Section 2.1: School Related Operations

Approved: March 20, 2001

Revised: November 5, 2019

STUDENT PERSONAL MOBILE DEVICE USE

1.0             Rationale

District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) is committed to help ensure students focus on learning, all members of the school community must not use personal mobile devices during instructional time except under specific circumstances. 

2.0             Definitions

Personal Mobile Device: A personal mobile device refers to any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate or to access the Internet, such as a cellphone tablet, laptop or smartwatch.

Accommodations: School boards have a duty under the Ontario Human Rights Code to provide appropriate accommodations to students and employees of the board, including educators. If a student or other person employed by the board requires the use of a personal mobile device as an accommodation under the Human Rights Code, school boards are obligated to allow such accommodation.

Educator: refers to teachers regulated under the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, and early childhood educators regulated under the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007.

Instructional Time: refers to the scheduled duration of a class within the school day.  During this time, the restriction of student use of mobile devices also applies to washrooms and hallways.

Progressive Discipline: Progressive Discipline is a range of early and later interventions, supports and consequences that are developmentally appropriate. It includes opportunities for students to learn from mistakes and focus on improving behaviour.

School Community: The School Community includes trustees, all staff of the board (administrators, principals and vice-principals, teachers, support staff), students, parents, police services, community partners, and community groups who use board facilities.

3.0             Policy

It is the policy of DSB1 to ensure students focus on learning through the management of personal mobile devices during instructional time within the school day.