New Indiana Cellphone Law Could Mean Big Changes for Evansville Students
A big change is coming to classrooms across Indiana, and that includes schools right here in Evansville. A new state law signed by Governor Mike Braun will require schools to crack down on cellphone use during the entire school day, while also giving parents more control over their kids’ social media activity.
More Focus in the Classroom
The new “bell-to-bell” policy means students will need to keep phones, smartwatches, and other wireless devices powered off and put away from the first bell until the last. The goal is to cut down on distractions and keep the focus on learning instead of texting, scrolling, or social media.
State Representative Matt Commons says the law is all about giving students a better environment to succeed by removing distractions from the classroom. Since he’s also a social studies teacher, that message is really resonating with educators across the state.
What It Means for Evansville Schools
For families in Evansville, this could make the school day look a little different starting this fall. Schools in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation and surrounding Tri-State districts will now be working on how phones are stored and how the rules will be enforced.
That likely means students can still bring their phones to school, but they’ll need to stay powered off and out of reach until dismissal.
New Social Media Protections for Kids
The law also adds stronger protections for children under 16 when it comes to social media…