Ontario is cracking down on cellphone use in class, banning vaping and rolling out more modernized curriculum

CALEDON, August 29, 2024 — The Ontario government is investing $47.5 million to support safe and healthy learning, along with implementing the most comprehensive plan in Canada to restrict student use of cellphones and ban vaping in schools. By removing distractions, the province says students can focus their attention on academic achievement, which will include modernized courses in business and career studies, and technological education.

For the start of the 2024-25 school year, every school will have uniform policy to have cellphones on silent and removed from sight at the beginning of instructional time – the new default unless explicitly directed by the educator. Additionally, every Ontario school will have uniform policy to have students immediately surrender vape, tobacco and nicotine products in their possession with parents/guardians notified immediately.

Cellphones and mobile device restrictions in schools:

• Every school will have uniform policy to have cellphones on silent and removed from sight at the beginning of instructional time – the new default unless explicitly directed by the educator.
• If students do not comply, cellphones are immediately surrendered where there is no explicit allowance from the educator.
• For students in kindergarten to Grade 6, there will be a cellphone restriction for the entire school day, but they may be used with permission from the educator.
• A strengthened personal mobile devices policy with clear responsibilities broken down amongst staff and a requirement for best practices to be developed and shared with staff.
• Social media sites will be banned on all school networks and devices.
• Requirement that educators and staff model behaviour and not use personal mobile devices during class for non-work related reasons.
• New ban on sharing and recording videos or photos of individuals without explicit consent.
• $500,000 for digital literacy supports for students during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years.

Rules for vape, tobacco and nicotine products in student possession:

• Every school will have uniform policy to have students immediately surrender vape, tobacco and nicotine products in their possession with parents/guardians notified immediately.
• Strengthening existing mandatory learning on cannabis and vaping within the Health and Physical Education curriculum.
• Investing $30 million over three years to provide schools with critical safety infrastructure funding for security upgrades, such as vape detectors.
• Providing $500,000 to community partners to provide education and supports related to student use of vape, tobacco, nicotine and cannabis products.
• Public Health agencies to continue to be utilized to support education and enforcement where necessary for reoccurring problems, including supports through the STOP program (smoking cessation) through CAMH and the Quash program through the Lung Health Foundation.

“With their constant stream of notifications and pings, it’s no surprise to anyone that cellphones constantly grab our attention. This is why it was necessary to restrict cellphones in the classroom and enable students to restore focus on learning so they can achieve better academic outcomes,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. “This school year is shaping up to be the first in years without the threat of pandemic disruptions or negotiations with teachers’ unions. We’re excited for the year ahead where students can look forward to uninterrupted learning, extra-curriculars and a back-to-basics, modernized curriculum that will set them up for success.”

The new provincewide measures are taking effect on September 1, 2024 to directly counter the alarming rise of vaping and cellphone distractions in schools. The new rules will help combat the negative impact mobile devices, social media and vaping are having on academic achievement, mental health and physical well-being.

The government is investing $47.5 million to support the implementation of the new rules, including:

• $15 million to support the expansion of programs that offer direct supports for students who are at risk of substance use and addictive behaviours
• $1 million to School Mental Health Ontario to develop webinars and resources for parents and students to learn how to talk about the adverse effects of vaping and excessive cellphone usage
• $1.5 million for school boards to work with their parent involvement committees to enable parents and community partners to run grassroots campaigns to deter vaping and cellphone distractions
• Further, as announced in Budget 2024, $30 million to school boards for vape detectors and other security upgrades in schools

“By banning vaping in schools, our government is setting students up for success and prioritizing their health and well-being inside and outside the classroom,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and MPP for Dufferin-Caledon. “We are also reminding parents to keep their kids up to date on all routine vaccinations this school year to ensure our schools and communities remain safe for everyone.”

Beginning this fall, there will be a new graduation requirement and several new courses for Grade 9 and 10 students as the government continues to modernize the curriculum:

• Grade 9 students will be required to earn a Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education credit as part of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. These courses will allow students to explore and apply fundamental technological concepts as well as the engineering design process.
• Two experiential courses in Business Studies for students in Grades 9 and 10 will help students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, learn the importance of taking initiative, find creative solutions to issues as well as learn how to start and run a business.
• For Grade 10 students, mandatory learning on mental health literacy has been expanded in the Career Studies course. Students will learn how to recognize the signs of being overwhelmed as well as where to find help locally when needed.

The government has also made a historic $16 billion investment to support school construction, renewal and improvement over 10 years. Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested more than $3.6 billion in capital construction projects in education, including 139 new schools, 109 additions and renovations to existing facilities, creating more than 98,000 student spaces and over 8,000 new licensed child care spaces.

Quick Facts

• In April 2024, Ontario revised the provincial Code of Conduct to update the rules on the use of personal mobile devices and vaping and tobacco products in schools. These tough new measures are designed to remove distractions, improve student outcomes and promote healthy decision-making among students.
• In addition to explicitly banning e-cigarettes in schools and school-related settings, Ontario is responding to the popularity of vaping among students by strengthening existing mandatory learning on cannabis and vaping and digital citizenship, with an emphasis on the elementary curriculum.
• To increase awareness among Ontario parents about new cellphone and vaping rules in classrooms impacting their children this fall, the government has launched an advertising campaign. Visit Ontario.ca/SchoolRules for more information.
• The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023, which received Royal Assent in June 2023, ensures the province’s public education system focuses on what matters most: important life-long skills, like reading, writing and math.

Additional Resources

• Ontario Cracking Down on Cellphone Use and Banning Vaping in Schools
• Policy/Program Memorandum 128
• Parents’ Guide to the Provincial Code of Conduct
• Cellphones and other personal mobile devices in schools
• Cannabis and schools
• Parent guides and resources
• Parent guide to Ontario school system
• Ontario’s Curriculum Review and Revision Guide
• Getting back-to-basics in education

SOURCE Government of Ontario

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