More than 80 school districts in New Jersey have been awarded grants to implement a bell-to-bell phone-free policy.

The program impacts students in grades 6-12. It calls for phones and other internet-enabled devices to be securely stored when students arrive on campus. Access is not allowed during the entire school day.

Nearly $1 million in grants were allocated to the program. Newark School District, the state’s largest school district, received more than $176,000.

Gov. Phil Murphy spoke about the policy on News 12’s “Ask Gov. Murphy” program on Thursday.

“I think the Legislature -- I don't want to speak for them -- I think they are with me on this. I'm passionate about a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones, which I think would have hug positive impact on those scores and on the mental health of kids.”