INDIANAPOLIS — A bill that would restrict students’ use of cellphones in the classroom passed unanimously out of the Senate on Tuesday. It now heads to the House.
Senate Bill 185 would "restrict students from using wireless devices during instructional time.”
Those wireless devices would include cellphones, a tablet or laptop computer, or a gaming device.
Under the bill, teachers could allow a student to use a wireless device for educational purposes during class.
A student could also use a device during an emergency or to manage their health, like using an app on their device that alerts them when it’s time to take medicine or when their blood sugar is low.
The discussion over banning phones in classrooms isn't new. Right now, there’s a patchwork of similar policies across the state. This bill would set statewide guidelines.
School districts would be required to publish their policy on the district’s website.