Away For The Day | Latest News - New cellphone bans now in effect across Michiana school districts

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - Several area school districts are announcing changes to student cellphone policies now that Indiana’s new “bell-to-bell” school cellphone ban is in effect.

The new law prohibits students from using their personal cellphones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops and other devices during the school day, with supporters saying the goal is to limit distraction in the classroom. Michigan has also issued a similar ban, set to go into effect during the upcoming school year.

The South Bend Community School Corporation is operating under a strict “locker lock-up” directive. Students must keep phones silenced and stored in their lockers throughout the school day. The policy takes effect during the second session of summer school, pending board approval.

In Penn-Harris-Madison and several other area districts, student handbooks have been updated to ban phones in hallways and cafeterias but allow students to keep phones in their backpacks.

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