MADISON, Wis., – New research from students at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has helped the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) prepare for the upcoming statewide law restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools, and could help schools across the state in their implementation.
In their final year capstone course, La Follette master’s degree students Katie Campbell, Anna Kane, Carlos Puga, Grace Skiba, and Connor Smith partnered with MMSD to create a plan for Act 42. The bill, signed by Governor Tony Evers last October, requires that all Wisconsin school districts must adopt a policy to prohibit cell phone use during instructional time by July 1.
“Partnering with these talented graduate students was an incredibly valuable experience for our district,” says Dr. TJ McCray, MMSD’s Deputy Superintendent. “They utilized their rigorous research skills to truly push our thinking as we navigate compliance with the new Wisconsin state statute. The team demonstrated an exceptional command of the material and provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the wireless device landscape—both locally and globally. Their insights will be instrumental as we craft an equitable and effective policy.”
MMSD introduced a proposal at the May 4 School Board meeting largely based on the La Follette students’ recommendations, including an all-day ban for K-8 students and more lenient policies for high school students, who would be able to access their phones during passing period and lunch.
The tiered policy aligns with the capstone project, which found that stricter device restrictions may develop healthier technology habits in younger students, while high schoolers can practice self-regulation skills needed after graduation. This recommendation also came from student interviews showing that high school students were more resistant to losing possession of their devices outside of instructional time.
Campbell helped bring this important and timely research to life, working alongside Dr. McCray to pitch the project to La Follette as part of the capstone course.
“Working with data from families, staff and administrators, and students gave us the in-depth information needed to create a custom solution for MMSD that addresses its specific challenges,” Campbell said. “It was exciting to work on the cutting edge of school policy with MMSD, which is at the forefront of this policymaking process in Wisconsin.”
The students worked closely with MMSD to analyze survey data, speak with stakeholders, research other school district policies, and scrutinize implementation of various policies. The team presented to the school board on May 4, fielding difficult questions from School Board members.
In their analyses, students spoke with Madison teachers and administrators, who emphasized the importance of teacher support in the chosen policy. Interviewees also described the burden cell phones pose to teachers now, leading to teacher fatigue and declining enforcement.
“The current policy allows students to keep devices on their person and depends on frequent, teacher-initiated discipline,” the La Follette student team wrote in the final report. “This leads to more enforcement interactions, increasing the likelihood of unequal outcomes already shown in disciplinary data. An overhaul was needed not just to bring MMSD into compliance with Act 42, but to mitigate these factors.”
The team found disproportionate effects for students of color and low-income students, which guided the equity-centered enforcement protocol. Black low-income students made up almost 43% of all documented infractions despite only making up around 15% of MMSD students in the 2025-2026 school year.
The class, Workshop in Public Affairs, is required for second-year master’s students and brings together the skills students have learned throughout their time at La Follette. Working in small groups, the students put these skills into action for real clients, helping them to address pressing policy questions with real-world implications.
