Who is eligible for the Federal UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act (S.5620 / H.R.4005)?

States with a statewide school device policy (if enacted/funded).

Can the Federal UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act (S.5620 / H.R.4005) pay for LockedIn?

LockedIn is a software subscription plus implementation and training. Tell us the program and we’ll check it against the eligible-cost list, then send a vendor support letter and a written per-student quote within one business day.

Does LockedIn require buying hardware?

No — students use their own phones; no pouches, lockers, or bins.

Federal UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act (S.5620 / H.R.4005)

Q: When is the Federal UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act (S.5620 / H.R.4005) deadline?

Deadline: Not yet open. Status: Introduced. Deadlines change — email hello@lockedinapp.co and we’ll confirm the current window.

Companion House and Senate bills that would fund states carrying out statewide phone-free school policies. Both have been introduced, not passed.

Request grant support letter + quote Get the application language

The program at a glance.

Introduced

Status: Introduced
Deadline: Not yet open
Who’s eligible: States with a statewide school device policy (if enacted/funded)
Funding: “Such sums as may be necessary”
What it pays for: Enforcement procedures and secure storage methods for statewide device policies
Administered by: U.S. Department of Education (proposed), through state education agencies

S.5620 introduced Sept. 30, 2026 (Sen. Mark Kelly, with Sen. Tom Cotton); H.R.4005 introduced June 12, 2025.

Official program page. Checked Oct 22, 2026. Deadlines change — email hello@lockedinapp.co and we’ll confirm the current window for your state.

Use this language in your application

Paste these into your Federal UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act (S.5620 / H.R.4005) application. Your quote and support letter come from us.

Program description

The district will implement LockedIn, a software-based phone-free campus platform. During school hours on campus, the LockedIn student app (iOS/Android) automatically locks district-selected apps — typically social media, games, browsers, and messaging — on each student’s own device. Off campus or outside school hours, the phone works normally. Calls home and 911 always work, and approved functions (calculator, school apps, medical apps) and accessibility accommodations remain available. There is no hardware to purchase. Setup takes approximately one day per school, and a school can launch within one week. The admin dashboard gives deans automatic, timestamped enforcement and flags workaround attempts by student name, so enforcement does not fall on classroom teachers. Emergency tooling includes a live on-campus location map and one-tap release of all phones.

Need statement

Physical-storage approaches (pouches, lockers) impose recurring capital and operational costs and are routinely bypassed with second phones and forced-open bags. A software approach achieves the same policy outcome without hardware procurement, daily collection rituals, or classroom-by-classroom teacher enforcement, and preserves legitimate educational phone use and medical accommodations that blanket storage breaks.

Implementation timeline

Step	When
Contract & kickoff	Week 1
Campus boundary mapping + staff training	~1 day per school
Student onboarding	Days 2–5
Full launch	within 1 week of kickoff

Budget language

Software subscription: LockedIn, per-student-per-year, per vendor written quote (attached). No hardware line item required. Evaluation reporting is included via the admin dashboard at no additional cost.

Privacy & compliance

LockedIn installs no MDM profile and collects no texts, calls, photos, or browsing data. Compliant with COPPA, SOPIPA, and FERPA; data stored in the United States.

How it works

1
Tell us the grant and your enrollment.
Use the form below, or email hello@lockedinapp.co.
2
We send a vendor support letter and written per-student quote within one business day.
Both made out to your school or district and the program you’re applying to.
3
Paste the language above into your application.
If funded, setup takes about a day and you launch within a week.

Request your support letter and quote.

We reply within one business day with a vendor support letter and a written per-student quote.

Questions about this grant.

Other phone-free school grants

Program	Who’s eligible	Deadline	Status
BJA STOP School Violence Program — FY2026	School districts (up to $1 million) and states (up to $2 million)	Oct 30, 2026	Open SF-424 due Oct. 30 on Grants.gov; the full application is due Nov. 6 in JustGrants.
New Jersey Phone-Free Schools Grant — Round 2	NJ school districts	To be announced	Awaiting announcement NJDOE said it intends to run another round after announcing Round 1 awards on Dec. 18, 2025.
Pennsylvania school safety / phone-policy funding (post-SB 1014)	PA school districts, intermediate units, CTCs and charter schools	See program page	Passed legislature Oct 2026; implementation funding varies by program SB 1014 went to the Governor Oct. 22, 2026 and carries no funding of its own. PCCD’s 2026–27 School Safety & Mental Health Grants closed Oct. 16, 2026.
Federal Supporting Focus in Schools Act (S.5636)	US districts (if enacted/funded)	Not yet open	Introduced Sept 30, 2026 Introduced by Sen. Ruben Gallego and referred to the Senate HELP Committee.
Delaware School Cellphone Pilot Program — FY26	Delaware LEAs serving grades 6–12	Nov 4, 2025	Closed FY27 funding hasn’t been announced.
Massachusetts Cell Phone-Free Schools Grant (DESE FC 9610) — FY27	MA public districts, charter schools and collaboratives	Oct 21, 2026	Closed Funds run through June 30, 2027, with possible continuation in FY28–FY30.
Massachusetts Phone Free Schools Support Grant	MA public and charter districts, educational collaboratives and some nonprofits	Jun 5, 2026	Closed
New York Distraction-Free Schools funding — FY2026	NY districts, charter schools and BOCES serving grades 7–12	Aug 1, 2025	Closed One-time state budget funding; no FY2027 round has been announced.
Oklahoma Cellphone-Free Schools Grant Program — 2025–26	Oklahoma districts that adopt a bell-to-bell policy for three years	2025–26 school year	Closed No 2026–27 round has been announced.
Texas Phone Free Schools Grant Program — 2025–2026	Texas ISDs and open-enrollment charter schools	Feb 18, 2026	Closed No 2026–27 cycle has been announced.

All phone-free school grants