Governor Healey Opens Applications for $1M in Cell Phone-Free Schools Grants

Governor Healey Opens Applications for $1M in Cell Phone-Free Schools Grants

 Funding will help schools reduce distractions and create environments where students can focus on learning

EVERETT – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that applications are now open for $1 million in competitive Cell Phone-Free Schools grants to help Massachusetts schools reduce student cell phone use and create learning environments where students can focus on academics, connect with their peers and engage more fully in their school communities. 

Schools and districts can use the funding to develop and implement cell phone policies, provide training for educators and staff, and purchase equipment needed to put those policies into practice. Applications are due October 21.

“Cell phones and social media have fundamentally changed the environment our kids are growing up in, and schools and families need the tools to respond,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We want our students focused on learning, building relationships and being present with their teachers and classmates. These grants will help more schools reduce distractions and create healthier learning environments where kids can focus and thrive.” 

 

“Schools across Massachusetts are already taking steps to reduce cell phone distractions and give students more opportunities to be present and engaged during the school day,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This funding will help more school communities build on that momentum and put policies into place that work for their students, educators and families. We want to give schools the support they need to make these changes successfully and in cooperation with their school community.” 

 

The $1 million in Cell Phone-Free Schools grants is part of $4.5 million in state-funded Student Support and Wellbeing Systems competitive grants focused on creating safe and supportive learning environments for students. 

 

The grants build on work already underway across Massachusetts to help schools address cell phone use. During the 2023-2024 school year, DESE awarded nearly $1.3 million to 77 districts through a one-year pilot supporting local efforts to address cell phones and other electronic devices in schools. Districts used that funding to review and update policies, communicate with students and families, and purchase resources such as phone pouches and charging stations. 

 

“Students and teachers deserve environments where the focus is on learning — not constant distractions and notifications. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is providing important support to schools working to create stronger, more engaging learning environments, and my office is complementing that work through our own Phone-Free Support Grant program. Together, these efforts give schools the support they need to create learning environments where students can be focused, present, and ready to learn,” said Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. 

 

In 2025, the Attorney general’s office, with support from DESE, released Cell Phones and Social Media in Schools: A Toolkit for School Leaders and Communities. The toolkit provides model policies and other resources to help school communities develop approaches to student cell phone use, establish shared expectations and strengthen digital media literacy. The Attorney General’s Office also launched a separate $500,000 Phone-Free Schools Support Grant this year to support schools implementing bell-to-bell cell phone policies. 

“Our educators work every day to create meaningful and engaging learning experiences for students, and we want to create the conditions that allow that work to have the greatest impact,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “Reducing cell phone distractions is one concrete way schools can help students be more present for the learning, relationships and experiences happening around them. These grants will give schools additional tools to support educators and strengthen teaching and learning.” 

“We want to set our students and teachers up for success, and this grant is one piece of that,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “As we work to make classes more relevant and engaging, we want students to focus on the amazing work happening inside their classroom.” 

DESE has encouraged districts to examine the impact of student cell phone use and develop policies that reflect the needs of their students, educators and families. The new grant program will build on that work by helping schools move from planning to implementation and by giving them resources to make those changes successful. 

“Research has shown a multitude of benefits to student’s social skills, academic performance, mental health, and safety after implementing cell phone restrictions in their schools,” said Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “The Legislature funded these grants to assist more schools in their transition to cell phone-free environments to support students and protect them from the damaging and distracting effects of cell phones.”

The Cell Phone-Free Schools grants are part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s broader work to protect young people from the harmful and addictive impacts of technology and social media. Governor Healey has proposed legislation that would require stronger protections for young people on social media, including age assurance and default limits on addictive features, notifications and access during school and overnight hours. The Governor has also supported a statewide bell-to-bell restriction on cell phone use in schools and has worked with education leaders to give schools and families more tools to help young people develop healthier relationships with technology.