S 3678 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Establishes Distraction Free Schools Grant Program; appropriates $2 million.

S 3678 establishes a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to promote limited student use of cell phones and social media during school hours and school events. The program requires the Department of Education to develop best practices covering age-appropriate policies, emergency exceptions, accommodations for students with disabilities, device storage options, and network restrictions. Participating schools must submit annual reports tracking how grant funds reduce distractions and impact academic performance, behavior, and well-being, with the Department later evaluating the program's effectiveness against non-participating schools. The bill directly affects public schools seeking grant funding to implement device-use policies, without mandating specific practices as a condition of receiving funds.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Sep 30, 2024 Last action Sep 30, 2024
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Sep 30, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

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