Student Technology

District 63 uses a variety of devices to meet the instructional needs of our students. The majority of our devices for grades 3 through 8 are traditional Chromebooks, while devices used in grades K through 2 are touchscreen Chromebooks. Additional devices deployed are tablets and some traditional computers in various classes.

Students in 2nd through 8th grade have take-home privileges with a technology fee of $60. Students in grades K through 1st do not have take-home privileges, and the fee is $40.00.

Why has District 63 increased the level of technology students have access to?

• The nature of information and knowledge is changing.
• Students learn differently today.
• We live in a digital age, dominated by information that sees technological advancements happening at an exponential rate.
• We must prepare students for their futures, not our past.
• Students have a fundamental right to expect an education that reflects these principles.

Students are responsible for the care and maintenance of their devices and will receive service and support through the school support staff. It is a requirement that students in grades 2-8 bring their device to school each day with a fully charged battery. If a student damages or loses their Chromebook, the student will be responsible for the cost to repair the device. A loaner device may be issued to the student while their assigned Chromebook is being repaired.

Chromebook Procedures and Information for Students and Parents (Complete Document)

Students in grades 2nd through 8th will be issued a Chromebook upon enrollment or prior to the start of the school year. New Chromebooks are purchased for students in the 3rd and 6th grades. Students will keep the device until it is due for an upgrade/replacement, or the student transfers out of the district. It is in the students’ and families' best interest to take appropriate care of the device, as the student will have it for three years.

• Students who enroll in a grade that is not being issued a new device will be issued a Chromebook that was purchased in the same year as the rest of their grade.
• Students who graduate from Gemini Middle School will be provided the opportunity to keep their issued Chromebook.

Note: Kindergarten and 1st-grade students will have access to Chromebooks in the classroom.

Receiving Your Chromebook

a. Distribution - Students will receive their Chromebooks and cases at distribution events. During the enrollment and registration process, parents/ guardians sign an online agreement regarding the Use of Technology by their student. Parents must review this with their students.
b. After the start of the school year, new students will be issued their Chromebooks and cases upon enrollment.

Returning Your Chromebook

a. Chromebooks are issued on a year-round basis. They will not be returned at the end of the school year. See transferring/withdrawing students below for
additional details.
b. Extended Vacation - Students who go on extended vacations (longer than 10 days) must turn in Chromebooks, chargers, cases, and any additional technology issued to the school’s office prior to the start of the vacation. Upon return to the district, the same device will be reissued. Failure to turn in the Chromebook will result in the student being charged the full replacement cost of the property not returned. Unpaid fines and fees of students leaving District 63 may be turned over to a collection agency. A report of stolen property may also be filed with the local law enforcement agency.
c. Transferring/Withdrawing Students - Students who transfer out or withdraw from East Maine SD 63 must turn in their Chromebooks, chargers, cases, and any additional technology issued to the school’s office on their last day of attendance. Failure to turn in the Chromebook will result in the student being charged the full replacement cost of the property not returned. Unpaid fines and fees of students leaving District 63 may be turned over to a collection agency. A report of stolen property may also be filed with the local law enforcement agency.

8th Grade Chromebooks

District 63 and Gemini Middle School offer current 8th-grade students the opportunity to keep, upon graduation, their District-issued Chromebook, charger, and case at no cost. While the District technology staff verify that the Chromebooks and chargers are in working order at the time of last examination, all three items are offered in “as is” condition. There is no warranty, and no repairs or replacements will be made after May each year.

If your student is in 8th grade, look for a message in May with additional details. Students may opt out of keeping the D63 Chromebook. Please contact the school office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child bring their own computer or Chromebook? No, not at this time. 

Will students have their Internet content filtered at home on their issued Chromebook? Yes, students using a District 63-issued Chromebook will be filtered at all times to minimize the potential of their exposure to inappropriate content. 

Are there fees associated with the 1 to 1 Chromebook program? Yes, the Board of Education establishes an annual Chromebook fee. 

Does this mean students won’t learn how to write with a pen or pencil anymore? No, students will still use paper and pencil. They will just spend an increased amount of time typing, which will help them improve their keyboarding skills.

Will my child be learning a different curriculum? No, the curriculum and standards taught will be the same across the grade levels. Chromebooks are another tool that will be used to deliver the curriculum.

How will the District prevent cyberbullying? Students receive education on Digital Citizenship. Also, the same discipline procedures will be enforced as in any other situation of bullying or improper use of technology. Additional information can be found on the District’s website. 

The following information provides cost estimates for the repair and replacement of damaged Chromebooks.  If available, salvaged parts will be used to provide lower pricing for repairs.

D63 partners with Linewize by Family Zone, a leading education technology company, to provide our school communities with the highest quality of online safety and digital wellness education. This partnership provides our district with tools, resources, and expert advice on all the latest online safety issues you and your family may be encountering. As members of our school community, you have direct access to the Community Hub, where you can access a wide array of research-backed tools and educational materials that will help you implement online safety measures at home. What’s included?

Parent Advice Guides

• Expert advice on how to identify the biggest online safety issues your child might be experiencing, from online bullying to screen time, online predators and social media usage.
• Step-by-step recommendations to guide you through addressing these issues with your child.

App & Game Reviews

• Extensive reviews of the latest trending apps and games, including a full assessment of their functions and risks.
• Our online safety experts provide step-by-step instructions on how to make each app and game safer for your child.

Online Safety Quiz & Additional Resources

• Complete the online safety parenting quiz to receive a safety rating for your family.
• Get useful hints and tips on the actions you can immediately take to keep your family safe online - even if you are not tech-savvy yourself.
• Guides on how to implement safety initiatives in your home.

Click here to check Linewize Monitor - Key Features

Applications & Software Resources: To comply with the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA), the digital resource library is shared with families to protect student data, ensure its use is limited to educational purposes, and provide parents greater control over their children's information.

Online Safety Hub: Trusted digital safety advice for caregivers

Raising Digitally Responsible Youth: A guide for parents and caregivers

Low-Cost Internet & Computer Programs
The following are programs that provide low-cost Internet and/or computers to families that qualify. The listing of a provider is not an endorsement by East Maine School District 63. Please visit any site listed for additional information on who qualifies and benefits.   Comcast Internet Essentials - Affordable Internet at home with information on low-cost computers and free online tutorials. https://internetessentials.com/   Emergency Broadband Benefit - The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. Click here to check both resources

• FCC - Broadband Benefit
• FCC - Broadband Benefits FAQ

Important Data Privacy Laws

What is SOPPA?

What happens to the student data that we send to a third-party vendor? Information like names, birthdates, etc, may be provided by East Maine to a third party like NWEA MAP, etc. What protections do those companies have in place to make sure that our students' data is not sold or freely given to others? This is exactly what SOPPA looks to address.

As part of SOPPA, these companies must enter into Data Privacy Agreements (DPA) with each district they work with. These agreements outline what data is stored, how it is protected, what the company can and cannot do with that data, and what they will do in the event of a data breach

Data Privacy Agreements
East Maine School District 63 leverages the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) to identify and sign data privacy agreements with vendors. If you would like to read more about the SDPC, click here. If you would like to view the Data Privacy Agreements (DPAs) that D63 currently holds, please click here.

Links

• Notice of Parent Rights Regarding Student Covered Information 7:345-AP.E4
• Parent Request Form for Student Covered information 7:345-AP.E5
• Parent Request Form for Corrections of Student Covered information 7:345-AP.E6
• Online Privacy Statement 6:235.E3
• Student Data Privacy Laws
• SOPPA Data Breach Notifications
• SOPPA Details
• Student Records - Rights of Parents/Guardians and Students
• Students - Use of Educational Technologies; Student Data Privacy and Security 7:345