Student Use of Technology

Students across the district will be issued Google Chromebooks for use in school and at home. This document provides students and their parents/guardians with information about taking care of the equipment, using it to complete assignments, and being a good digital citizen.

Students and their parents/guardians are reminded that use of District Technology is a privilege and not a right and that everything done on any District­owned computer, network, or electronic communication device may be monitored by school authorities. Inappropriate use of District Technology can result in limited or banned computer use, disciplinary consequences, removal from courses, loss of credit, receiving a failing grade, and/or legal action.

To understand the expectations of Weld County School District 6, students and their parents/guardians are responsible for reviewing the Student Use of the Internet and Electronic Communications (JS*) and signing the Annual Acceptable Use Agreement (JS-E).

Ownership of the Chromebook

Weld County School District 6 retains sole right of possession of the Chromebook. The Chromebooks are lent to the students for educational purposes only for the academic year. Moreover, District 6 administrative staff and faculty retain the right to collect and/or inspect Chromebooks at any time, including via electronic remote access and to alter, add, or delete installed software or hardware. 

Responsibility for the Chromebook

Students are solely responsible for the Chromebooks issued to them and must adhere to the following:

• Students must comply with the Student Use of the Internet and Electronic Communications  (JS*) when using their Chromebooks.
• Students must bring their Chromebooks to school every day and make sure it is fully charged. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. (Note: A fully charged Chromebook should last at least 8 hours.)
• Students must treat their device with care and never leave it in an unsecured location.
• Students must keep their device in a protective case or backpack when traveling.
• Students must promptly report any problems with their Chromebook using the district’s help desk system or by notifying school personnel.
• Students may not remove or interfere with the serial number and other identification tags.
• Students may not attempt to remove or change the physical structure of the Chromebook, including the keys, screen cover or plastic casing.
• Students may not attempt to install or run any operating system on the Chromebook other than the ChromeOS operating system supported by the district.
• Students must keep their device clean and must not touch the screen with anything (e.g., your finger, pen, pencil, etc.) other than approved computer screen cleaners.

Responsibility for Electronic Data

The students are solely responsible for any apps or extensions on their Chromebooks that are not installed by a member of the District 6 technology staff. Students are responsible for backing up their data to protect from loss. Users of District Technology have no rights, ownership, or expectations of privacy to any data that is, or was, stored on the Chromebook, school network, or any school issued applications and are given no guarantees that data will be retained or destroyed.

Digital Citizenship

Students must follow the six conditions of being a good digital citizen:

1. Respect Yourself. I will show respect for myself through my actions. I will select online names that are appropriate, I will consider the information and images that I post online. I will consider what personal information about my life, experiences, experimentation or relationships I post. I will not be obscene.
2. Protect Yourself. I will ensure that the information, images and materials I post online will not put me at risk. I will not publish my personal details, contact details or a schedule of my activities. I will report any attacks or inappropriate behavior directed at me. I will protect passwords, accounts and resources.
3. Respect Others. I will show respect to others. I will not use electronic mediums to antagonize, bully, harass or stalk other people. I will show respect for other people in my choice of websites, I will not visit sites that are degrading, pornographic, racist or inappropriate. I will not abuse my rights of access and I will not enter other people's private spaces or areas.
4. Protect Others. I will protect others by reporting abuse, not forwarding inappropriate materials or communications; I will moderate unacceptable materials and conversations, and not visiting sites that are degrading, pornographic, racist or inappropriate.
5. Respect Intellectual Property. I will request permission to use resources. I will suitably cite any and all use of websites, books, media etc. I will acknowledge all primary sources. I will validate information. I will use and abide by the fair use rules.
6. Protect Intellectual Property. I will request to use the software and media others produce. I will use free and open source alternatives rather than pirating software. I will purchase, license and register all software. I will purchase my music and media, and refrain from distributing these in a manner that violates their licenses. I will act with integrity.

Copyright and File Sharing

Students are required to follow all copyright laws around all media including text, images, programs, music, and video. Downloaidng, sharing, and posting online illegally obtained media is against the Student Use of the Internet and Electronic Communications policy. 

Spare Equipment and Lending

If a student’s Chromebook is inoperable, the school has a limited number of spare devices for use while the student’s Chromebook is repaired or replaced. This agreement remains in effect for loaner computers. The student may not opt to keep an inoperable Chromebook to avoid doing class work due to loss or damage. If a student does not bring his/her Chromebook to school, the student may be required to borrow a device from the school based on the direction from his/her teacher. Disciplinary action may result for failure to bring a fully charged Chromebook to school.

Warranty and Insurance

The District will repair or replace damaged equipment resulting from normal use. All other breakages will be assessed by the District and may be charged to the student. The District will make its best attempt to purchase replacement parts and labor at the best possible price. Loss or theft of the device is also the student’s responsibility and may result in the student being charged the full replacement cost of a new device. This replacement or repair cost will be at current purchasing and repair agreement costs, but in no case will exceed $350.

The need to replace lost and damaged property will result in fees being assessed for the lost or damaged items. The following are the prices families will pay in relation to Chromebooks. 

• Broken screen - $130
• Plastic casing around display bezel - $25
• Power adapter - $29.75
• Damaged keyboard - $25
• Replacement Chromebook - $328

Technology & Cell Phones

We have many students who are bringing cellphones to school. While we don’t encourage students bringing cell phones we realize that it may be a necessity for some families for communication purposes. Due to the mobile connection to the internet most devices now have, it’s important for students and parents to read Board Policy JS (Student Use of the Internet and Electronic Communications), as violation of this policy, even on a personal device can have serious implications for student safety and wellbeing. Students will be asked to keep all mobile devices in a backpack or turned in to their teacher and not use them during the school day. Please remember the school is not responsible for lost, broken or stolen cell phones or mobile devices.

The first time a student violates the cell phone/technology policy it results in a phone call home and a parent and/or guardian will have to come to the building to pick it up. The second violation the student will earn a referral and parent/guardian notification. And the third violation will insure that a daily check-in and check-out system will be put into place for the student.

Student Email Accounts

Greeley-Evans School District 6 will provide a free email account for every student. Having an email account will allow students to email teachers questions and receive classroom updates. Depending on the teacher, students may also be able to turn in assignments using email.

All students will receive training on appropriate use of email before teachers provide them with their usernames and passwords. Training will include:  dealing with potential bullying, handling email from unknown senders, general email etiquette, and informing students that email messages leave a permanent digital record. Parents are encouraged to use CommonSense Media resources to learn how to support their children as they navigate the online world. Resources can be accessed by visiting the following website (http://www.commonsensemedia.org).

If you do NOT want your student to have a district provided email account, you may fill-out a “Student Electronic Mail (email) Opt-Out Form” in the office. Otherwise, your child will be assigned a school email account. 

Acceptable use of email falls under the Board of Education policy governing student use of the Internet and electronic communications. Policy JS states that no student shall access, create, transmit, retransmit, or forward material or information:

1. That promotes violence or advocates destruction of property including, but not limited to, access to information concerning the manufacturing or purchasing of destructive devices or weapons.
2. That contains pornographic, obscene, or other sexually oriented materials, either as pictures or writings, that are intended to stimulate erotic feelings or appeal to prurient interests in nudity, sex, or excretion.
3. That harasses, threatens, demeans, or promotes violence or hatred against another person or group of persons in violation of the district’s nondiscrimination policies.
4. That uses inappropriate or profane language likely to be offensive to others in the school community.
5. That is knowingly false or could be construed as intending to purposely damage another person's reputation.
6. That contains personal information about themselves or others, including information protected by confidentiality laws.
7. Using another individual’s Internet or electronic communications account without written permission from that individual. 
8. That impersonates another or transmits through an anonymous remailer proxy.