Personal Use of Communication Devices in ACT Public Schools Policy

1. What is this policy about?
   1. This policy covers the use of personal communications devices by students in ACT public schools.
   2. This policy is not intended to prevent a child or young person using their device as an assistive technology that forms part of reasonable adjustment or forms part of management or monitoring of a medical condition.
   3. The policy outlines how mobile phones and other personal communications devices with the capability of connecting to telecommunication and/or internet networks external to the Education Directorate network can be used by students.
2. Policy Statement
   1. This policy has been developed to support ACT public schools and classrooms to be safe places that provide an effective and accessible learning environment for every student and for school staff.
   2. When used effectively, personal communication devices are important tools that can support young peoples’ connection with family, employers, dependents, and others, as well as for some educational tasks where technology adds functionality to learning.
   3. Personal communication devices can also be vital tools to support the health and wellbeing of individuals who use them to monitor and manage medical conditions.
   4. When these devices are not used well, they can cause, or provide a platform for, distraction and potential serious behavioural and social issues.
   5. Schools have an important role to play in supporting students to develop the skills and good habits necessary to use technology well, now and for the rest of their lives.
   6. As students’ progress through the ACT public school system their needs, maturity, personal responsibilities, and experiences change over time. A tiered approach has been adopted to recognise this.

   Years P - 10

   7. Students in Years P-10 at ACT public schools may not use or access personal communications devices at school, including recess and lunch, or during school authorised events, Unless school principal or their delegate has
   8. approved a formal and specific exemption.
   9. Year P-10 students are strongly encouraged not to bring their personal communications to school. However, it is acknowledged that some students require access to a personal communications device immediately before and after school.

   Colleges

   10. College students may bring personal communication devices to their college and to authorised school events. However, devices must be silenced and ‘put away’ during class or instruction time unless a formal and specific exemption has been approved by the school principal, or a teacher has explicitly permitted students to use their personal communications devices to support the delivery or achievement of the outcomes of the lesson/activity.
   11. A personal communications device is ‘put away’ when it is secured out of sight of students in a safe spot. The device must not be on a student’s person, on the student’s desk or in the student’s work area during class time.
   12. Students may not access their personal communications device or use technology connected to the device via physical wires, wireless tethering, Bluetooth or hotspot during class times.
   13. College students may use their personal communications devices at other times while at school.

   Exemptions

   14. If a student needs to use a personal communications device in class and/or during the school day, the student must seek the principal’s or their delegate’s approval via the Education Directorates exemption form for this specific and defined use.
   15. Exemptions will be approved for students who need their device/assistive technology to manage or monitor a medical condition or help meet caring or family responsibilities.

   An exemption application will only be approved if sufficient supporting evidence is provided, for example, from a treating general practitioner. Further guidance on exemptions is provided in the Implementation Procedures: Personal Use of Communication Devices in ACT Public Schools.

   16. When an exemption is approved, the personal communications device(s) may be used only for the specific purposes approved by the school principal, or their delegate. The device must be silenced and put away again when the approved specific use ends.

   Educational use

   17. In P -10 settings, where personal devices add value to the learning program that could not otherwise be supported by a student’s Chromebook, teachers will be required to seek principal or delegate approval.
   18. Teachers in College settings are not required to seek approval for the use of personal devices for teaching and learning purposes.

   Filming and photography

   19. Students must not use any device to film or photograph other students, teachers, school staff or visitors to the school unless permitted to do so by the individual being recorded. Students must not share or transmit images or footage unless permitted to do so by the individual being recorded.

   Inappropriate and unlawful material

   20. Students must not use personal communications devices to create, access or distribute inappropriate or unlawful material while at school or during authorised school activities.

       Implementation

   21. Students who do not abide by this policy will be responded to in accordance with their school’s behaviour management policies and procedures. The Implementation Procedures: Personal Use of Communication Devices in ACT Public Schools (the procedures) have been developed to support schools to implement this policy.
   22. Serious issues relating to the illegal and/or misuse of personal communication devices will be referred to the ACT Police or the relevant authority.
3. Who does this policy apply to?
   1. This policy applies to all ACT public school students while at school during school hours and while participating in authorised school events, including off-site camps and excursions.
   2. This policy does not apply to activities not managed or supervised by the school, e.g. OSHC or external providers using a school site for out of hours activities.
4. Context
   1. Now embedded in everyday life, including for most young people, personal communications devices present a range of opportunities and challenges in the school setting.
   2. Personal communication devices are potentially powerful tools that can support equitable and engaging access to curriculum and social connection between students and their peers, as well as maintaining connection with family. These devices can also be sources of distraction for students and provide a platform for serious behavioural and social issues such as bullying.
   3. This policy has been developed to appropriately balance the opportunities as well as the challenges presented by personal communications technology.
   4. The ACT Government is committed to ensuring all ACT public school students are provided with access to digital technologies to support their learning needs consistent with the Australian Curriculum.
   5. This policy aligns with the guiding principles outlined in the Education Directorate’s Strategic Plan 2022-25. The policy has been developed to deliver against the Focus on Learning, Keep Everyone Safe and Well and Use Evidence and Be Accountable principles.
5. Responsibilities
   1. Principals: are responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented in ACT public schools. Principals must consider, or delegate to a senior school leader, exemption requests. The principal is responsible for ensuring all relevant staff, including relief teachers, are aware of exemption approvals made by the principal and support any use consistent with an approved exemption.
   2. Teachers and School Staff: are responsible for making students aware of this policy and implementing it in classrooms, on school grounds during school hours and during authorised school events. Teachers and school staff must support students who have an approved exemption, and their peers, by communicating the exemption to the student group in a respectful way that supports understanding while maintaining confidentiality about the student’s situation. Teachers and school staff must also model positive use of mobile devices.
   3. Policy Owner: The Executive Branch Manager, Digital Strategy, Services and Transformation Branch is responsible for this policy.
   4. Students: are responsible for abiding by this policy.
   5. Parents and carers: Parents/carers should be aware of this policy and the requirements it places on their children and support the ideals of safe, responsible, and respectful use of personal communications devices by their children.
6. Monitoring and Review
   1. The Policy Owner monitors the policy. This includes an annual scan of operation and review. A full review of the policy will be conducted within a three-year period.
7. Contact
   1. For support contact the Directorate on (02) 6205 5429 or via the Directorate’s online contact form: https://www.education.act.gov.au/about
8. Feedback
   1. Any feedback about this policy, should be raised with the policy owner. Refer to Contact information above.
9. References
   1. Definitions
      • Personal Communication Device: Any electronic device that can connect to a digital communications network external to the Education Directorate network. This includes mobile phones and any other handheld or wearable device.
      • Personal use: Use of a personal communications device for any activity not authorised by a teacher for the achievement of an educational outcome.
      • Put away: A device is ‘put away’ when it is secured out of sight of students in a safe spot. The device must not be on a student’s person, on the student’s desk or in the student’s work area.
      • School Events: A school organised activity, occasion or gathering that takes place within the school or off site during or out of school hours.
      • Assistive Technology (AT): Is any tool or device that helps people with disabilities perform tasks that they would otherwise be unable to do or that they would have difficulty doing. AT can be used to improve functional abilities, increase independence, and enhance quality of life for people with a wide range of disabilities, including autism.
   2. Legislation
      • Education Act 2004: Section 7, Section 8(d), Section 17B
      • Human Rights Act 2004: Section 12
      • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
   3. Implementation Documents
      • Implementation Procedure: Personal Use of Communication Devices in ACT Public Schools (Internal use only)
      • Implementation template: Personal Use of Communication Devices in ACT Public Schools (Internal use only)
   4. Related Policies and Information
      • Communities Online: Acceptable use of ICT – Parents and Students Policy
      • Safe and Supportive Schools Policy (SSS201611)
      • Suspension, Transfer and Exclusion Policy (00044)
      • Use of Personal Electronic Devices Policy (UPED201506)
      • Bring your Personal Electronic Device (PED) Guidelines for Schools

Personal Use of Communication Devices in ACT Public Schools Policy: 00121 is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is the current and complete version of the document, available on the Policies A-Z page of the Education website at http://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/school_and_corporate_policies/A-Z.