On June 17, the Honourable Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education, announced restrictions on the use of personal mobile devices and access to social media platforms in Alberta Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools and private Early Childhood Services programs, starting September 1, 2024. These restrictions are aimed at helping to reduce distractions and maximize learning time while supporting student mental health and reducing opportunities for cyberbullying. A personal device is considered to be any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate with or access the internet, such as a cellphone, tablet, laptop, or smartwatch.
Children and students may not use personal mobile devices during instructional time. If they have personal mobile devices with them during instructional time, they must keep these devices on silent or powered off and stored out of view in accordance with the school authority’s policies and/or procedures. Children and students may not access social media on school networks or on school devices.
School authorities are required to allow for the following limited-use exceptions, as determined by a principal or equivalent:
- Limited use of personal mobile devices must be permitted for health or medical reasons or to support special learning needs.
- Limited use of personal mobile devices may be permitted for educational or other purposes.
- Limited access to social media platforms may be permitted.
The ministerial order requires school authorities to have policies and/or procedures for the use of personal mobile devices and to limit access to social media on school networks and devices.
Upon review of our campus device expectations, FFCA currently meets the requirements of the Ministerial Order.
Student Mobile Phone / Personal Electronic Device Expectations (including headphones):
Grades K-8
- Turned off or on silent in bags, backpacks, or lockers while in school
- Use permitted on bus
- Exceptions can be made for specific students with unique learning needs with Principal (or designate) approval.
Grades 9-12
- Turned off or on silent in bags, backpacks, or lockers while in classes UNLESS specifically directed by a teacher for a specific learning activity
- Use permitted on bus
- Exceptions can be made for specific students with unique learning needs with Principal (or designate) approval.