About 180 of Arkansas’ 237 public school districts will limit students’ phone usage in the upcoming school year as part of a pilot program championed by Gov. Sarah Sanders and state education officials.

The program, announced last month, provides students with pouches to store, but not access, their phones during the school day. Grants for telehealth services to address students’ mental health will also be available to participating school districts.

Speaking at Ardis Ann Middle School in Bentonville Thursday, Sanders said the program’s goal is to address what she says is a link between unrestricted smartphone usage and worse mental health outcomes among students.

Arkansas school districts on board with ‘phone-free’ pilot program