Phone Free Schools Support Grant

The Phone Free Schools Support Grant is offered by the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell to support the implementation of “Bell-to-Bell” cell phone policies in schools throughout Massachusetts. The initiative is designed to help schools create learning environments that are free from the distractions caused by student cell phone and personal electronic device use during both instructional and unstructured portions of the school day. The grant program builds upon the Attorney General’s publication, Cell Phones and Social Media in Schools: A Toolkit for School Leaders and Communities, and seeks to promote safer, more engaged, and more inclusive educational settings. The Attorney General’s Office recognizes growing concerns related to student mental health, cyberbullying, classroom distraction, harassment, shortened attention spans, and the role of social media in school conflict, and this grant is intended to provide schools with the resources needed to address those concerns through structured and research-based device restrictions. The program will distribute up to $500,000 in total funding. Eligible applicants may request funding amounts based on student enrollment levels in participating schools. Schools serving up to 300 students may request up to $10,000; schools with 301 to 650 students may request up to $20,000; schools with 651 to 950 students may request up to $30,000; and schools serving 951 students or more may request up to $50,000. Applicants may also include indirect or administrative costs up to 15 percent of the project budget. Grant funds may support implementation expenses such as lockable phone storage systems, software applications that limit internet or app access while preserving emergency communication functionality, professional development and staff training, community engagement activities, outreach campaigns, educational materials, translation services, accessibility supports, and data collection or evaluation tools that assess changes in school climate and student engagement. The grant specifically prohibits the use of funds to supplant existing funding sources or sustain existing program expenses such as renewing current phone storage contracts. The Attorney General’s Office strongly encourages proposals that align with the strategies and frameworks outlined in the AGO Toolkit. Competitive applications should demonstrate collaboration with students, educators, and families during policy development and implementation, emphasize community norms related to technology use, avoid punitive or exclusionary discipline practices, and incorporate measurable outcomes and sustainability planning. Proposals are expected to include plans for community education and stakeholder engagement. Applicants may submit finalized bell-to-bell phone policies or draft policies accompanied by a detailed implementation plan describing how stakeholder feedback will be gathered, how the policy will be finalized, and how implementation will occur during the grant period. The AGO also prioritizes applications that are responsive to the needs of students with disabilities and other accessibility considerations. Eligible applicants include Massachusetts public school districts, charter school districts, educational collaboratives, and nonprofit organizations that qualify as public charities with 501(c)(3) status. Nonprofit applicants must comply with Massachusetts charitable registration and annual reporting requirements under applicable state laws, including maintaining good standing with the AGO’s Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division and meeting Internal Revenue Service reporting obligations. Nonprofits are also required to use the AGO Charity Portal for registrations and annual filings. District-level applicants may designate one or more schools for grant-supported activities. The program is restricted to organizations operating within Massachusetts and is not available nationwide. Applications must be submitted electronically through the AGO’s Online Grants Portal no later than 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on June 5, 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed, and no paper or alternative submission formats will be accepted. Applicants who have not used the AGO’s new grants portal system since February 1, 2026 must create a new online account, and account activation may require up to two business days. The portal allows applicants to save draft submissions and return later to complete them. Applicants are encouraged to upload all materials before the deadline to avoid technical difficulties. Questions regarding the Request for Proposals may be submitted to AGOgrants@mass.gov until 5:00 P.M. on May 29, 2026. Applicants needing reasonable accommodations or alternative formats must also contact the AGO by that same date. Grant proposals will be evaluated based on several criteria including alignment with the AGO Toolkit, strength and feasibility of the proposed bell-to-bell phone policy, incorporation of stakeholder feedback, educator readiness planning, sustainability strategies, geographic diversity, operational capacity, and methods for measuring outcomes such as behavioral, engagement, or academic changes related to cell phone use. Selected grantees will be required to complete Commonwealth contract documentation including a Standard Contract Form, Scope and Services Agreement, W-9 form, Electronic Funds Transfer form, and Authorized Signatory Listing. Grant awards are expected to begin on September 1, 2026, with a maximum project period of 24 months ending August 31, 2028. Grantees must submit semiannual reports, participate in annual AGO-hosted meetings, and maintain financial and programmatic documentation related to grant activities. The grant appears to be a recurring state initiative focused on educational policy implementation and school climate improvement in Massachusetts.

Align proposals closely with the AGO Toolkit; demonstrate stakeholder collaboration with students families and educators; emphasize measurable outcomes sustainability accessibility and non-punitive implementation approaches; include strong community education and evaluation strategies