Indiana Senate Bill 159: New Parent Device Control Requirements Explained

Indiana lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 159, legislation that would expand parental control over school-issued student devices outside instructional hours. If enacted, the bill would require districts to formalize how families can manage filtering, usage, and device time when students are not in school or participating in remote learning.

The proposal reflects growing state-level momentum around off-campus device governance and student digital wellness. For Indiana districts and education leaders preparing for potential new compliance requirements, now is the time to review technology plans, assess digital safety strategies, and ensure systems are in place to empower families while keeping students protected.

What SB 159 would require

If enacted, SB 159 would update Indiana’s education policy to require public school corporations and charter schools to expand how parental controls, filtering, and device usage expectations are addressed within technology plans and student device policies. Key provisions include:

1. Update Technology Plans

Districts would need to include in their technology plans a description of how they will enable parents to exercise control over a student’s technological devices while the student is not in school or engaged in virtual instruction or remote learning. This goes beyond traditional policies that govern use during the school day by explicitly involving parents in off-campus management.

2. Strengthen Internet Use Policies

By Jan. 1, 2027, schools must adopt Internet use policies that give parents tools to:

• Increase the strength of web filtering,

• Block access to specific content or websites, and

• Set limits on how long school devices can be used outside school hours. 

3. Instructional-Time Protections

SB 159 reinforces that students must use school-issued devices for educational purposes during instructional time, tying digital governance closely to classroom management policies.

Together, these changes emphasize a comprehensive approach to student device use — one that extends beyond the school building and gives families a more active role in managing technology.

Why parent-controlled filtering matters

Providing families with structured, district-approved tools helps schools:

• Strengthen trust with parents and caregivers,

• Promote healthy technology habits after hours,

• Maintain compliance with state and federal digital safety expectations, and

• Reduce strain on IT teams by offering self-service options for families.

SB 159 underscores that digital safety is no longer just an in-school responsibility; it’s a partnership between districts and households.

That’s where Linewize solutions come in. Indiana schools preparing for SB 159 can strengthen their technology plans by deploying tools that align directly with the bill’s focus on parental empowerment, filtering flexibility, and responsible device use.

How Linewize supports district compliance and family engagement

Indiana schools preparing for SB 159 can strengthen their technology plans by deploying tools that align directly with the bill’s focus on parental empowerment, filtering flexibility, and responsible device use.

Linewize Filter: Flexible Protection Beyond the School Day

Linewize Filter allows districts to maintain compliant baseline protections while enabling parents (within district-defined guardrails) to increase filtering strength or block specific content at home. This ensures families have meaningful control without compromising district standards.

Parent Visibility and Engagement Tools

Linewize’s parent-facing features provide insight into student browsing activity and device use patterns, supporting transparency, digital citizenship conversations, and healthier after-hours technology habits.

Classroom Control with Classwize

During instructional hours, Classwize helps educators monitor screens, limit distractions, and guide on-task learning, aligning directly with the bill’s expectations around appropriate classroom use.

Documentation and Policy Support

Linewize reporting tools help districts document parental control implementation, filtering adjustments, and policy enforcement, supporting compliance during audits or state reviews and simplifying technology plan updates.

Together, these solutions form an integrated digital safety ecosystem that helps districts balance student protection, instructional focus, and family engagement.

Practical steps for Indiana districts to take now

District leaders don’t need to wait for final passage to begin preparing. Smart early steps include:

Review current technology plans and acceptable-use policies to identify gaps where parental control options could be more clearly outlined.

• Evaluate existing filtering and screen-time tools for off-campus enforcement.
• Engage families early by surveying parents about digital safety needs and communication preferences.
• Ensure classroom management systems align with instructional-time expectations.
  

By proactively addressing these areas, districts can position themselves for smoother implementation and demonstrate a commitment to student well-being and responsible technology use.

Linewize is ready to help Indiana schools prepare

Linewize is here to help Indiana districts translate legislative change into practical, student-centered digital safety strategies. Our team can review your current technology environment, map solutions to SB 159 requirements, and help build a roadmap that balances compliance, student protection, and family engagement.

Connect with us to start the conversation about preparing your district for SB 159 and building safer, more transparent, and digitally responsible school communities.

Request your demo today

See how Linewize can help you future-proof your approach to student online safety, with real-time filtering, digital threat detection, classroom management, and more.