In Indiana, we take educating our next generation of Hoosiers seriously. With nearly half of our budget going toward K-12 education, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our schools and ensure our kids are receiving an education that sets them up for successful futures.
However, the presence of cell phones in the classroom has provided many distractions for students and actively inhibits their education.
According to a recent survey by the National Center for Education Statistics, 53% of public-school leaders believe student academic performance has been impacted by cell phone usage, and 72% believe cell phone usage has a negative impact on student mental health.
To ensure our students are focusing on their education, I authored Senate Enrolled Act 78, which prohibits students from using cell phones and other personal devices for the duration of the school day.
The law requires all public schools, including charter schools, to adopt either a "no device" or "secure storage policy" where students would get their device or devices back at the end of the day. This bill allows students to focus on their lessons, engage with their peers and will help mitigate distractions in the classroom.
This bill expands upon a bill I authored in 2024 that prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time.
The bill passed both the Senate and the House with bipartisan support, and this week I had the opportunity to attend the ceremonial signing of the bill at the Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation Administration Building.
As we look ahead to next session, I will continue to work with my constituents and colleagues to ensure our students are receiving the best education possible.
As always, I encourage constituents to reach out to me with any questions or concerns by filling out a "Contact Me" form on the IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Raatz website or by calling my office at 800-382-9467.
PHOTO CAPTION: State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond, front right) attends the ceremonial signing of Senate Enrolled Act 78, which prohibits students from using cell phones and other personal devices for the duration of the school day.
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State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) represents Senate District 27, which includes
Henry, Union and Wayne counties, and portions of Franklin County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
