LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As many southern Indiana students start heading back to school, they may need to be prepared for a new school cellphone policy.
A new Indiana law passed earlier this year and took effect on July 1 requires school districts to create policies that would ban students from having cell phones during class time. Rules will vary by school district and even by school.
One Indiana mom said she was unaware of this new measure until we told her.
"I am surprised to find out that they will not be able to take their cell phones into class with them," Sakia Speed said.
Sakia Speed's daughter will be a freshman this year, and she said having a direct line of communication would provide an extra layer of comfort.
"She is very nervous about high school is that if something goes wrong you can text me," Sakia Speed said.
Her daughter feels the same way.
"I think it's important for like emergencies especially if you have an accident or something like that," Taniya Speed said.
The law applies to cellphones, tablets, laptops or gaming devices.
Another parent said the new law is too little too late.
"I think it's short-sighted. You can't put the genie back into the bottle," Amanda Bibb-Crane, an Indiana parent, said.
Bibb-Crane also has concerns about safety.
"I think the very first school shooting where parents miss out on hearing their children's last phone call is going to cause massive discontent with this law," Bibb-Crane said.
Bibb-Crane's daughter started school Wednesday and said she did so with her phone in hand.
"My daughter went with her phone, and she knows to put it away if she's told to put it away. We don't have any problem with that of course when its time to learn, it's time to learn," Bibb-Crane said.
For Community Montessori School in New Albany, they are now using phone pouches to regulate phone usage, like many other districts across the nation. Students will be required to keep their cell phone in a Yondr pouch during the school day. The Yondr pouch stays in the student's locker or backpack until the end of the day when they'll use a special magnet to unlock the pouch.
There are a few exceptions to the law such as allowing students to utilize their cell phone with teacher's permission for education purposes or for students that need to use the phone in case of an emergency or to manage their healthcare.
WDRB News reached out to Greater Clark County Schools and New Albany-Floyd County Schools for a comment, but haven't heard back.
A national study on teen health found about 1 in 5 teens reported symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Many educators feel cellphones are a big part of that problem.
Related Stories:
- Southern Indiana school requiring students to lock phones in pouches to curb use in classrooms
- New Indiana law requires schools to adopt tech regulations in effort to keep phones out of class
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