Appropriations Requests for : University of Michigan

1. Cosponsoring legislators:

No Cosponsors

Recipient Information

2. Intended legislatively directed spending item recipient:

University of Michigan

3. Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:

500 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

4. The recipient's employer identification number:

386006309

Funding Details

5. Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:

$1,212,150.00

6. What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?

We propose the State of Michigan support and fund a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the School Cellphone Law (SB 495/HB 4141). This evaluation would enhance understanding of the impacts of cellphone policies on academic outcomes, mental health, and school- and community-based violence. In addition, this evaluation will provide key implementation data to inform decision-makers across the state. The findings of this evaluation would include the identification of best practices that districts, schools, and the State can incorporate into their strategies and policies going forward. With additional funding from the State of Michigan, we could expand our research in several ways that will generate critical information to guide state policymakers and assist local districts and schools. More specifically, we see three ways that additional funding could be used to augment the existing research plan: 1) Expand the study by collecting survey data from middle school as well as high school teachers. This expansion would include adding additional waves of data collection for the planned landscape analysis activity, and adding a new middle school teacher survey to better understand the unique needs of schools serving younger students. The focus of this survey would capture teachers' experiences of how restrictions are impacting teaching, classroom dynamics, enforcement and would allow for the state to understand longitudinal trends across Michigan. Key deliverables: Summary report detailing preliminary findings and policy considerations in 2027 and a full evaluation report in 2028. Shorter briefs will be made available to the public in partnership with the State. 2) Capture valuable student voices through surveys in a sample of 12 districts across the state over two years. Students are one of the main groups most impacted by cellphone restrictions. Surveying students directly would allow us to gather vital insights on student outcomes, experiences, and attitudes that cannot be captured in administrative data or teacher surveys. The focus of the surveys would include perceived effects on learning, social interactions with fellow students, student and teacher interactions, and student mental health. We will also collect information on potential unintended outcomes - for example, students with disabilities who receive waivers to use their phones and possible disclosure of these exemptions to the greater student body. Including student experiences in this evaluation will help inform more robust implementation recommendations. Key deliverables: Summary report in 2028. Shorter briefs will be made available to the public in partnership with the State. 3) Provide Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) to local districts. This addition would provide TTA services to districts and schools to promote awareness of evidence-based cellphone policy practices, and their impact on student academic, mental health, and behavioral outcomes. Our team will share study findings and the latest research on cellphone policies with Michigan school communities to help them navigate choices, and select and adapt the practices most suitable to their specific needs and contexts. We will offer TTA, as well as additional support services for implementation, capacity building, and evaluation to help schools launch and sustain effective cellphone protocols. Key deliverables: Resources would be provided in multiple formats (e.g., webinars, onsite support, communities of practice) and would be free to all districts and schools across the state of Michigan.

7. Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?

✓ Yes: Federal Funding

Amount received: $1,196,901.00

8. Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:

The estimated time frame for completion is by the end of fiscal year 2028

Additional Information For Nonprofit Corporations

9. Is the recipient a nonprofit corporation?

No

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator

• "I certify that my immediate family members, legislative staff members, and I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the requested legislatively directed spending item."
• "I certify that the intended recipient of this legislatively directed spending item is not a for-profit entity."
• "I certify that the information in this form is true to the best of my knowledge."

Senator Jeff Irwin