Salt Lake City — The Policy Project, home of The Period Project, The Teen Center Project, and The Safe Child Project, is excited to announce its 2025 legislative initiative: The Focused Student Project. This two-pronged initiative is designed to help Utah students focus and thrive in the classroom—and beyond—by limiting smartphone use in classrooms and addressing student hunger. Smartphones have become a growing distraction in Utah schools, disrupting classroom environments, decreasing academic performance, and contributing to bullying and social isolation. Alarmingly, 97% of students use their phones during school hours, with teens receiving an average of 237 notifications per school day. “The normalization of smartphones in classrooms is not only harming students academically but also socially. Reports of student loneliness have doubled since 2012, linked to the rise in smartphone use,” said Emily Bell McCormick, Founder and President of The Policy Project. “Parents and families need support, students need guidance, and teachers need assistance responding to this growing epidemic.” Smartphones in the classroom are currently the norm in Utah. The bill “Devices in Public Schools,” sponsored by Senator Fillmore and Representative Welton, will reverse the existing standard by limiting smartphones, smartwatches, and emerging technologies in classrooms—while allowing Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to adjust policies to meet local needs and create exceptions for students with specific health or educational considerations. Through a public-private partnership between the Utah Legislature and private donors, funding will be available to help districts implement these policies. For the first time, The Policy Project will be pursuing two legislative efforts in one session.  The other priority of The Focused Student Project is addressing the issue of student hunger. In Utah, one in six children is hungry, and a hungry student cannot learn. Student hunger not only impairs academic performance but also contributes to mental and physical health conditions, reduced social participation, delayed development, high school dropout rates, increased behavioral problems, and long-term economic disadvantages.  The Policy Project is working with Representative Tyler Clancy, other elected officials, hunger experts, donors, and community members to craft impactful solutions to combat student hunger. Several targeted interventions can be implemented to ensure children are fed and to promote upward mobility for Utah families. Some of these interventions include expanding no-cost school meals, improving food access during summer months, maximizing federal meal programs, alleviating student meal debt, extending lunch periods, and reducing the stigma associated with free or reduced-price meals. “We have a responsibility to invest in our students’ futures by ensuring they have the tools to succeed,” said Brooke Gledhill Wood, Chief of Staff for The Policy Project. “This means limiting classroom distractions and making sure no child goes hungry.” The Focused Student Project is a call for collective action to reset the norm around smartphones in schools and eradicate student hunger. By addressing both issues, The Policy Project seeks to maximize the impact of every educational investment Utah makes in its children. For more information or to get involved, visit thepolicyproject.org/thefocusedstudentproject. About The Policy Project  The Policy Project is a 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan organization that promotes policy solutions that remove barriers to opportunity for women, children, and those experiencing intergenerational poverty. Our unique approach fosters support for these policies through impassioned grassroots movements, fueled by public-private partnerships, education, events, rallies and extensive relationship building. Because many barriers can and should be eliminated, we have the responsibility and desire to work for healthy, equitable policy for the future of our collective children, our nation, and our world. www.thepolicyproject.org The Policy Project’s past initiatives include “The Utah Period Project,” “The Teen Center Project,” and “The Safe Child Project.” The Utah Period Project aims to end period poverty and increase access to period products. Key achievements include passing a law mandating free period products in all K-12 schools in Utah, making Utah the first U.S. state to provide free period products in state-owned buildings, and launching the global “Period Positive Workplace” initiative. The Teen Center Project aims to support schools in helping the most vulnerable students graduate and prepare for successful adulthood. Significant milestones include working with the Utah Legislature and State Board of Education to enhance services in over 70 Utah high schools and securing $18 million in funding for essential resources such as food pantries, laundry facilities, and mental health support in schools. The goal of The Safe Child Project is to prevent child sexual abuse. In the 2024 Utah legislative session, The Policy Project garnered unanimous support for Senate Bill 205, expanding funding and resources for child sexual abuse prevention education for K-6 students in Utah. 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