Laws ensure changes at local schoolsconcerning cell phones and attendance
Decisions made during the Indiana General Assembly’s 2024 legislative session will impact local students starting this school year.
Student cell phone use is now top priority. The law says Indiana K-12 schools must now create, publish and enforce a ban on using cell phones, tablets and other personal devices during instruction time, with the exception of being required for the class or in emergency situations.
Dr. Rob Moorhead, Superintendent of South Ripley Schools told the Osgood Journal, “This did not cause a major change to our cell phone policies we had in place prior to the law being passed.” He said the corporation was relative restrictive already, so they just had to “tweak a few things.” He noted that while the area schools are a bit different in their policies, for the most part they still allow students to access their phones during passing periods and at lunch. They will continue with not being able to use them in the classrooms without prior permission from the teacher.
An attendance law was also passed that will put more restrictions on students being tardy and missing school. South Ripley Elementary Principal Ryan Lauber, along with Shannon Schmaltz with Ripley County Court Services have already been in contact and have developed and implemented the AEP (Attend and Engage Program). According to Supt. Moorhead this program is very similar to the new legislation that was just passed and works very well. South Ripley, Milan and Jac-Cen-Del schools have been working together and are already ahead of state law.
It sounds like Ripley County is ahead of the curve with Supt. Moorhead saying they will only have to change a few things to be in complete compliance with the state laws.
Other things included schools having to hold back third graders who can not pass the IREAD-e state reading assessment, unless the student receives an exception, beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Schools must allow student to attend religious instruction for a portion of the school day if parents submit a formal request to their child’s principal, among other laws.
