Causal Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools
Funds research using rigorous methods to assess how K-12 school cell phone policies impact student academics, behavior, and mental health, aiming to inform policy and practice nationwide.
Funder: Arnold Ventures
Due Dates: May 1, 2026 (Letter of Interest) | August 7, 2026 (Full proposal, by invitation)
Funding Amounts: No set minimum or maximum; funding commensurate with project scope, with proposals over $500,000 possibly requiring additional review time.
Summary: Supports rigorous causal research on the academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts of cell phone policies in U.S. K-12 schools to inform policy and practice.
Description
Arnold Ventures invites proposals for rigorous, causal research evaluating the impacts of cell phone policies in K-12 schools across the United States. The aim is to generate actionable insights for policymakers, school leaders, and district administrators about how these policies affect student academic performance, behavior, and mental health. Both Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and well-designed Quasi-Experimental Designs (QEDs) are eligible, with an emphasis on projects that can credibly estimate causal effects. Priority areas include measuring the overall impacts of cell phone policies on students and schools, understanding how these impacts change over time, and identifying policy and implementation features that drive effectiveness. The ultimate goal is to build a robust evidence base to inform real-world policy and practice decisions supporting student learning and well-being.
