HWDSB secondary students get access to Microsoft Copilot starting November 3

What changes on November 3

Beginning November 3, secondary students will have access to Microsoft Copilot for Education through Microsoft 365, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) said in its October 28 Be.Connected newsletter. The board's page on its approach to AI says access is for students in Grades 9 to 12 only, through a student-focused experience called Study and Learn, and that AI tools, including Copilot, will not be available to students in Kindergarten to Grade 8.

In the newsletter, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Education Officer Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini wrote that the rollout reflects several years of planning and is guided by the board's framework for responsible use of generative AI. The board says Copilot is meant to help students explore ideas, ask questions and deepen their understanding rather than complete work on their behalf, and that educators will use their professional judgment to decide when and how it may be used in the classroom.

What the board's rules say

HWDSB's AI page links its Framework for Responsible Use of Gen AI. The document itself is titled Fostering Innovation: Teaching, Learning and Thinking with AI in HWDSB, Framework 1.0, and its version history lists it as published in March 2026. Its guidelines for students include these points.

• Students must cite AI-generated content in submitted work and disclose how and when AI was used; undisclosed use may be considered a breach of academic integrity.
• Students must avoid using AI to complete tasks meant to measure their own thinking, such as generating essays or solving assigned questions.
• With teacher direction, students may use board-approved AI tools for things such as gathering research ideas, accessibility accommodations, translation and tutoring-style support.
• Students must never enter personally identifying information, such as their Ontario Education Number, full name or address, into AI tools.

On privacy, the board's AI page says Copilot use aligns with existing privacy standards, board policies and Ministry expectations, that the student version has additional components in place for student safety, and that information put into Copilot will not be used to train future models. It also reminds students and staff not to share private or personal information with AI.

Sessions for parents on November 4

HWDSB is hosting cyber-safety sessions for caregivers on November 4, 2026, led by Matthew Johnson, Director of Education for MediaSmarts, which the board describes as a Canadian registered charity focused on digital media literacy. The board lists the location as Education Centre, 180A.

• Elementary parent session, Getting a Good Start with Media and Technology Time: 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• Secondary parent session, Raising Digitally Resilient Teens: 7 to 8:30 p.m.