Ocean City is among 86 school districts across New Jersey that will receive state funding under the Phone-Free Schools Grant Program.
The grants from the New Jersey Department of Education will support school districts in implementing a bell-to-bell policy for all students in grades 6-12, consistent with state guidelines.
A bell-to-bell policy must ensure that students’ cell phones and other internet-enabled devices are securely stored when students arrive at school. Access is not allowed during the entire school day.
Ocean City is the only school district in Cape May County to receive a phone-free grant under this round of funding. The amount for Ocean City is $10,290, according to a Department of Education news release.
Participating school districts will receive funds to implement secure storage systems such as lockers, locked pouch systems, or check-in cabinets. Districts may also use funding to provide staff training to ensure consistent and equitable application of the bell-to-bell policies.
“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 in the news release.
“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,” Murphy continued.
New Jersey Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer cited a report by the Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents as reasons for concern among children exposed to social media.
“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.”
The grants are funded through a $3 million appropriation in the fiscal year 2026 Appropriations Act. Approximately $980,000 has been allocated in this round, and the NJDOE intends to launch another funding round to expand to additional districts.
The list of participating districts is also available on the NJDOE’s website.
