US school districts weigh stricter device and texting rules for staff and students

The Madison Metropolitan School District is drafting a policy that would bar teachers and other staff from texting students on personal devices and would require schools to notify parents the same day a credible report of sexual misconduct is received. The proposal, aimed for adoption by Sept. 1, is meant to meet a new state law that mandates districts adopt communication‑restriction policies and train staff to recognize grooming. The move follows the high‑profile prosecution of former Memorial High School teacher Eliav Goldman, who exchanged more than 130,000 messages with a student.

Meanwhile, the Port Washington Union Free School District Board of Education is reconsidering its personal‑device policy. Teachers argue the existing restrictions have improved focus and engagement, while board members debate clearer language on which devices are prohibited, how rules apply in emergencies, and the superintendent’s authority to set device lists. Trustees expressed concern that defining “non‑internet‑enabled” devices may be impractical as technology evolves.