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Digital Literacy

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, the ability to navigate a digital-first environment has never been more essential. These skills, known as digital literacy, are critical not only for professionals in the workplace but also for students in today’s classrooms. In education, digital literacy refers to a student’s capacity to use digital tools and technologies to learn, work, and engage with others. It encompasses both cognitive understanding and technical proficiency. DCSD focuses on digital literacy from three main perspectives:

Two students working at their computers
Social Media

Social media offers powerful opportunities for connection and information-sharing, but growing evidence shows many students struggle to navigate its challenges.

A young student wearing headphones
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI offers powerful opportunities to support learning and productivity, but it also requires thoughtful guidance to ensure it is used safely, ethically, and effectively.

Policy:
Student Use of Communication Devices in School

In April 2026, the DCSD Board of Education voted to adopt a policy on Student Use of Communication Devices in Schools. Here's what this means for students:

  • Elementary and Middle Schools: At DCSD elementary and middle schools, students with communication devices must keep them silenced (no vibration or sound), stored, and not used during the entire school day.
     
  • High Schools: At DCSD high schools, students with communication devices must keep them silenced (no vibration or sound), stored, and not used during the entirety of each class period. In addition, for the comfort and privacy of all students, all communications devices must be stowed away before entering bathrooms, locker rooms, or personal spaces. 

Learn more about what the policy means for schools, how it will be implemented in our school district and ways families can support students in developing healthy habits around phones, smartwatches and other devices.

Policy JICJA

Supt. Regulation JICJA-R

AI Presentation:
From Pilot to Practice

District leaders presented "From Pilot to Practice: Scaling AI Across a Large School District" at the Colorado Association of School Executives conference in July 2026. 

First slide from an AI presentation, "From Pilot to Practice"

 

Podcast:
Phones in Class? Not So Fast

In this April 2026 podcast episode, DCSD Chief of Staff Steve Colella and ThunderRidge High School Principal Liz Walhof discuss the communication device issue, the policy, and most importantly, the practices of students, teachers, parents and district leaders when it comes to phones and other types of devices.