New law restricts student cell phone use during school day

(INDIANAPOLIS) – Most Indiana students are now prohibited from using cell phones during school hours. 

Governor Mike Braun signed the measure into law on Wednesday in an effort to reduce classroom distractions from cell phones and other wireless devices. 

The law requires each school corporation to adopt a policy that, with limited exceptions, prohibits student use of personal wireless devices during the school day and mandates either a no-device or structured storage approach.

It does have exceptions for students who need devices for an Individualized Education Plan or Section 504 plan, medical conditions, emergencies, or language translation, and permits limited use of unobtrusive audio-only recording for notetaking under strict conditions.

"We’ve made major progress improving education for Hoosier students, and this new ‘bell-to-bell’ restriction on cell phone distractions will ensure students are focused on learning. This law supports teachers in the classroom and helps students build better habits at a time when constant distraction is affecting learning and mental health, with common-sense exceptions for emergencies.”