Indiana Lawmakers Debate Student Cellphone Ban

Educators and parents support bill, but enforcement and funding concerns remain

Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:31pm

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The Indiana Senate has passed a bill that would ban students from using cellphones and smart watches during the entire school day. While educators and parents overwhelmingly favor the measure, lawmakers are still working to address implementation issues around providing secure storage for devices and how schools can pay for the necessary equipment.

Why it matters

The proposed ban aims to reduce classroom distractions and improve academic performance, but some districts are concerned about the costs of implementing secure storage solutions. There are also questions around how to enforce the ban and ensure students don't access their devices in lockers or other unsupervised areas.

The details

Senate Bill 78 passed the Indiana Senate 28-19, with 11 Republicans and 8 Democrats voting against it. The bill gives schools two options: either tell students to leave devices at home, or establish secure storage on campus. Some lawmakers worry the 'secure storage' requirement is too narrow, while others fear it could open the door for lax enforcement. Schools that have already implemented similar bans, like Fort Wayne Community Schools, have seen academic improvements and fewer behavioral issues, but the costs of storage equipment like Yondr pouches can be significant.

  • The Indiana Senate passed the cellphone ban bill in February 2026.
  • Indiana enacted a measure in 2024 that banned device use during instructional time, but issues emerged around inconsistent enforcement from district to district.
  • Fort Wayne Community Schools began a successful 'bell-to-bell' device ban in the 2024-25 school year.

The players

Jeff Raatz

The Indiana state senator who introduced Senate Bill 78, the cellphone ban legislation.

Steve Corona

A Fort Wayne School Board member and president of the Indiana School Boards Association, who said the cellphone ban has improved academic performance and reduced behavioral issues in his district.

Jeff Butts

The new executive director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents and former superintendent of the M.S.D. Wayne Township Schools in Indianapolis, who estimated it would have cost his district about $275,000 to purchase secure storage devices for student phones.

Terry Spradlin

The executive director of the Indiana School Boards Association, who said the 'secure storage' policy option for school boards was too narrow and supported an amendment to allow more flexibility.

Tonya Pfaff

An Indiana state representative and Terre Haute math teacher who voiced strong support for the cellphone ban bill.

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What they’re saying

“Folks, it's working. I know some parents have the need to stay in touch. We encourage parents to call the school office.”

— Steve Corona, Fort Wayne School Board member and president of the Indiana School Boards Association (Chicago Tribune)

“What it did for academic performance, it's worth it.”

— Steve Corona, Fort Wayne School Board member and president of the Indiana School Boards Association (Chicago Tribune)

“If we pass this, everyone is on the same page and teachers know we don't have to fight that fight every period. To me, it's a message that we value education. I'm 100% in favor of this bill.”

— Tonya Pfaff, Indiana state representative and Terre Haute math teacher (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The Indiana House education committee is expected to clarify implementation issues around the cellphone ban bill before taking a vote.

The takeaway

While there is widespread support for banning student cellphones in Indiana schools, lawmakers and educators are still working to address practical concerns around enforcement, funding for secure storage solutions, and ensuring consistent implementation across all districts.