Indiana students return to school with new rules on cell phone usage, reading requirements, and state testing.

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Students in Beech Grove and Warren Township are preparing to return to school in the coming weeks. Classes will begin this week for students in Beech Grove and Warren Township, followed by the rest of Marion County districts next week.

As the new school year approaches, there are updated regulations regarding the use of cell phones in classrooms, a new pilot initiative for more frequent but shorter state testing, and a revised policy on retaining students who struggle with reading based on third-grade reading assessments.

Learn more about these modifications and others that will be evident in the upcoming academic year:

Check for school restrictions on mobile devices

A recent Indiana statute mandates that school districts prohibit cell phones and “any portable wireless device” during class periods.

The directive encompasses phones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, and any other devices capable of facilitating communication between two individuals. However, the specifics of the policy are left to the discretion of each school district.

Exceptions are permitted for educational purposes (including Individualized Education Programs), emergencies, and medical reasons.

Revised state testing structure for some students

The Indiana Department of Education is introducing a checkpoint-based ILEARN program this academic year as an alternative to a single high-stakes exam at the end of the year. According to the department, over 70% of schools have opted into this pilot initiative.

The primary objective is to provide more actionable data throughout the school year for students, families, and educators, rather than waiting for results at the conclusion of the academic year.

This pilot program will feature three checkpoints during the year and a condensed summative assessment at the end of the year, as per the department. The transition is anticipated to apply to all students starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

Collaborative efforts to address chronic absenteeism

Under a new truancy prevention law, parents of persistently absent students in kindergarten through sixth grade must convene with schools to devise a plan and acquire comprehensive services to enhance attendance.

Furthermore, the legislation mandates school authorities to notify the prosecutor’s office about truant students and necessitates prosecutors to inform parents about potential legal ramifications for their children’s absenteeism.

Potential increase in student retentions

A new law tightening the state’s remediation policy could lead to more students repeating the third grade. Although this policy won’t take effect until the 2025-2026 school year, it will be based on assessments from the upcoming academic year.

Historically, retention has been part of Indiana’s policy framework. While it has become less prevalent in recent years, with numerous students being promoted socially over time, passing the IREAD-3 is now required to advance to fourth grade.

Some exemptions exist, including certain students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and English language learners, as well as those who pass the math component of the statewide evaluation.

Additionally, parents have the option to challenge a remediation recommendation if they believe their child qualifies for one of the exemptions.

Conclusion of COVID relief funding for schools

Schools have until September to allocate the final portion of federal COVID relief funds, known as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER). Consequently, school districts may be exploring alternative funding sources for programs and positions currently supported by these funds.

The state spending tracker indicates that schools have been reimbursed for approximately 87% of available federal relief funds as of July 19. Nonetheless, real-time school expenditures are not captured by the tracker.

Indiana Reporter Aleksandra Appleton contributed to this article.