High schools students now expected to bring own electronic devices to school

The New Brunswick government will subsidize electronic devices used for learning by high school students in the upcoming school year as part of a $12-million plan to strengthen digital learning capabilities.

The money, which will also be used to improve internet access and security at schools, is being spent to implement the province's Return to School plan to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development announced in a release Wednesday afternoon.

High school students will be expected to bring their own electronic devices for learning purposes in September, and the province will spend $7 million to cover some of the costs — up to $600 per student — for eligible families. 

Education Minister Dominic Cardy said the idea is to create an education system that can avoid interruptions in the event of school closures. The shift to online learning after schools were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in March highlighted gaps in access to reliable technology and internet.

"We knew there were students who couldn't access those learning options and that, even when they were available, you know that they were absolutely not at the highest quality because that was not the way that our system had been designed. We didn't have any plans in place for having online learning," Cardy told Shift New Brunswick.

"So at that point we said, 'OK if we get into a horrible situation, and I hope it doesn't happen that we have to lock things down again, that we need to be able to make sure we can switch as seamlessly as possible from in class instruction to learning from home and especially for high school kids."

Under the Return to School plan, high school students will split instruction time between the class and at home, with the expectation every student will be at school at least every other day. A co-op program will also be part of the mix.

Eligibility rules

How much is given to each family depends on household income and the number of students.

• Households with an annual income of up to $40,000 will receive a voucher of $600 per student.
• Households with an annual income between $40,000 and $55,000 will receive a maximum voucher amount of $400 for their first student and $600 for each additional student.
• Households with an annual income between $55,000 and $70,000 will receive a maximum voucher amount of $200 for the first student, $400 for the second student and $600 for each additional student.
• Households with an annual income between $70,000 and $85,000 will receive a maximum voucher amount of $200 for the second student, $400 for the third student and $600 for each additional student.

Eligible families will be able to apply through the online Parent Portal system starting July 31. 

Cardy said there will be an appeal process for households that earn more than $85,000, using the example of a family that makes $100,000 but has multiple children. 

Students will be permitted to use devices they already own. 

The minister said a survey of families indicated 80 per cent of households already have an appropriate device — a laptop, tablet or phone — and 60 per cent say the student can bring it to school.

Thinking to the future

Cardy said the program addresses the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic but also the longer-term shift to tech-based learning. A "bring your own device" policy and addressing gaps in access are proposals in the green paper on education released last year.

"Clearly we live in a world where access to technology is incredibly important and having a system that'll move towards giving all of our students access to the to the internet as a learning tool and all the benefits that can bring," he said.

The program received support from the New Brunswick Teachers' Association on Tuesday.

"Every step New Brunswick takes to make technology more accessible to students is a step in the right direction," said president Rick Cuming in an emailed statement.

"The New Brunswick Teachers' Association is hopeful that this initiative will continue beyond the next school year to address issues of equity in support public education."

Devices not standardized

The department will not be mandating a certain type of device or model or operating system. It's up to the student and family to determine what makes them comfortable, Cardy said, as long as it meets the minimum requirements set by the department. Those specs will be posted online.

Cardy said providers were consulted to ensure there are quality machines available below $600 so households aren't forced to spend beyond the subsidy. 

The education department is also spending $5 million to upgrade internet access, bandwidth and security.