Parents and teachers press Madison schools for "away, all day" phone policy

A large group of parents, teachers and students urged the Madison Metropolitan School District board during public comment on April 27 to adopt a districtwide away‑all‑day cell‑phone policy that would keep phones off school grounds during passing periods, lunch and recess.

Speakers said Act 42 already requires phones to be away during instructional time, but the district must decide whether students may have phones during non‑instructional periods. Pediatrician Liz Man, representing a parent coalition, told the board the group wants an "all day" approach with IEP and medical exceptions and called for an edtech audit and an AI use policy. Parents and middle‑school teachers described Cherokee Middle School's policy as evidence the approach reduces misbehavior and improves peer interaction.

Students and teachers said consistent, clear rules across schools make enforcement easier and reduce reliance on teachers to police devices. Several speakers acknowledged concerns that bans could produce disproportionate discipline for students of color, but said careful implementation and equal enforcement—along with explicit exemptions for students with disabilities—could mitigate those risks.

Board members did not hold a policy vote at the meeting; public commenters asked the board to adopt a strong, clear policy rather than a watered‑down version. The board indicated policy work is underway and that the instruction work group planned a first read of the cell‑phone policy in an upcoming meeting.

The board's decision on a districtwide rule is expected to be part of the instruction work group's May discussions and the formal policy process.