The bill establishes a program within the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability to allocate $500,000 in grants to school districts in Oklahoma for creating a cellphone-free educational environment. To qualify for these grants, school districts must adopt a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices on campus from the start to the end of the school day for three consecutive school years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The grants will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and can be used to purchase devices or equipment for storing students' cell phones during school hours.
Additionally, the bill authorizes the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability to negotiate contracts with vendors to provide state rate pricing for grant recipient school districts, although participation in these contracts is not mandatory. Grant recipients are required to submit an electronic report detailing the use of the funds, and the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability is empowered to create rules to implement the provisions of the bill. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause for immediate enforcement upon passage.