Highland Park High School students will be able to use their personal digital devices, such as laptops, iPads and cellphones, while in class beginning on Jan. 9 this semester.

The change in the school's policy is so that students can use their own electronic devices for educational purposes, including online research and note taking, according to a message from the school.

To access the Internet, students will have to connect to the school's network, which has filters in place to help prevent students from surfing the Web and playing games, which are concerns that have been expressed by both parents and teachers.

In order for students to use their personal electronics at school, both they and their parents must sign a fairly lengthy user agreement.