INDIANAPOLIS — Students in Indiana will no longer be able to have their cell phones during instructional time in classrooms.
Senate Bill 185 was passed during this legislative session and takes effect on Monday, July 1.
WATCH PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Bill would establish criteria for cell phone usage inside Indiana schools
Bill would establish criteria for cell phone usage inside Indiana schools
“We don’t permit our sons to take their cellphones to school,” Shawnta Stockton Barnes said.
Barnes is not only a parent but has more than a decade of experience as an educator.
“I think there should be some burden on parents to teach their kids healthy habits with cell phones,” Barnes said.
WRTV Barnes’ sons are in MSD Washington Township School — a district that already has a cell phone policy. But now every district in the state will be required to have one and follow similar guidelines.
The bill says cell phones, along with tablets, laptops or gaming devices, cannot be in the classrooms unless it’s for educational purposes, if someone needs it due to a disability or medical issue or if there’s an emergency.