In this report, La Follette students assess policy options for the Madison Metropolitan School District’s new device ban policy.
Summary
Under Wisconsin’s Act 42 law, public schools must implement a wireless communication device prohibition during instructional time for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. In this report, La Follette students assess policy options for the Madison Metropolitan School District’s new device ban policy. The research team completed a comparative analysis of different policy options across the state and country. This report uses school disciplinary data, interviews, and survey data to identify inequity trends in discipline, support for different policies, and teacher, family, and student perspectives on a device ban. The data, together with a review of scholarly literature, supports the recommendation of a tiered policy, with a bell-to-bell device ban for K-8 students and a classroom storage policy for grades 9 through 12. The report uses its findings to propose recommendations for implementation, monitoring, and an equity enforcement protocol.
Information
- Course: Workshop in Public Affairs, PA 869, taught by Jason Delborne, Spring 2026
- Authors: Katie Campbell, Anna Kane, Carlos Puga, Grace Skiba, and Connor Smith
- Client: Madison Metropolitan School District
Media Coverage
- UW-Madison, school district team up on cellphone ban – Wisconsin State Journal, Dec. 17, 2025
- Madison school district floats all-day cellphone ban for K-8 students – The Cap Times, May 5, 2026
- Wisconsin school districts put cellphone bans to the test – Wisconsin Public Radio, May 14, 2026
- Madison school board under pressure as teachers and parents call for tougher cell phone restrictions – Isthmus, May 26, 2026