For years, school IT leaders in Indiana have operated with a fair amount of autonomy. You designed your networks, managed your 1:1 programs, and set filtering policies that made sense for your community.
But the legislative landscape just shifted.
With the passage of Senate Bill 78 and Senate Bill 159, the state has moved from offering best practices to issuing strict mandates. These laws change how your students use technology, how parents interact with your filters, and even how your district qualifies for state funding.
It is a lot to manage. So, we have broken down the critical components to help you stay ahead of the deadlines.
The New Wireless Reality: SB 78
The core of SB 78 is a full-day prohibition on personal wireless devices. It is a mandate that covers the entire duration of the school day.
The law targets personal cell phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, and internet-connected smartwatches. Schools are now required to enforce either a no-device policy or a secure and inaccessible storage protocol.
But there are necessary exceptions.
Usage is permitted for documented medical conditions or emergencies authorized by a superintendent. It is also permitted if specifically required by a student’s IEP or 504 plan. For instructional purposes, devices are still allowed, but the law requires that teacher-directed use occurs only on school-supplied devices.
This is where visibility becomes your greatest asset.
Tools like Securly Filter and Securly Classroom allow teachers to maintain control over instructional time, ensuring that even when devices are out, they are being used exactly as intended. By clearly distinguishing between educational use and personal distraction, you protect your staff and stay within the bounds of the new law.
Funding and Parental Control: SB 159
While SB 78 focuses on the physical devices in the building, SB 159 focuses on the infrastructure and oversight behind them.
The biggest immediate impact is on your budget. To remain eligible for state funding and grants, schools must now maintain a three-year technology plan. This makes your long-term roadmap a legal prerequisite for your district’s financial health.
But the most significant shift for your daily operations is the new requirement for parental oversight.
By January 1, 2027, districts must implement policies that enable parents to control internet filters on school-issued devices when they are used off-campus. This includes the ability to increase filter sensitivity, block specific websites, and set time limits.
The burden of managing home rules is shifting from your IT desk to the parents. If you do not have a system that automates this, your support queue will likely become unmanageable.
We built Securly Home specifically for this transition. It gives parents the functional control mandated by SB 159—including a “Pause” button for the internet and customizable filtering categories—without requiring your team to manage individual home settings.
Critical Compliance Dates
The timeline for these changes is aggressive:
- July 1, 2026: Effective date for SB 159 and the start of the full-day wireless restrictions under SB 78.
- January 1, 2027: Deadline to have parental control policies and tools in place for off-campus filtering.
- July 1, 2030: Expiration date for exemptions for schools currently locked into incompatible vendor contracts.
How to Move Forward
The goal of these laws is to reduce distractions and give parents more agency. But for an IT leader, the goal is compliance without chaos.
As you update your three-year technology plan, consider how your current tools will handle these mandates. The right software should not just filter content. It should protect your funding, your staff, and your time.
Schedule a call to see how Securly solves your SB 78 and SB 159 compliance hurdles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What devices are specifically restricted under SB 78? The policy covers personal cell phones, tablets, laptops, portable gaming devices, and internet-connected smartwatches.
Does the ban apply to school-issued devices? During instructional time, school-supplied devices are permitted if the use is teacher-directed for educational purposes. Personal devices are strictly prohibited during the school day unless a specific exception applies.
What happens if our current filtering contract doesn’t allow for parental controls? SB 159 provides an exemption for schools with incompatible existing vendor contracts, but this exemption expires on July 1, 2030. You will need to ensure your next contract meets the new standards.
Is the three-year tech plan a one-time requirement? No, schools must maintain an active three-year technology plan to remain eligible for state funding and grants on an ongoing basis.
What are the medical exceptions for device use? Usage is permitted for medical management if there is a documented order provided by a licensed health care provider. This is common for students who use apps to monitor glucose levels or other chronic conditions.
