District Assigned Device 

Rules and Appropriate Usage

The Board recognizes that in order to prepare students for college and career, they must ensure students have the tools to develop the skills to become globally aware, civically engaged, and life-long learners.  To fully engage students in their education it is incumbent on the Board to ensure students have access to devices and the network, including the internet.  

All students in grades K-12 will be given access to devices for use at school and home.  Before a device is issued for use, students and parents or guardians must sign the District's Acceptable Use Policy annually.  The devices issued to students will remain the property of the District and will be subject to rules for their usage. 

The policy, procedures, and information within this document apply to all District-owned devices used in, and out of, District schools, including any other device considered by the administration to come under this policy. Schools may set additional requirements for use of the devices.

The District has the right to prohibit students from participating in the ‘take home’ aspects of the 1:1 program in cases where the student has been unable to meet the expectations outlined in this policy, including treatment of the assigned device.

Use of Device, Applications and Network

• Students are expected to abide by the following rules and behavioral expectations while using a District assigned device, both at home and within the school.  Students who fail to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy or the rules for device usage may be subject to disciplinary action.
• Students must have an acceptable use policy signed and on file with the district before receiving a device. 
• The device is to be used for educational purposes only and only by the student to whom it was issued.
•  All devices are configured for educational use with appropriate applications and security software.  Students are prohibited from reconfiguring, altering, removing, or adding applications or software.    
• If an illegal act or violation of any BOE policy occurs as a result of inappropriate use of technology, student accounts and devices will be searched.  In addition, the District reserves the right to monitor students’ use of devices to ensure students are in compliance with the Acceptable Use Policy.
• Sending messages via school technology with the intent to intimidate, frighten, threaten, harass, ridicule or bully another person is considered harassment and will be subject to disciplinary action.
• Students may not share their login information with anyone or share it on social media,  or attempt to access another student’s or staff member’s account. 
• In the event a student ceases to be enrolled in Hamden Public Schools, the student shall return the device in good working order. In the event of a failure to return the device, the student and parent will be considered in default of the District’s Acceptable Use Policy.  This failure to return the device and equipment may result in legal action to recover the device. 

Repairing or Replacing District Assigned Device

All required repairs for devices will be processed by the technology department.  In the case of theft, a police report should be filed by the parent/guardian. A copy of the police report should be provided to the school.

The District may levy fines to cover the cost of replacement due to theft not accompanied by a police report or for intentional damage to a device up to and including full replacement cost.  Excessive claims, as determined by the District, may result in loss of device privileges.

(cf. 5131 Conduct)

(cf. 5131.911 Bullying)

(cf. 5144 Discipline)

(cf. 6141.32 Technology and Instruction)

(cf. 6141.321 Acceptable Use of the Internet)

(cf. 6161 Equipment, Books and Materials)

(cf. 6161.2 Damaged or Lost Instructional Materials)

 

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

                             10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures
                             10-220 Duties of boards of education
                             18 U.S.C. 25 10-2522 Electronic Communication Privacy Act
                             20 U.S.C. 1001 The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
                             20 U.S.C. 254 Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000

Policy adopted:	June 8, 2021	HAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
		Hamden, Connecticut