The proposed bill establishes the Distraction Free Schools Grant Program, which aims to provide $2 million in grants to public schools in New Jersey to promote limited use of cell phones and social media during school hours and sanctioned events. The program is designed to address concerns regarding the negative impacts of cell phone and social media use on students' mental health and academic performance. The Commissioner of Education is tasked with developing best practices and programs for participating schools, which must include age-appropriate policies, emergency use provisions, and guidelines for communication with students and families. Additionally, the Department of Education will offer technical assistance and training to grant recipients.

Public schools interested in the grant must submit an application detailing how the funding will help limit cell phone and social media use. Importantly, schools are not mandated to implement the recommended best practices to receive funding. Grant awards will be distributed competitively, with an emphasis on selecting a diverse range of schools from different regions and demographics. Schools receiving grants are required to submit annual reports on their use of the funds and the impact of their policies on various metrics, including academic achievement and student behavior. The Commissioner will compile this information to evaluate the program's effectiveness and report to the Governor and Legislature.