Harwood Union reports higher engagement, fewer disciplinary claims after year of phone-free routine

Megan McDonough, principal at Harwood Union Middle High School, told the Vermont House Education Committee on April 18, 2025, that after a year operating as a cell phone–free community students and staff reported higher engagement, improved academic measures and far fewer substantiated harassment claims.

McDonough said the decision was made collectively by staff and the school community and implemented at the start of the school year. "On day 1, I kept looking around the building trying to figure out like where there was a potential challenge, but I wasn't seeing any," she said. Student representatives Eliana Buckingham and Celia Wang described widespread student adaptation and changes to daily interaction.

The school collected survey and administrative data to evaluate the change. McDonough reported that, in an October survey, 63% of students said they felt more engaged in class and 55% said their learning environment had improved; staff responses were higher, with 93% reporting increased engagement and at…