Classroom cellphone policy could become stricter if lawmakers get their way

At a meeting held during the special session in which mid-cycle redistricting drew most of the attention, the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development heard testimony from eight people in favor of legislation that would require all Indiana schools to prohibit students from using their personal cellphones during the entire school day

Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, an author of Senate Bill 78, called it “essentially a rehash of [Senate Bill] 185.” Now Public Law 24, Indiana became the second state to require school corporations to ban cellphones during instructional time, following the example of Florida, which was the first. Currently, 35 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted school cellphone-ban legislation.

Raatz told the committee at the Dec. 9 meeting that SB 185 was applied differently than what was intended and that he and fellow author Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, wrote SB 78 to “tighten up” the current law, adding specifications and restrictions.

Testimony revolved around rising smartphone usage among adolescents and the negative impacts that cellphones have on both student learning and and mental health.

“I have heard from our membership teachers around the state that this is one of the most significant disciplinary and behavioral issues in classrooms, district and statewide,” John O’Neal, a lobbyist for the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), said. “The issue now is that we need uniformity and enforcement.”

But testifers also brought up their concerns such as the cost of phone storage units like Fort Wayne Community School District’s Yondr phone pouches.

“We’re not asking to open the budget, but there are dollars that revert to the general fund, and school districts need financial assistance to implement this correctly and efficiently,” O’Neal said. “We are asking that a portion of the reverting funds—$5 million—be provided to support this.”

He also requested that administrators collaborate with teachers as they develop a cellphone policy.

Susan Harris, a nurse practitioner representing the Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Indiana (CAPNI), pointed to a line in the legislation allowing a student to use a cellphone provided it was needed “for the management of a documented medical condition pursuant to a physicians directive.” CAPNI asked that advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) be included alongside physicians.

Another testifer, Justin Swanson with the Indiana Urban Schools Association, requested that school corporations have civil immunity if cellphones are confiscated.

Committee members questioned the legislation in the context of emergency situations when parents need to be contacted. A line in SB 78 says that an individual authorized by the superintendent or their designee would be tasked with communicating with student parents in emergency situations.

Although no high-school students testified, Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said “halfway jokingly” that the opinions and perspectives of high-school Hoosiers should be considered as well. Lawmakers expect students to voice their opinions on the matter.

“It is an important thing that we can continue on helping educational outcomes in the state, if we do this and additionally help [students] understand that there’s more into communication than being on a cellphone,” Raatz said.

The committee heard testimony only and did not vote on the bill. The regular legislative session begins Jan. 5.