Most public-school districts in Dane County already have policies to restrict cellphone use in class, but Madison is somewhat unusual among them in having policies specific to individual schools.
In general, Madison middle schoolers’ cellphones must be “off and away” or “out of sight” during school hours. High schoolers have more leeway; most are allowed to use their phones during non-instructional time.
School district data and other research have repeatedly shown a tendency, nationwide, to discipline Black students and students receiving special education services at rates higher than their classmates.
To avoid such disparities in the enforcement of the cellphone ban, the district says the UW team will look at existing data on discipline related to cellphone use in schools to “establish a historical equity baseline, enabling the team to set measurable goals to reduce or eliminate racial disparities in disciplinary actions under the new policy.”