(COLORADO) — Attorney General Phil Weiser announced on Wednesday, Jan. 29 of seven grant awards being given to school districts to develop and test smartphone policies.
The grants build on the commitment from the Attorney General to reduce classroom distractions and improve youth mental health. In 2024, the Attorney General’s Office launched a statewide survey where schools shared their current smartphone policies and challenges.
The survey results showed that 75% of responding school districts had existing cell phone policies, although the Attorney General’s office said some date back to 2002 and do not address the challenges of cell phones in classrooms.
School district approaches vary, common trends include tiered restrictions by grade level, exceptions for emergencies and students with special needs, and a strong emphasis on reducing distractions. The Attorney General said there is room for improvement.
“I continue to hear from school leaders, teachers, parents, and students about the impact of smartphones on student learning and mental health,” Weiser said. “These grants will help schools implement creative solutions to reduce distractions, foster better learning environments, and support student well-being. By working together, we can ensure that schools have the tools they need to protect students.”
The seven grant recipients and their projects are:
Aurora Public Schools – Hosting educational opportunities for students, educators, and parents about healthy smartphone usage to build buy-in for a universal policy for all middle schools that includes a smartphone storage device pilot.
Denver Justice High School – Implementing an incentive-based system to support student compliance with smartphone policies and hosting community engagement meetings with parents and guardians.
Eastlake High School – Expanding and improving existing smartphone storage policies with a focus on restorative justice practices.
Englewood Schools – Procuring and implementing smartphone lockers for classrooms and creating a year-long campaign, including classroom curricula, to engage students and families about the challenges of smartphones.
Mesa County Valley School District 51 – Developing curriculum resources on digital literacy and the impact of technology, reinforced through stakeholder engagement.
Pueblo County School District 70 – Hosting digital literacy presentations and student-led awareness campaigns to teach students how to use smartphones responsibly and educate parents about responsible smartphone use in the school environment.
Trinidad School District 1 – Providing training to students and teachers about the challenges of cell phone and social media addiction, purchasing smartphone storage containers, and completing a landscape review of policies in other districts to inform future policy development.
