condition of receiving grant funding. The bill also stipulates that grant awards are to be allocated to public schools on a competitive basis, in a manner determined by the commissioner. The bill requires a public school receiving a grant under the program to submit an annual report to the commissioner which includes information on the school's use of grant funding to limit student use of cell phones and social media and the impact of the policies implemented by the school on academic achievement, student behavior and disciplinary infractions, absenteeism, and harassment, intimidation, and bullying. After compiling the information submitted by the schools participating in the grant program, the commissioner is required to submit a report evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program to the Governor and the Legislature. The report is to include an analysis of the impact of the grant program on academic achievement, student behavior and disciplinary infractions, absenteeism, and harassment, intimidation, and bullying in comparison to metrics of public schools not receiving a grant under the program.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Aura Dunn (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 09/23/2024)

Official Document