Central Indiana school districts are tweaking cellphone usage policies after a law went into effect his year banning “portable wireless devices” from classrooms.
The law applies to cellphones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, and any device that can provide communication between two parties.
However, the law does give exceptions if a teacher allows for them for educational purposes, to manage a student’s health care needs, in the event of an emergency or if the device is included in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan.
Many of the traditional public school districts in central Indiana follow the same language under the law but some also allow for cellphones to be used in certain circumstances like between classes or during lunch.
Most school districts now also provide personal laptops or tablets to their students for academic work and many of the policies specify that using such devices during school is allowed.
Here is a look at what policies are across Central Indiana districts:
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Marion County school districts
IPS allows its students to have cellphones on them at school and on school buses or during after-school activities, but says they must be turned off and stored away during school hours.
The policy does allow the principal to approve use of cellphones during school hours for “educational purposes,” which includes “student education, research, and career development,” the policy says.
A principal may also allow individual students to use their cellphone during the school day with written requests from a guardian.
Beech Grove Schools cellphone policy
Beech Grove students are not allowed to use cellphones during instructional time unless a teacher allows for it to be used for educational purposes, for emergency purposes or health emergencies or if the students IEP or 504 plan allow for it.
Their policy goes on to say that students are otherwise permitted to use cellphones and other devices at school, during lunch breaks, between classes, and at after-school activities as long as it doesn’t create a distraction or disruption.
It also says if this policy is violated the cellphone may be confiscated for the rest of the school day.
Decatur Township students across all schools are not to use cellphones during school hours unless a teacher allows for it to be used for educational purposes, for emergency purposes or health emergencies or if the students IEP or 504 plan allow for it.
Franklin Township approved a new policy in June that says cellphones are not to be used during instructional time but has exceptions for when a teacher allows for it to be use for educational purposes, in an event of an emergency, to manage a student’s health care or is part of a students IEP or 504 plan.
Lawrence Township approved a new policy for all of their schools which states that cellphones must be turned off and put away during instructional time unless a teacher authorizes it to be used for educational purposes, in the event of an emergency, to manage a student’s health care or is part of a students IEP or 504 plan.
Perry Township’s current electronic devices policy states that cellphones are allowed to be used in schools with school official authorization.
A spokesperson for Perry Township told IndyStar that the district is in the process of tweaking its policy but that all of the exceptions under the new law would apply automatically to Perry’s policy.
Pike Township students are allowed to carry cellphones and other devices at school but it is expected to be turned off and out of site during the school day. Exceptions are given for when a teacher allows cellphones to be used for educational purposes/
Speedway students are not to use cellphones or other devices during the school day and can be confiscated if they are seen or heard.
Their policy does have an exception for device use for educational reasons but it's approved on a case-by-case basis and must include sign-off from parents, teachers and principal.
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Warren Township students at the K-8 level are prohibited from using cellphones at school and at the 9-12 level students will receive guidance from school administrators and teachers about appropriate times to use the devices.
Washington Township cellphone policy
Washington Township students in grades 6 th -8 th and high school students are expected to keep cellphones out of sight or in their lockers throughout the school day and if a phone is seen being used it can be confiscated for the day.
Starting this school year the district announced in June that all schools will restrict cellphone usage and that they must be concealed during instructional time.
Each cellphone policy for Washington Township’s elementary and middle schools gives exceptions like if a teacher has approved use during class time or in the case of a student emergency.
Wayne Township students are prohibited from bringing cellphones and other personal devices into classrooms unless the teacher approves.
There is an exception for students who need to use their device for medical reasons, if there is an emergency or due to a student's IEP or 504 plan.
The district also specifies certain expectations for each school building with most saying that they expect cellphones to be silenced and stored in backpacks. For 10 th -12 th grade students, they are permitted to use cellphones in non-classroom areas as long as it doesn’t disrupt the school environment.
Suburban Northside Schools
Carmel Clay Schools cellphone policy
Carmel students are expected to not use cellphones in schools unless permitted by a teacher, if it's for an emergency health care reason or if it's part of a student's IEP or 504 plan.
The Carmel High School handbook says that during instructional time teachers will tell students to put their devices in a designated location and should not be used unless given prior teacher permission.
The policy also says students may use cellphones and earbuds during passing periods or lunch periods for high school students.
For Carmel elementary students the same rules also apply but they also specifically say that smartwatches can be worn during school time but cannot be used for “calling, messaging, accessing the internet, recording, taking photos, settling alarms or any other non-classroom approved activity.”
For Carmel Middle School students their handbook states that students are not to use headphones in the hallways but can use one earbud during lunch time or they can be used in class if given teacher approval.
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Hamilton Southeastern students from elementary to high school are expected to not use their cellphone or other devices while in the classroom unless permitted by a teacher.
The policy also allows for exceptions for use during an emergency, to manage health care needs, or its part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
The cellphone policy for Lebanon schools varies across the different grade levels.
For Elementary school students, cellphones are not to be “carried, turned on, or used during the school day,” according to the district’s handbook.
For middle school students, their handbook states that cellphones should be placed in their classroom “cell phone caddy” at the beginning of class and teachers will say when they can retrieve the phones when class is over.
For Lebanon high school students handbook policy follows a similar policy and says cellphones should be placed in caddies before each class and should not be used during passing periods either.
There are exceptions if the teacher allows for phones to be used for educational purposes, if there is an emergency, for healthcare needs or if it's written in the student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Noblesville middle school and high school students are expected to keep their cellphones out of sight during instructional time.
For high schoolers, they may be asked to put their phones in a specific teacher-designated area or they can keep them in their lockers.
The policy also gives exceptions for use during an emergency, for health care needs, or if it's part of a student's IEP or 504 plan.
Westfield Washington School recently passed a new policy whose language aligns with the new law. Students are not to use cellphones during class time unless approved use by a teacher, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it's in a student's IEP or 504 plan.
Zionsville students are not to use cellphones during instructional times unless permitted by an administrator or teacher to use the device for educational purposes. There are exceptions for if there is an emergency, for health care needs or if it is written in the student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Suburban Westside Schools
Avon students are not to use cellphones or other devices during instructional time unless a teacher permits them to use the device for educational purposes, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it’s part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
The policy also says middle school and high school students will be allowed to use their devices during passing periods, lunch periods and other non-instructional time during the school day.
Brownsburg students can have cellphones and other devices at school but they are expected to be put away and out of sight during the school day.
Their policy does have exceptions if a teacher allows for the cellphone to be used for instructional purposes, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it’s a part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Plainfield approved a policy in June that reflects the new state law language.
Plainfield students are not to use cellphones during instructional time unless their teacher allows for it to be used for instructional purposes, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it’s part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Suburban Southside Schools
Center Grove’s cell phone policy says that students can use their devices before and after school, during lunch breaks and in between classes as long as it does not create a distraction to the learning environment.
Center Grove High School’s cellphone policy also specifically gives an exception for using cellphones during study hall periods. However, Center Grove Middle School students are expected to keep their phones off and in their lockers during the day and should not use them during lunch or passing periods.
Clark Pleasant’s policy does not allow cellphones to be used during instructional time unless their teacher allows for it to be used for educational purposes, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it’s part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Martinsville School district’s policy states that students can use cellphones before or after school, during lunch breaks and during passing periods as long as it doesn’t create a distraction.
High school students are not to use them during instructional time unless a teacher approves it and phones are expected to be turned off and put out of sight during classes.
Mooresville’s policy says that students are not to use cellphones in school unless permitted by a teacher to use it for instructional purposes, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it’s a part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan. High school students are allowed to use their devices before or after school, during passing periods or lunch.
Shelbyville High School students are encouraged to leave their cellphones and other devices at home, in lockers or in their car during the school day.
Students are not to use or have cellphones or other devices visible during class or in the hallways, but they can use them during lunch or passing periods.
The policy also gives exceptions for when a teacher permits for instructional purposes, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it’s a part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Suburban Eastside Schools
Eastern Hancock School’s policy follows similar language to the state law on personal wireless devices.
Cellphones and other devices are not to be used during instructional time unless a teacher has given permission, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it’s a part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Eastern Hancock High School’s policy says students can use cellphones during lunch periods but other than that, phones should not be visible during the school day.
Greenfield-Central Community Schools
Greenfield-Central High School students are expected to keep cellphones out of sight during class unless otherwise allowed by their teacher.
Their policy also has an exception for if the student needs to use the device for health care needs, in an emergency or if it's included in the student’s IEP or 504 plan.
Mt. Vernon Community Schools
Mt. Vernon High School students are expected to put their cellphone away during class time but can use them during passing periods or lunch as long as it doesn’t disrupt the school day. Students should only use one earbud during passing periods and lunch for safety reasons, the policy says.
Mt. Vernon Middle School students are expected to power off their cellphones and keep them in their lockers or stored out of sight.
Southern Hancock County schools have a policy that follows similar language to the state law on personal wireless devices.
Cellphones and other devices are not to be used during instructional time unless a teacher has given permission, in the event of an emergency, for health care needs or if it’s a part of a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
New Palestine High School students are allowed to use cellphones during lunch and before or after school.
Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com . Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana law bans cellphone use in class. Indy-area schools wrote exceptions into policies
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