On June 17, 2024, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced a ministerial order regarding students’ use of personal mobile devices in schools, effective for the 2024-25 school year. This communication shares key details of this ministerial order, and further information about steps Aspen View Public Schools will be taking to implement it.
Highlights of the Ministerial Order:
Effective for the 2024-25 school year:
- K-12 students will not be allowed access to personal mobile devices during school instructional time;
- Personal mobile devices are defined as cell phones, smart phones, watches, headphones or any other personal electronic devices which connect to cellular networks;
- School administrators will work with students and families on a case-by-case basis regarding exemptions for health/medical concerns or special learning needs;
- School divisions have flexibility to determine and define student access to personal mobile devices during designated breaks (ex. lunchtime);
- School divisions will take steps to restrict student access to social media sites;
- School principals may make exemptions to allow the use of personal mobile devices for specific educational purposes on a case-by-case basis.
Steps to be taken by Aspen View Public Schools:
Aspen View will start work this week to develop administrative procedures which will:
-
Define student access to personal mobile devices during designated breaks;
-
Define processes to potential exemption due to health/medical reasons, special learning needs or specific educational purposes;
-
Define procedures for storing personal mobile devices while use is restricted;
-
Define consequences for non-compliance;
-
Define expectations for the use of personal mobile devices by Aspen View Public Schools staff.
Aspen View will be sharing information and engaging with school council chairs for feedback on potential administrative procedures in the coming weeks.
More information will be shared with school families prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year.