Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Zionsville board adopts policy restricting student personal device use under new state law
Summary
On second reading the board approved Policy 5136 to implement Senate Enrolled Act 78: students must power off and store personal wireless devices during the school day, with teacher-directed use limited to school-supplied or sanctioned devices through June 30, 2028.
Superintendent Rebecca Coffman presented the Board with the second reading of Policy 5136, revised to implement changes in Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 78 enacted during the 2026 legislative session. Coffman told trustees the statute requires local policy changes and that ZCS waited for Indiana Department of Education model language before finalizing the draft.
"This law requires school corporations to adopt a policy prohibiting student use of wireless communication devices during the school day but allowing teacher-directed instructional use only on school-supplied or school-sanctioned devices through June 30, 2028," Coffman said. The Board discussed wording in the policy’s first paragraph and approved a technical edit removing the phrase "possessing and/or" to align with the state law.
After brief discussion the board moved to accept the recommended changes. The motion to adopt the policy passed unanimously (4-0). The change will be reflected in district handbooks and implemented in coordination with school administrators and teachers.
