‘Away for the day’: Indiana lawmakers take up bill expanding cellphone ban to entire school day

This story was originally published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Indiana lawmakers are weighing a new “bell to bell” proposal that would tighten cellphone restrictions in K-12 schools by requiring Hoosier students to securely store their devices on campus — or leave them at home for the entire school day.

Senate Bill 78 received an hourlong hearing on Tuesday in the Senate Education Committee that was largely dedicated to public testimony. 

Committee Chair Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, who authored the bill with Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, said possible amendments and a vote to send the bill to the full chamber is expected in early January.

“From a very high level, the (bill requires) cellphones to be left at the entrance of the class,” Raatz said. “I think it’s pretty onerous on a teacher to pay attention and make sure they’re doing the best job they can to educate kids — and have to get after (students) on cellphones.”

A similar, nearly identical measure was also filed by Republican Rep. Jake Teshka for consideration in the 2026 session. It’s not yet clear what action the opposing chamber might take on his House Bill 1034.

Left at Home — or ‘Locked Up’

Indiana already enacted a statewide cellphone restriction law in 2024, which prohibits students from using phones, tablets, laptops and gaming devices during instructional time, with exemptions for education, emergencies, health-care needs or disability-related accommodations. 

But that law does not dictate how schools must enforce the bans, nor does it restrict phones during lunch or passing periods.

“We ran into a few instances out in the districts where it’s being applied differently than the intention,” Raatz said. “We felt like it’d be wise to come together and tighten it up so that we can see results … increasing success in educational outcomes is what we’re really after.”

Under Senate Bill 78, school corporations and charter schools would be required to adopt a wireless communication device ban that prohibits students from using or possessing a wireless communication device during the school day and requires that any teacher-directed use of a device “for educational purposes” occur only on school-supplied devices.

It also mandates that each district choose between two enforcement models: a “no device policy,” in which students may not bring phones to school at all; or a “secure storage policy,” in which students may bring phones but must store them so they are “inaccessible throughout the school day” and returned only after dismissal.

The bill also expands the definition of “wireless communication device” to include smartwatches connected to a phone, cell tower or the Internet.

Exceptions are carved out for students with disabilities under an Individualized Education Program or Section 504 plan; students managing a documented medical condition; emergencies where the superintendent or a designee authorizes access; and cases where language-translation tools are needed for multi-lingual learners, with preference for school-managed devices.

Raatz said during the hearing that the emergency exemptions were designed to let school officials manage communication during critical incidents. 

“Someone has to be an adult in the room to set up so kids can communicate with their parents, should there be an incident,” he said. 

“There are instances where kids probably don’t need their cellphone and (should) let the adults handle the situation,” Raatz added. He said that once a situation is “locked down,” school officials can then communicate with students’ parents.

Indiana is weighing the policy amid a national shift. 

Late last year, the U.S. Department of Education publicly called on every state, school and district to adopt strong cellphone-use policies, citing academic, behavioral and mental-health concerns. Federal officials urged “away-for-the-day” models and pointed to increasing research showing reduced classroom distraction and improved peer interaction when phones are inaccessible.

While the Hoosier State’s 2024 law placed it among the early adopters, Raatz’ latest measure would make Indiana’s law one of the more stringent.

How Enforcement Would Work

Districts selecting a “secure storage” model could choose their own methods. 

Some Indiana schools already use locked pouches — like the Yondr Pouch — that students seal at the start of the day and unlock when leaving the building.

That process typically requires students to turn off or place their phone on airplane mode, secure it in the pouch under staff supervision, store it in a backpack or locker during the day, and unlock it at dismissal.

Multiple parents and advocacy groups testified in support.

“We moved away from in-person connection and turned our attention to a screen,” said LaToya Hale-Tahirou, a Hoosier mom of three. “We need to take the phones out of the hands of young people, at least for the hours during school, and help them recapture their ability to be attentive and form more meaningful relationships.”

Evan Eagleson, a legislative director with ExcelinEd in Action, said rapid smartphone adoption has outpaced school policy, causing major consequences for student well-being and learning.

“We’ve all seen the rise of smartphone usage and have experienced how distracting they can be for ourselves,” Eagleson told lawmakers. “Most students spend seven to nine hours a day on their phones, which we know has very real implications, both inside the classroom and outside the classroom.”

An initial nonpartisan fiscal analysis estimates only minor administrative work for schools that must update their policies. Districts implementing secure-storage systems could see additional costs, however, if they provide pouches or other locking devices, with estimated prices ranging from $15 to $30 per device.

Ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, education advocacy organization Stand for Children Indiana released new survey data indicating broad support for stronger smartphone limits.

In an internal survey of 138 supporters and advocates, more than 60% favored an “away for the day” policy. Nearly 23% preferred Indiana’s current policy that allows phone use outside class time, and 17% said they needed more information.

The group additionally pointed to a separate poll conducted in October of Indianapolis residents, which found 69% of respondents support a “bell-to-bell” policy in which phones remain secured until the end of the school day. Backing was consistent across political affiliations, with Democrats, Republicans and Independents each showing support above 63%.

Kristin Casper, government affairs director for Stand for Children Indiana, testified in favor of Senate Bill 78 on Tuesday. 

“We now know consistent device usage harms attention, mental health and socialization,” she told the committee. “Physical distance from your phone creates a psychological distance from temptation.”

Casper pointed to Fort Wayne schools as proof that strict “bell-to-bell” phone policies lead to fewer behavioral issues and better grades. After implementing stricter policies, the district’s middle school behavior violations dropped by 11%, cellphone infractions fell by 64%, and average high school GPA increased by 0.18 points.

Potential Bill Changes To Come

Questions from the committee mostly focused on medical exemptions and enforcement logistics. 

Raatz said schools would manage implementation locally, particularly for students using devices to monitor conditions like diabetes. 

“It would be pretty easy to monitor that,” he said, noting modern technology allows parents to track blood sugar without constant phone access.

Other senators raised concerns about policy flexibility for extracurricular activities. 

Justin Swanson, representing the Indiana Urban Schools Association, suggested providing civil immunity for school corporations and potential funding assistance. 

“If they are taking cellphones from students, that would just be helpful with some of the heartaches that may come with it,” he said.

Fishers resident Connor Haynes, of Smartphone Free Childhood U.S., additionally urged the committee to extend the ban to headphones and earbuds as well, citing research showing that even the mere presence of phones reduces cognitive capacity.

Susan Harris, a nurse practitioner representing Indiana’s Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, also endorsed the bill, citing cellphone use’s impact on youth health, but asked for a small amendment to ensure student medical needs are accommodated.

Raatz maintained that the bill seeks to create uniform policies statewide without micromanaging schools.

But he said the bill is likely to be amended to broaden the list of licensed medical professionals — beyond just physicians — who can allow exemptions for students with valid medical needs.

“We’ve had that conversation … to try and broaden it out, just a tad, but not go too far,” Raatz said.

Still, he said that schools will retain authority to set up the process for medical exemptions, rather than detailing it fully in legislation. 

“I don’t think we want to get that granular in this legislation to say a student’s going have to go through a doctor with a slip, or through the parent, or a phone call from the doctor to the principal or superintendent … to tell them that they have this exemption,” Raatz said. “It’ll have to be monitored in the classroom more closely for students that fall in that category.”

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com.