WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 19, 2026 – Leading child safety and well-being organizations, The Anxious Generation Movement, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Institute for Families and Technology, and Becca Schmill Foundation, announced today that Indiana’s new law received an “A” grade on the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card.
Introduced by Sens. Jeff Raatz (R-IN) and Greg Goode (R-IN) and signed into law by Governor Mike Braun (R-IN), S.B. 78 limits the use of all personal electronic devices by students and requires that devices be stored in secure, inaccessible locations throughout the entire school day, or from “bell-to-bell.”
This new law strengthens Indiana’s previous phone-free schools state policy, which received a “C” when the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card was first published in January 2026. The state’s initial law only restricted device use during class instructional time.
“With enactment of S.B. 78, Indiana’s phone-free schools policy now ranks among the strongest in the nation, providing an excellent model for states interested in pursuing or strengthening their own laws," said Lina Nealon, director of strategic partnerships for the Institute of Families and Technology and Report Card project lead. “We commend State Senators Raatz and Goode for their leadership in making Indiana’s phone-free school law one of the, thereby setting up Indiana’s students for success at school and in life.”
“We’re thrilled Indiana is now the third state in the nation to receive a top-ranking “A” grade,” said, Deb Schmill, founder of the Becca Schmill Foundation, “Passage of S.B. 78 will help improve student outcomes across the state by ensuring educational environments are free from the distractions of personal electronic devices.”
Bell-to-bell policies mandating phones are inaccessible while at school are considered the grade “A” standard under the Report Card’s criteria. These policies are proven to enhance academic performance, improve students’ mental and physical health, increase teacher satisfaction, protect student safety and privacy, and deepen school community relationships.
More information about Indiana’s grade can be found here.
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About the Phone-Free Schools Report Card
Launched in 2026, the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card is published by leading child safety and well-being organizations, including The Anxious Generation, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Institute for Families and Technology, and Becca Schmill Foundation. The report evaluates whether the laws in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., meet the gold standard for phone-free schools: policies requiring all students to store their personal electronic devices in secure, inaccessible locations for the entire school day (bell-to-bell).