Queensland state schools are committed to reducing the distraction of mobile devices to provide optimal learning environments for all students.

For the purpose of this procedure, mobile devices include mobile phones, wearables such as smartwatches, handheld devices and other emerging technologies which have the ability to connect to telecommunication networks or the internet.

All state school students must keep mobile phones switched off and ‘away for the day’ during school hours. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, must have notifications switched off so that phone calls, messages and other notifications cannot be sent or received during school hours.

Students and their parents may apply for an exemption from this requirement based on certain criteria. Students with pre-existing school approval to use a mobile device on an ongoing basis to support certain medical, disability and/or wellbeing needs will not need to reapply under this procedure.

This procedure does not apply to personal or school-owned devices, such as iPads, tablets or laptops, that are approved for educational use as part of the school’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOx) approach. 

Parents

• support their child to meet expectations of the school's local policy approach for student use of mobile devices, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
• support implementation of the local policy approach by using the school’s preferred communication channels to contact their child during school hours
• if required, apply for exemptions for medical, disability and/or wellbeing reasons in accordance with the school's local policy approach, outlined in the Student Code of Conduct 
• work with the school to resolve issues regarding student compliance with the school's local policy approach.

Students

• keep mobile phones switched off and away for the day, and notifications disabled on wearable devices during school hours
• if required, apply for exemptions for medical, disability or wellbeing reasons in accordance with the school's local policy approach, outlined in the Student Code of Conduct 
• if permitted to use a mobile device at school under an approved exemption, only use it for the intended and agreed purpose.