Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media in Schools

August 29, 2024

For the 2024-2025 school year, the province is implementing new restrictions on the use of personal mobile devices and access to social media platforms in Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools.

These restrictions are designed to:

ensure a focused and productive learning environment for all students
support student mental health
reduce opportunities for cyberbullying

These changes build upon ECSD's existing policies to ensure students remain focused on learning during school hours and our ongoing commitment to supporting student well-being.

What is considered a personal device?

A personal device is considered any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate with or access the internet. This includes:

cellphones
tablets
laptops
smartwatches

What are the restrictions?

No Use of Personal Mobile Devices During Instructional Time
Students are not permitted to use personal mobile devices during instructional time unless directed by school staff for learning purposes. Every school also has the flexibility to extend this restriction to encompass the whole school day.
Devices Must Be Silent or Powered Off and Stored Away
If students have personal mobile devices with them at school, they are required to keep the devices on silent or powered off and store them in their locker, backpack, or another secure location.
No Access to Social Media
Students may not access social media on school networks or school devices. Known social media sites will continue to be blocked from Division networks.

Exceptions can be made for students who require personal mobile devices for health and specialized learning needs by coordinating with school administration.

Your child's school will share specific details about how they will implement the personal mobile device policies and offer further guidance to students.

How can I help my child with these changes?

We encourage you to discuss the new expectations around personal mobile devices with your child. Other ideas to support you include:

reaching out to the school office if you need to share information with your child during school hours
discussing with your child the potential costs of using their personal data plan at school
confirming after-school schedules or lunch before the school day starts
explaining that these rules are in place to help minimize distractions for your child