Trustees within School District 91 updated their Digital Technology, Consent and Privacy Policy.
As part of the revision, the District will align with the Ministry of Education and Child Care requirements for cell phones and personal digital devices for the 2024-25 school year following their meeting on Monday.
The Ministry requires all school districts to have policies and regulations in their Codes of Conduct by September 2024, limiting the use of cell phones and other personal digital devices connected to the internet during the school day.
According to the Ministry media release:
“Research shows that frequent cellphone interruption in the classroom, social media platforms with addictive algorithms and predators who seek to exploit young people all present significant risks to young people. Studies have found that children’s mental health and physical safety can suffer as a result of body-image distortion, cyberbullying, images shared without consent and disturbing instances of sextortion.”
The updated restrictions in SD91 include:
• Elementary schools – Personal digital devices must be powered off and safely stored during the
entire school day
o Students in elementary schools may only use personal digital devices during the school
day for instructional purposes and to promote digital literacy, and only with the
permission and direct supervision of a teacher or other staff member.
• Secondary schools – Personal digital devices must be powered off and safely stored away during
instructional time unless used for instructional purposes with the permission and direct supervision
of a teacher or other staff member.
o Secondary students may use personal digital devices during the school day outside of
instructional time.
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