Several school districts in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren receive phone-free schools grants
TRENTON, N.J. — School districts across Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties are among 86 districts statewide approved to receive funding under New Jersey’s new Phone-Free Schools Grant Program, state education officials announced.
The grants, awarded by the New Jersey Department of Education, are intended to help districts implement “bell-to-bell” policies that prohibit student access to cell phones and other internet-enabled devices throughout the school day for students in grades six through 12.
Under state guidelines, participating districts must ensure devices are securely stored when students arrive at school and remain inaccessible until dismissal. Grant funds may be used for lockers, locked pouches or check-in cabinet systems, as well as staff training to ensure the policies are enforced consistently and equitably.
“In recent years, we’ve begun to truly understand the threat that cell phones and access to social media pose to our children’s education. If we want to provide New Jersey’s children with a world-class education, we need to give schools the tools necessary to remove the very distractions that rob students of their attention and their concentration,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “Getting cell phones out of schools helps educators, it helps parents, and most of all, it helps our kids. I am proud of the leadership shown by these early-adopting districts, and I look forward to seeing the impact of these new policies on our young learners.”
Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer said the initiative is informed by findings from the Growing Up Online report issued by the Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents.
“The findings from the Growing Up Online report underscore why this initiative matters, including rising concerns about social media’s impact on adolescent mental health, sleep disruption, cyberbullying, and declining academic focus,” Dehmer said. “We applaud the districts for stepping forward now and setting a standard for student well-being and a more focused learning environment.”
In Morris County, approved districts include Chester Township, Hanover Park Regional High School District, Hanover Township, Kinnelon and Mendham Borough. Hunterdon County recipients include Bethlehem Township, Bloomsbury Borough and Frenchtown Borough school districts.
Several Sussex County districts were also approved, including Andover Regional, Frankford Township Consolidated, Hampton Township, Kittatinny Regional, Lenape Valley Regional High School District, Montague Township and Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated. In Warren County, the Belvidere School District was selected for funding.
The grants are supported by a $3 million appropriation in the fiscal year 2026 state budget. About $980,000 was distributed in the current round, and education officials said an additional funding round is planned to expand the program to more districts.
State officials said the initiative is part of a broader effort to address student well-being and improve focus and learning outcomes in classrooms across New Jersey.
A complete list of participating districts and the amount they received is available on the New Jersey Department of Education’s website.
