The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District updated its cell phone policy for secondary schools at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. One semester in, feedback from Middleton High School students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Staff have been very supportive of the plan,” said Dean of Students Erik Johnson. “I’m hearing that staff have been able to cover more content and reduce the amount of time needed for review because students are better able to focus in class.”
Johnson said the implementation went smoothly, especially considering the different stakeholders involved in the rollout. He said a strong partnership with Qualtrics helped the District build a solid program for tracking students’ cell phone use.
The District considered several options, including using locked phone pouches, but opted for a policy that Johnson said is both rigid enough for teachers to feel supported yet flexible enough for them to handle phones in their classrooms however they feel is best.
“We took time at the beginning of every class at the beginning of the year – and again at the start of the new semester – to have each teacher go over the policy in their classroom,” Johnson said. “Staff have the option to choose how the policy looks in their classroom.”
Some teachers require students to turn in their phones at the beginning of class. Other teachers ask students to leave phones off and in their backpacks.
“The new cell phone policy has completely changed the culture of my classroom,” said Greg Rodgers, who teaches social studies at Middleton High School. “Students are more engaged than ever before. Additionally, they are more focused and efficient, often completing their work at a higher caliber than in past years and in less time. Perhaps even more meaningful, I have seen a dramatic increase in the number of students smiling in class. In short, they are learning more in less time and they are visibly happier individuals. In addition to the changes seen for students, teachers have also noted this policy has dramatically increased their job satisfaction, providing much needed rejuvenation and extending their teaching careers.”
Students also have reacted positively to the change.
“Overall, the cell phone policy has brought an immense amount of positive growth to the MHS community, both in terms of how efficiently students learn material in class and also the massive increase in positive social interaction between students in the halls and in class,” said Aydin Rosas, a Middleton High school senior. “The cell phone policy has created more smiles, better attitudes, and a more engaging school environment because everyone is more present in the classroom.”
The goal of the policy is to remove cell phone distractions during class time rather than to punish students, Johnson emphasized.
“If the purpose of education is to prepare students to be better members of our community through academic success, students are achieving more academic success and developing skills that will translate to the workforce” because of the updated cell phone policy, Johnson said.
Johnson credited Middleton High School Principal Peg Shoemaker for having the vision to enact the policy. He added that the Safe Schools Resource Manual, issued by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul in 2020, has guided the District’s policy.
The manual states: “Cell phones have become an integral part of the school environment. While these phones are useful for scheduling and possible safety concerns, they can cause unwarranted disturbances in the classroom or be instruments for criminal activity. Accordingly, schools are encouraged to have a written cell phone use policy. If a student violates the school cell phone policy, but it is not suspected that the student was engaging in illegal or inappropriate behavior, the prudent course is to confiscate the phone.”
In addition to guidance from lawmakers, Johnson and Rodgers noted the value of the parent feedback Middleton High School received before implementing the policy.
“When an entire community comes together to hold kids accountable, it can result in powerful positive outcomes,” Rodgers said. “This policy has unified staff members at the high school and brought about significant meaningful and lasting change because all parties have the backing and support from administration to implement this policy with fidelity. Put differently, it is apparent that students are benefitting tremendously, academically, mentally, and socially as a result of the adults setting and holding students to these expectations.”