The Focused Student Project is a two-pronged initiative to ensure students can focus and succeed in the classroom.

As Utahns, we invest so much time, attention, and resources into our schools and students. However, we continue to hear a common refrain from teachers: A student distracted by a phone or hunger cannot learn.

By limiting smartphone use in the classroom and curbing student hunger, we maximize the impact of every other investment in education we make.

Smartphones are a major distraction in Utah schools—disrupting classroom environments, decreasing academic performance, and contributing to bullying and social isolation. Parents and families need support, students need guidance, and teachers need assistance responding to this growing epidemic. We must take collective action to reset the norm around smartphones in schools.

INITIATIVE 1: LIMIT PHONES IN CLASS

*View all data sources here.

Senate Bill 178, Devices in Public Schools will flip the existing standard by limiting smartphones, smart watches, and emerging technology in classrooms—while allowing Local Education Agencies to adjust policies to meet local needs. SB178 also requires that students have access to devices in cases of emergencies and creates exceptions for students with health or education considerations. Through the creation of a public-private partnership of the Utah Legislature and private donors, funding will be available to help districts implement these policies.

THE SOLUTION: SENATE BILL 178, DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

POSITIVE OUTCOMES

WHEN SMARTPHONES WERE LIMITED IN THE CLASSROOM…

In Utah, 1 in 6 children experiences hunger. By addressing student hunger, we can prevent its detrimental short- and long-term effects, such as diminished academic performance, delayed development, lifetime economic disadvantages, and a weakened future workforce. House Bill 100, Food Security Amendments will support the children of the impoverished working class, expand the middle class, and promote upward mobility for Utah families. We have the power to end child hunger in Utah.

INITIATIVE 2: COMBAT STUDENT HUNGER

House Bill 100 introduces targeted interventions to ensure children are fed and promote upward mobility for Utah’s families. It would:

  • Ensure students with the greatest need receive no-cost school meals by eliminating the reduced-price category.

  • Provide access to food during the summer months through the S-EBT program.

  • Prevent shame and stigma associated with food insecurity.

THE INVESTMENT

  • Reduced-price Category: Allocating $2-3 million from the public education budget to eliminate the reduced-price lunch category will ensure that students from working families who do not qualify for federal assistance, such as SNAP or TANF, receive free lunch.

  • Summer EBT: A $618,000 state investment will unlock $31.2 million in federal funding to provide summer food assistance for students from low-income working families. If federal funds become unavailable, Utah will not be responsible for covering the cost.

THE SOLUTION: HOUSE BILL 100, FOOD SECURITY AMENDMENTS

POSITIVE OUTCOMES

Studies show that increasing access to student meals leads to...

  • Improved cognitive abilities and academic performance

  • Fewer suspensions and disciplinary actions

  • Reduced shame and stigma associated with school-provided meals

*View all data sources here.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Register for an upcoming event! Your attendance is a signal of community support to the Utah Legislature!

Take action today by contacting your legislators and advocating for policies that support Utah students.

We need your voice! Share your experiences and insights on student hunger & limiting smartphones at school.

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FAQs

  • Student safety is our top priority. Senate Bill 178, Devices in Public Schools requires that students be able to access their phones in cases of imminent threats and other emergencies. While cellphones can be appropriate tools in such emergencies, they can be detrimental during instructional time. We want to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and success of all Utah students.

  • Implementing a state-wide policy ensures that every district takes steps to limit cell phones in schools. Early adopters in Utah have already observed benefits, such as increased test scores and improved classroom culture. We want all districts to experience these positive outcomes.

  • Currently, policies on cell phone use are often left to individual classrooms, placing the entire burden of enforcement on teachers. Implementing uniform policies at the school, district, or state level would relieve teachers of this responsibility, ensuring consistent enforcement across all classrooms.

  • Research shows that, over time, students recognize the benefits of reduced phone access, such as decreased stress and increased focus in class. Education and positive reinforcement about limited cell phone use help improve compliance.

  • USBE and The Policy Project will provide model policies with recommendations and best practices for districts to adapt to their specific needs.

LIMIT PHONES IN CLASS

  • Eliminating the reduced price school meal category is a targeted solution to support Utah families and children who are outside the threshold for federal government aid, like SNAP and TANF. Currently, families earning at or below 130% of the federal poverty level ($40,560 for a family of four) qualify for free meals, while those earning between 130% and 185% ($40,560 to $57,720) qualify for reduced-price meals. Allowing kids in these families to have no-cost meals would help them come closer to the middle-class.

  • The federal Summer EBT (S-EBT) program provides children who qualify for free and reduced lunch with a $120 food benefit each summer they are eligible. This affordable program secures Utah’s future workforce by ensuring that 260,000 of Utah’s kids who are most in need have access to food. The state would pay $618,000 in administrative costs, which would trigger a $31.2 million investment from the federal government ($50 in federal funds for every $1 invested by the state). HB100 ensures that if federal funding is withdrawn, Utah won’t be responsible for the costs

  • To combat the stigma surrounding no-cost school lunches, the bill includes measures to prevent discrimination, such as prohibiting public identification of students with meal debts and directing all meal debt communications to parents or guardians. Additionally, we may provide districts and schools with clear guidelines on best practices.

COMBAT STUDENT HUNGER

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Together, we can ensure that students can focus and succeed in the classroom—and beyond.