Causal Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools Grant is sponsored by Arnold Ventures. This RFP aims to support rigorous, causal research evaluating how K–12 cell phone policies affect students' academic, behavioral, and mental health outcomes, addressing a critical evidence gap amid rapidly expanding statewide restrictions.

Arnold Ventures: Casual Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools | College of Education Research Funding Bulletin Arnold Ventures: Casual Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools This RFP seeks to address these gaps by supporting rigorous, causal research on the academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts of cell phone policies in K-12 schools in the United States.

We seek studies that generate actionable insights for policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, who are deciding whether and how to implement or refine such policies. This RFP will support both Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Quasi-Experimental Designs (QEDs) that can credibly estimate causal effects. While we are open to a range of research questions, we highlight 2 areas of particular interest below.

What factors explain variation in the impacts of cell phone policies? › Which students, schools, and districts are most impacted by cell phone policies? › Which policy design features (e.g., what devices are banned, when devices are banned, how devices are stored/locked) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

› Which implementation strategies (e.g., training and supports for school staff, consistent approaches for enforcement) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective? › How do the resource and operational implications of different policy approaches (e.g., costs, staff time, infrastructure needs) influence their effectiveness? How do these factors affect the scalability and sustainability of effective approaches?

What are the overall impacts of policies restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools? › What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on student-level outcomes, including academic achievement and attainment (e.g., standardized test scores, graduation rates), behaviors (e.g., engagement, attendance, disciplinary actions), and/or mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness)?

› What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on school-level outcomes, including school safety (e.g., reported incidents), school climate (e.g., bullying, social connections), and administrative factors (e.g., costs, logistics, communications with parents)? › Do initial impacts persist, fade, or grow as schools refine their practices over time?

Deadline to receive letters of interest (LOI): May 1, 2026 Notification if invited to submit a full proposal: June 12, 2026 Deadline for invited applicants to submit a full proposal: August 7, 2026 Notification if selected for an award: October 16, 2026* *Proposals over $500,000 may require additional time for approval. Learn more and apply here.

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