The School Board is committed to providing all students a safe and secure learning environment. The use of personal technology is a privilege, not a right, and will only be permitted if a signed authorization form (Acceptable Use of Personal Technology Authorization Form) is on file with the school district indicating compliance with current procedures and safeguards and may require the payment of a fee if provided for in the related Administrative Procedure. 

Examples of personal technology - Any device that is not owned or leased by the District or otherwise authorized for District use and: (1) transmits sounds, images, text, messages, videos, or electronic information, (2) electronically records, plays, or stores information, or (3) accesses the Internet, or private communication or information networks. This includes computers, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, and other devices.

The use of technology as educational material in a curriculum-based program is not a necessity but a privilege, and a student does not have an absolute right to use the student’s  electronic device while at school. If applicable, use of technology as a study aide must be in accordance with  applicable District policies,  rules, and procedures. Using technology at all other times must   be in accordance with established rules for cell phones and other electronic devices at school, as well as applicable District policies, rules and procedures.

The District is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of personal technology. 

For all students 

1. Personal technology will not be utilized during school hours, unless use is authorized by an approved Acceptable Use of Personal Technology Authorization.

2. During school hours, personal technology must be powered off and put away, kept off and out of sight unless use is authorized by an approved Acceptable Use of Personal Technology Authorization. This includes removing smartwatches from wrists. 

3. Use of personal technology is permitted before and after school.

4. Personal technology may not be used for creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing indecent visual depictions or non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images as defined in State law, i.e., sexting. Possession is prohibited regardless of whether the depiction violates State law. Any personal technology  may be searched upon reasonable suspicion of sexting or other violations of policy. Such search shall be limited in scope and shall extend only as is necessary to determine whether a violation has occurred based upon the reasonable suspicion. All sexting violations will require school administrators to follow student discipline policies in addition to contacting the police and reporting suspected child abuse or neglect when appropriate.

Electronic study aids may be used during the school day if:

1. Use of the device is provided in the student’s IEP, or

2. Parents apply for a waiver for medical/academic purposes during school hours with a completed and approved 9:10 E1, Acceptable Use of Personal Technology Authorization Form.

Examples of electronic devices that are used as study aids include: devices with audio or video recording, MP3 players, some cellular phones, smartphones, laptop computers, Chromebooks®, and tablet computers or devices, e.g., iPads®.

Examples of electronic devices that are not used as study aids include: hand-held electronic games, MP3 players used for a purpose other than a study aid, global positioning systems (GPS), radios, and cellular and smartphones (with or without cameras) used for a purpose other than a study aid.

If applicable, using technology as a study aid must always follow the established rules in 9:10 E1, Acceptable Use of Personal Technology Authorization Form.

If personal technology usage is deemed inappropriate, disciplinary action will be taken as outlined in Policy 7:190, Student Behavior. 

Reviewed: July 8, 2014, December 8, 2014, June 27, 2016, December 13, 2021,

May 20, 2024, April 21, 2025

Adopted: August 11, 2014

Revisions Adopted: January 12, 2015, August 1, 2016, January 18, 2022, June 1, 2024, 

May 5, 2025

Definitions

“Bring your own device (BYOD) or bring your own technology (BYOT) program”: Programs under which students and/or employees are authorized to use personal technology devices not owned or licensed by the District, including personal computers, cell phones, and smart phones, for certain educational, extra-curricular, and/or business purposes identified in the program.  

“District business”: Any work conducted as an employee of the District, whether for educational, extra-curricular, or other business or operational purposes of the District. This includes communications with members of the District community in which the employee conducts or performs such work. District business might relate to education, instruction, student and employee relations and discipline, extra-curricular activities, professional activities, and other District operations. “District business” does not include protected concerted union activity. 

“on District property or at related events and activities”: Use is considered to be on District property or at a related event or activity when it occurs on, or within sight of, school grounds at any time, including before, during, and after school hours; off school grounds at a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school; and when traveling to or from school or a school activity, function, or event through District-sponsored transportation. Simply because use does not occur on District property or at a related event or activity does not mean the use is not subject to this AUP or other District policies and procedures, including discipline policies and procedures. For example, student or employee misconduct on technology may lead to consequences under this AUP or other District policies and procedures if the conduct materially and substantially interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment, school operations, or an educational function, including conduct that may reasonably be considered to: (a) be a threat or an attempted intimidation of an employee; or (b) endanger the health or safety of students, employees, or school property, regardless of when or where that misconduct occurs.

“Electronic resources”: The District’s “electronic resources” include, but are not limited to, the District’s electronic networks and information systems, such as the Internet, Wi-Fi, electronic data networks, and infrastructure for oral, visual, and written electronic communication, including electronic mail, text messaging, instant messaging, and chat programs. “Electronic resources” also include technology owned or licensed by the District and provided by the District for use by its employees or students, including, if offered, technology issued to students and/or employees (i.e., a “one-to-one” program), and District and District-authorized webpages and social media or websites. If a user accesses the District’s electronic resources, including Internet service or Wi-Fi, with a personal technology device, that use is also considered use of “electronic resources” that is covered by this AUP.

“Includes” or “Including”: When used in this AUP and any related administrative procedures, handbooks, and guidelines implementing this AUP, “includes” means “includes, but not limited to” and “including” means “including, but not limited to” and reference a non-exhaustive list.

“Internet publications”: Webpages that are limited to the provision of information, allowing users to view content but not to contribute to the content of the webpage. 

“Members of the District community”: Students, parents, residents, employees, contractors and volunteers of the District, and other individuals serving, served by, and/or working with or for the District.

“One-to-one program”: Program through which the District issues all students and/or employees, or certain groups of students and/or employees, District-owned or -licensed personal technological devices, such as personal computers and laptop computers, for educational, extra-curricular and/or business purposes identified in the program. The participant in the one-to-one program typically may take the technological device with them when they leave school grounds for use outside of normal school or business hours.   

“Personal purposes”: Any uses other than uses for “District business,” such as accessing personal cell or smart phones, email, and social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and others for purposes other than District business. “Personal purposes” includes protected concerted union activity.

“Personal technology”: All technology that is not owned or licensed by the District.

“Protected concerted union activity”: Actions by employees concerning wages or working conditions, such as discussing work-related issues or terms and conditions of employment between employees or with members of the District community.

“Social media websites”: Webpages that do not simply provide information, but rather allow users to comment, exchange or share content, collaborate, and/or interact. Also known as social networking websites. Examples of social media websites include Internet forums, weblogs (or “blogs”), video logs (or “vlogs”), wikis, social networks (such as, bu not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace), podcasts, photograph and video sharing programs (such as YouTube and Instagram), rating websites, music-sharing websites, and crowdsourcing. 

“Technology”: Includes, but not limited to,  desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, cell phones, smart phones, smartwatches, and wearables,  text messaging services, instant messaging services, and other technology, as well as any webpages or social media profiles, such as Internet forums, weblogs (or “blogs”), video logs (or “vlogs”), wikis, social networks and social media pages (such as Facebook and X(formally known as Twitter), podcasts, photograph and video sharing programs (such as YouTube and Instagram), rating websites, music-sharing websites, and crowdsourcing.