Cellphones, reading, state testing: See what’s new as Indiana students head back to school

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INDIANAPOLIS (CHALKBEAT) — Across the state, students are heading back to school soon. Students in Beech Grove and Warren Township start classes this week, followed by the rest of Marion County’s districts next week.

With a new school year comes new rules about cellphones in classrooms, a new pilot program for shorter but more frequent state testing, and a new policy on holding back students who can’t read based on third grade reading exams.

Read more about these changes and others you’ll notice this school year:

Check for school bans on cellphones

A new Indiana law requires school districts to ban cellphones and “any portable wireless device” from class time.

The ban covers phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming systems, ...