As the Madison School District mulls its first districtwide cellphone use policy, some of Madison’s high school teachers and parents are pushing for stricter rules, particularly in the high schools.
The current proposal would set a bell-to-bell phone ban for elementary and middle school students and an off-and-away approach for high schoolers.
Wisconsin’s public school districts are required to create a cellphone policy restricting use during instructional time by July, under a state law passed in October. Madison’s proposed policy classifies “instructional time” as classes, assemblies and labs.
Under the district’s proposed policy, which would cover “wireless communication devices” including smartphones, e-readers and smartwatches, kindergarteners through eighth graders would be prohibited from accessing devices during the school day, including free times like lunch and recess.
The policy would be less strict with high schoolers, who would be prohibited from phone use during instructional time but could use their devices during passing periods and lunch. It would require a phone storage system such as a schoolwide system or boxes in individual classrooms.
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