District 300 releases Hanover Research survey results on student cell phone use; officials plan stakeholder process

Community Unit School District 300 administrators on Tuesday presented results from a Hanover Research study on student cell phone usage and told the board they will draft policy options this fall and seek targeted stakeholder input before returning to the board in winter with proposals.

Deputy Superintendent Mark Wetzel and Chief of Communications Anthony McGinn summarized the third‑party study, which combined surveys and virtual focus groups. "Nearly 1,200 individuals participated" in surveys administered Jan. 17–Feb. 7, and 134 people participated in focus groups, McGinn said. The study gathered responses from students, parents, staff and community members about perceived benefits and concerns of cell phone use in schools.

The research found common agreement on benefits and concerns: emergency preparedness and enhanced communication were the top perceived benefits, while distraction from learning, cheating and academic dishonesty were the top concerns. McGinn cited headline survey results: "61 percent of respondents indicate that cell phones distract from class," while "44 percent feel that they are used appropriately, and 39 percent believe that they enhance learning."

Administrators said responses vary by grade level. Use is low in grades 4–5 and rises through middle and high school. When asked about policy options, the study found the most support across stakeholders for allowing phone use before and after school and for designated times and locations; fewer than half supported teacher‑supervised classroom use for instructional purposes. Options receiving the lowest levels of support included a total ban and mandatory clear backpacks.

Wetzel and McGinn said the district will use the report as a starting point. "After reviewing the data and analysis provided by Hanover Research, the district will be taking the following next actions," McGinn said: draft policy options in the fall, engage targeted stakeholder groups to gather input, provide a winter update to the board and, pending board support, communicate decisions and implement an updated policy by the 2026–27 school year.

Board members asked about respondent composition and next steps. A board member asked whether the roughly 9,200 data point labeled "n=9,200" represented survey respondents; administrators clarified that the detailed data sheet included students and parents as the majority of respondents, and that about 80–89% of respondents were students and parents, with roughly 10% staff. Wetzel said the district intentionally used an external third‑party to collect transparent baseline data and that follow‑up conversations with targeted stakeholder groups will allow more detailed dialogue.

Administrators said they will compare other large districts’ approaches and coordinate with union leadership and lead school leaders during policy drafting. No policy change was proposed or adopted at Tuesday’s meeting.