Area school boards adopt provincial cellphone use restriction policy for students

Students will be restricted in their cellphone use while at school after local public and Catholic school boards adopt a provincial policy on the use personal mobile devices.

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The Lambton Kent District School Board and St. Clair Catholic District School Board issued a joint media release stating: “In conjunction with all publicly funded school boards across the province, will be implementing these requirements on September 1, 2024, in an attempt to limit classroom distractions and create a culture of uninterrupted learning.”

The new rules state personal mobile devices are not to be used during instructional time except under the following circumstances:

• for educational purposes as directed by an educator
• for health or medical purposes
• to support special education needs cellphones, cameras and other digital imaging and/or audio recording devices are not permitted to be used in change rooms or washrooms at any time.

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Other than these instances, elementary and secondary students are not to use cellphones at school during the school day without the permission of an educator, the release said

“We know that student learning improves when students are not distracted from their lessons” said LKDSB director John Howitt in the release.

“Breakfast and snack programs help to remove the distraction of hunger, just as limiting the access to cell phones and mobile devices help to remove the distractions they cause.”

In all instances, students’ personal mobile devices must be turned off or set to silent mode and stored out of view, the release said.

If an educator sees a mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must discuss with the student and/or ask for it to be handed in for the class for secondary students or for the day for elementary students, the release said. The student must place the device in a storage area in a location designated by the educator or principal.

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“Using a cell phone during instructional time or other restricted periods in school is a teachable moment” said SCCDSB director of education, Scott Johnson in the release.

“By addressing these moments, we show students that their engagement matters. It’s about developing an understanding and demonstrating that their educators genuinely care about their presence and participation in the classroom.”

The school boards said implementation strategies may vary depending on school and classroom communities and can include:

• Designating a space for cell phones and other personal mobile devices in classrooms and/or offices so that they are set to silent or powered off and out of view.
• Using lockers, classroom space such as a hanging numbered rack, lock box or safe, or any combination of these strategies.

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As the safety and wellbeing of our students remains paramount, parents and guardians continue to be invited to contact the school office to communicate any urgent or unexpected issues with their children, the release said.

“Prior to the start of the school year, principals will communicate clear, school-specific expectations of responsibilities for students, educators, and families to the school community.”

School boards are also required to restrict access to all social media platforms on school networks and school devices, the release said. Social media platforms can only be used by students at school for educational purposes, directed by an educator.

School boards can determine exceptions for the use of social media for pedagogical or work-related purposes, the release said.

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