Blackford County Schools Implements Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone Ban Starting Fall 2026

From the Blackford County Schools Board meeting on May 19, 2026

Blackford County Schools will require students to store cell phones in lockers — powered down — from the first bell to the last starting in the 2026-27 school year, administrators told the school board on Monday.

The change implements Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 78, signed by Gov. Mike Braun on May 13, which bans student cell phone and smartwatch use during school hours statewide. The law takes effect July 1.

Under the updated student handbooks, approved 4-0 by the board, students at the junior/senior high will not have access to phones from 8:00 AM to 3:08 PM — including at lunch and during passing periods, a departure from current practice. Classrooms have telephones students can use to contact parents.

Exceptions are preserved for students with medical needs, such as diabetic monitors that connect to phones, and for students with IEP or 504 plans as required by the state law.

Discipline follows a progressive ladder: a first offense brings a 30-minute detention, escalating to 60-minute detention, in-school suspension, a mandatory parent meeting, and ultimately daily phone check-in at the office. The board expects initial pushback, particularly from parents accustomed to texting their children during the day. The superintendent acknowledged teachers will also need to model phone-free behavior.

Both the junior/senior high and the intermediate/primary school handbooks were approved 4-0.

Source: YouTube transcript — BCS School Board Meeting, May 19, 2026; WNDU coverage of SEA 78 signing

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.