FY2024: Approaches to Address Student Cellphone Use Pilot Grant

Fund Code: 729

Purpose:

The purpose of this targeted federally funded grant is to support districts in implementing policies/programs and practices that address the use of electronic devices (cell phones and similar electronic devices) by students throughout the school day in middle and/or high schools. Based on growing evidence of the negative impacts on academic, social-emotional and mental health outcomes, as noted in the recent United States Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, the goal of this grant program is to assist districts in mitigating and/or reducing negative factors through age-appropriate, effective and innovative approaches.

Priorities:

This pilot grant program prioritizes funds to:

• develop and implement new policies/programs, or
• revise and implement existing policies/programs

to restrict and accommodate the use of electronic devices at the middle and/or high school level.

Priority will be given to:

• Districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.

Eligibility:

Public and charter school districts and educational collaboratives

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA: 84.425 Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs - Federal Grant Programs
Federal grant funds must adhere to:

• UGG (2 CFR 200)
• EDGAR As Applicable
• EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

Funding:

Approximately $800,000 is available. Funding amounts for eligible districts will be based on the following:

Number of Students	Funding Eligibility
Up to 300	Up to $10,000
301–650	Up to $15,000
651–950	Up to $20,000
951 and above	Up to $25,000

Applications will be reviewed in the order received. Awards will be made until available funding is exhausted. Final award amount may be adjusted based on number of approvable applications received.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Fund Use:

Funds can be used to purchase materials to secure student electronic devices while on school property (e.g. pouches, lockers, caddies, or other), support other costs associated with developing/revising and implementation of practices, professional development, school culture impact, and the collection and reporting of data related to implementation.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – 6/30/2024

* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Office of Student and Family Support

Contact:

Chiniqua N. Milligan

Phone Number:

(781) 338-6307

Date Due:

Applications will be reviewed in the order received, and are due no later than Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Required Forms:

• Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

• Part II — Budget Details — Entered directly into EdGrants

• Part III — Required Program Information (including budget narrative)

• Grant Assurances

Additional Information:

ESSER Reporting

Implementation and data reporting on grant. Guidelines will be provided to awardees.

We are anticipating providing some networking and planning opportunities to begin in the fall. Awardees will be notified.

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants.

In EdGrants, districts are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

FY24 FC 729 Approaches to Address Student Cellphone Use Pilot Grant (Applicant Name)

All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List form of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature as well as Schedule A form, if applicable to your district. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides, Information and Trainings.

Please note: It is up to the district to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

Last Updated: July 17, 2023