As summer draws to a close, students in the Tri-State area are gearing up to head back to school. In Indiana, the new school year will bring with it two new laws aimed at regulating cell phone use in the classroom and curbing absenteeism. Dearborn County will be among the many counties affected by these new regulations.
Dearborn and Ohio County students will be returning to school on Wednesday, July 31. This is made possible by two bills signed by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb back in March, which have now come into effect.
Indiana’s new law prohibits the use of personal cell phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices in classrooms.
According to FOX19 NOW, Lawrenceburg Community Schools Superintendent Karl Galey has recommended that students turn off and put away their cell phones during class time. Alternatively, some teachers have designated areas where students can turn off and store their phones during class.
Devices can still be utilized in certain situations, such as when a teacher grants permission for educational purposes or to monitor a student’s well-being.
Individuals with disabilities may utilize assistive technologies, while the use of mobile phones is strictly limited to emergency situations for students.
According to Galey, the teachers will be authorized to confiscate phones if they are being used or if they ring during class. However, they will turn them in to the administrators and return them at the end of the day. As per Galey, if such actions continue, it will lead to more severe consequences.
According to the superintendent, repeat offenders will face detention or Friday school as the most severe punishment.
Dearborn and Ohio counties have taken a step forward in combating truancy by collaborating with various agencies to expand the scope of a new law passed by the Indiana legislature. While the law only applies to K-6th grade students, these counties have included high schoolers in their efforts. This collaboration involves the juvenile courts, prosecutor’s office, probation officers, and the department of child services.
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- Elementary Level: Six excused absences are permitted.
- Grades 6th-12th grade: Four excused absences are permitted.
Galey explains that as someone accumulates unexcused absences, it can lead to various consequences. The school may send letters, followed by letters from the probation department or visits from probation or the department of child services. If the situation worsens, it could eventually lead to a meeting with a circuit court judge.
As the new school year approaches, the superintendent and his staff are eager to welcome students back to the classrooms. However, this year will bring some changes that they are looking forward to implementing. Wednesday marks the beginning of the school year, and the team is ready to embrace the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Parents in school districts across Dearborn and Ohio counties are being encouraged to refer to their individual district’s handbook to familiarize themselves with the updated rules.