Local school boards ready to enforce new cellphone rules

Today marked the beginning of back to school activities for Sault and Algoma District elementary and secondary school students.

The 2024-25 school year brings in some school board policy updates regarding students’ cell phone use.

The Ministry of Education announced in late April that starting in September, Ontario students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 will be required to keep their phones on silent and out of sight throughout the school day while students in Grades 7 to 12 will see their cell phone use banned during class time.

The Algoma District School Board, for its part, conducted a review of its existing policies in May, in line with the provincial government.

“Our policy continues to expect members of the ADSB and its school communities to store personal mobile devices out of view and powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, except under the following circumstances: for education purposes as directed by an educator, for health and medical purposes and to support special education needs,” wrote Lucia Reece, ADSB director of education, in an email to SooToday.

Ontario will also be blocking access to all social media platforms on school networks and devices.

As reported earlier, four of Ontario's largest school boards are suing Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, alleging their "addictive" platforms have wreaked havoc on classrooms.

ADSB has brought in restrictions on social media applications for all staff and students using board-owned devices and board-controlled networks in line with the Ministry of Education’s Policy Program Memo (PPM) 128.

“PPM 128 outlines the importance of maintaining a learning environment that prioritizes student well-being, respect, and academic integrity," Reece wrote. "Our policy continues to endorse this priority given the widespread use of social media and the challenges it has posed in recent years, including concerns related to cyberbullying, distractions in the classroom, and the spread of misinformation."

ADSB policy states that students who disobey the rules may have their devices removed for the remainder of a period at the secondary level or for the rest of a school day at the elementary level — or sent to the principal’s office, if necessary. 

“The new requirements are not intended to diminish the positive aspects of technology in education, but rather to help students engage in their studies by limiting interruptions and in providing learning space that is conducive to their mental and emotional well-being,” Reece wrote.

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (H-SCDSB) also has a Personal Electronic Device (PED) Procedural Guideline in line with the Ministry of Education’s revised Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) 128. 

“The guideline explicitly states that elementary students, from Grade JK to Grade 8, are not allowed to use PEDs for telephone calls or texting/messaging," wrote Danielle Dupuis, H-SCDSB communications officer, in an email. "In cases of emergency, elementary students are required to utilize the telephone system provided in the main office for home communication. Regarding high school students, Grade 9 to Grade 12 students are permitted to use PEDs for telephone calls or texting/messaging in designated school areas during non-instructional time."

Dupuis wrote that school principals will point out the location of those designated areas after consulting with their school superintendent. 

Grade 9 to Grade 12 students can have cell phones in the classroom if they are powered off and out of sight.

Dupuis stated that students and parents will be reminded of the guidelines in the first week of school.

All H-SCDSB schools are expected to follow the rules but individual schools will determine how elementary students keep their PEDs out of sight.

The 2024-25 school year begins with some teachers’ union representatives, as reported earlier, questioning how effective the new cell phone rules will be.

“We will follow Policy/Program Memorandum 145: Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour to ensure our policies are respected and adhered to,” Dupuis wrote on behalf of the Huron-Superior board regarding enforcement of the rules.

“As the school year is just beginning, it is difficult to comment on how this expected enforcement may unfold, however, we have confidence in our students, staff and families that they, too, value instructional time and want our students focused, as best as possible, in our learning environments,” Reece wrote.