Key Takeaways
- Noblesville Schools will enforce a new statewide ban on personal wireless devices during the school day for the 2026‑27 academic year.
- Devices must be powered off and stored in lockers (grades 6‑12) or cubbies (grades K‑5) from the first bell until dismissal, including lunch and passing periods.
- Exceptions are allowed for documented medical or educational accommodations, and device use is permitted on school buses and before/after school.
- Communication between school and home will shift to the Student Square tool (part of Parent Square) for middle‑ and high‑school students, while elementary families will continue to use the school office.
- YouTube access is restricted: K‑8 students can view only teacher‑curated learning videos; high‑schoolers retain access to educational YouTube content on school‑issued iPads.
- All elementary iPads will remain on campus; they will no longer be sent home with students.
- A new Lightspeed Parent Portal will give parents weekly email reports of their child’s online activity, real‑time site visibility, and the ability to pause or control device usage outside school hours.
- Further details will be communicated before the start of the school year.
Policy Overview and Legal Basis
Noblesville Schools announced the upcoming technology and cellphone policy changes via an email to parents and guardians. The revisions stem directly from a wireless communications devices bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly during its most recent legislative session. The new state law expressly prohibits student use of personal wireless devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, and smart glasses—during the school day. Consequently, the district must align its local practices with the statute, ensuring compliance while still addressing the educational and safety needs of its student body.
Device Storage Requirements
Under the updated policy, students in grades 6‑12 are required to power off their personal devices and store them in lockers for the entirety of the school day, covering instructional time, lunch, and passing periods. For younger learners in grades K‑5, the rule mirrors the same expectation but uses classroom cubbies as the storage location. The mandate applies from the moment the first bell rings until the final dismissal bell, meaning there is no permissible window for personal device use during school hours, even during breaks or non‑instructional times.
Permitted Use Times and Exceptions
The policy carves out specific windows where personal device use remains allowed: students may use their devices on school buses and before the first bell or after the last bell of the day. Additionally, students who have documented medical or educational accommodations will work collaboratively with their school’s support team to develop individualized plans that address their unique needs while still respecting the overarching statute. This flexibility ensures that legitimate health or learning requirements are not inadvertently compromised by the blanket restriction.
Home‑School Communication Tools
To maintain effective communication between families and the school despite the device ban, Noblesville Schools is introducing Student Square, a student‑focused extension of the existing Parent Square platform. Middle‑ and high‑school students will download the Student Square app onto their school‑issued iPads, enabling them to send messages exclusively to parents and teachers. All communications transmitted through Student Square will be monitored by school staff to ensure appropriateness and safety. Elementary students and their families will continue to rely on the traditional method of contacting the school office for any necessary daytime communication.
YouTube Access Restrictions
The district is also tightening controls over YouTube usage on school devices. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will be limited to viewing only teacher‑curated, educational YouTube content that has been pre‑approved by instructors. High‑school students will retain access to YouTube, but only to videos classified as educational and accessible via their school‑issued iPads. This layered approach aims to balance the instructional value of video resources with the need to shield younger learners from potentially distracting or inappropriate material.
Elementary iPad Management
In a related shift, all elementary school iPads will remain on campus for the 2026‑27 school year. Previously, some devices may have been sent home with students for homework or remote learning purposes. Under the new policy, iPads will be stored and charged within school facilities, eliminating the possibility of off‑campus personal device use during school hours and simplifying inventory management for the technology department.
Lightspeed Parent Portal Introduction
To enhance parental oversight of student online activity, Noblesville Schools will roll out the Lightspeed Parent Portal. Through this tool, parents will receive weekly email summaries detailing their child’s web browsing activity, obtain real‑time visibility into the specific sites being accessed, and have the ability to intervene directly—such as pausing the screen or restricting particular applications—outside of school hours. The portal is designed to give families actionable insights while respecting student privacy during instructional time.
Next Steps and Communication Plan
The district emphasized that additional information regarding the implementation timeline, training sessions for staff and students, and detailed FAQs will be disseminated before the start of the 2026‑27 school year. Parents are encouraged to monitor official Noblesville Schools channels, including the Parent Square app and the district website, for updates. By providing clear guidance and supportive resources, the administration aims to ensure a smooth transition to the new technology policies while maintaining a focus on student safety, academic engagement, and effective home‑school collaboration.