Lawmakers, teachers and parents debate bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone ban in schools

Teachers, parents and legislators used the update to wrestle with a growing education-policy debate: should schools ban phones during the entire school day?

A longtime substitute teacher described a “tidal wave” of phone use in classrooms and urged a complete ban. Sen. Yoder replied that previous sessions required school boards to create phone policies and that the new 'bell‑to‑bell' proposal would compel districts to secure devices and plan redistribution—steps that raise funding and operational questions. She noted Fort Wayne Community School Corporation’s program cost roughly "$1,000,000" as an implementation example.

Parents voiced a contrasting concern: while they want their children to focus in class, some said phones provide emergency contact during school‑safety incidents. Rep. Pierce said the bill has a reasonable chance of passage but will require balancing classroom benefits and parental safety needs; he described the debate as “competing policies or competing priorities” that may require creative compromise.

Why it matters: a statewide mandate would shift costs and responsibilities to school districts and raise questions about equity, enforcement and civil‑liberties trade‑offs. Lawmakers asked for further data and teacher/parent input before finalizing language.

What’s next: committees will consider testimony and fiscal implications; districts and parents should follow committee schedules and provide input.