Act 313 is straightforward: students cannot have a cell phone or any electronic telecommunication device on their person during the school day.

LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- Louisiana school districts are now mandated to enforce a new regulation on cell phone usage among public school students.

The mandate follows Gov. Jeff Landry's signing of Act 313 into law. 

School administrators want to clarify that students who fail to comply with the law will face school consequences.

Act 313 is straightforward: students cannot have a cell phone or any electronic telecommunication device on their person during the school day. If a student brings a phone onto school grounds, it must be turned off and properly stowed away.

Tracy Wirtz is a communication specialist with the Lafayette Parish School System explains that "person" and "stowed away" are the keywords. 

"Stowed away means they can't have it anywhere on them," Wirtz said. "They can't put it in their pockets. They can't tuck it under a shirt. They cannot have it on their person if they have it at school. It has to be like in their knapsack and it has to be turned off. So stowed away, off of themselves anywhere."

The Lafayette Parish School System agrees Act 313 helps to ensure uniformity.

"The policy was already in place at Lafayette Parish public schools," Wirtz said. "However, the principals had some leeway in that. They could have green zones or red zones or times when the students could take out their phones, like they may have been able to use them during the lunch hour. Because it's state law, they are not allowed to have their cell phones out at all during the instructional day."

School districts are prepared to apply strict consequences when a student fails to comply with state law.

"Remember that the spirit of this law is to reduce distractions in the classroom," Wirtz said. "Teachers want to teach, and they want students to learn."

The cell phone law does not apply to students who must use the device for their education, accommodation or a health plan. 

All working parts, including the SIM card, must be submitted when a phone is confiscated.

The consequences of violating the cell phone policy for first time will allow a student to pick up the phone at a time designated by the principal. The 2nd offense will carry an in-school- suspension and any violation after will result in an out-of-school suspension where only the parent or legal guardian can pick up the phone at a time designated by the principal.

Failure to comply could lead to long-term suspension.

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