As the School Year Approaches, Kids in Indiana Will Soon Get Used to New Rules About Cell Phones and Absences
DEARBORN COUNTY, Ind. – Thousand of kids in the Tri-State are about to go back to school after their summer break. Indiana has two new rules that will govern cell phones in the classroom and being absent that go into effect when the new school year starts.
Wednesday, July 31, is the first day of school for kids in Dearborn and Ohio County. In March, Gov. Eric Holcomb of Indiana signed two bills that are now law.
Indiana’s new law says that personal cell phones, tablets, laptops, and game consoles can’t be used in the classroom.
Lawrenceburg Community Schools Superintendent Karl Galey told FOX19 NOW that cell phones should be turned off and put away. He also said that many teachers have places where students can leave their phones while the class is going on.
There are some situations where gadgets are okay to use, like when a teacher gives permission or when a student’s health needs to be monitored.
Students with disabilities can use gadgets, but they can only use their cell phones in an emergency.
“Will the teachers be able to take the phones away?” Galey said, “If it is being used, they may take it and give it to the administrators if it goes off.” “They’ll give it back at the end of the day, but after that, the consequences will get worse.”
As for repeat offenders, the director says that detention or Friday school would be the worst punishment.
A new truancy law was also passed by the Indiana legislature. It affects students in grades K–6, but Dearborn and Ohio counties have worked with juvenile courts, the prosecutor’s office, probation officers, and the Department of child services to include high schoolers as well.
Elementary Level: You can miss six classes with good reason.
Sixth through twelfth grades: You can miss four classes without a reason.
“As those unexcused absences add up, you will start getting letters from the school, letters from the probation department, visits from probation or the department of child services, and if things get bad, you might even have to meet with the circuit court judge,” Galey explained.
On Wednesday, the new school year starts, and the director and his staff are excited. However, there will be some changes.
He wants all parents in school districts in Dearborn and Ohio counties to look at the guidebook for their district to find out what the new rules are.