District Management

School District 196 manages student-issued iPads with a mobile device management (MDM) server. This allows us to do a number of things to support students as they are using the iPad for learning.

1. Connected to the District

A district network account is required to activate the iPad, and the district has the capability to monitor who has the iPad and disable the ability of those without a school district account to activate the iPad, rendering it useless to the unauthorized user.


2. Web Filtering (Securly)

District-issued iPads will have web filtering similar to what occurs in school regardless of where the device connects to wifi. This applies filters to block certain categories of website (e.g. pronography, gambling, adult content, and chat/messaging). It also includes a Safe Search that is forced for any search engines to help eliminate unwanted content. YouTube Restricted Mode is also enabled which also blocks the ability to view comments.


3. Lost and Stolen iPad

If stolen, the district-issued iPad will continue to report to the District’s MDM server if it is connected to WiFi, providing the school district the ability to request the GPS location of the iPad.


Managed Apple IDs

The District provides “Managed Apple ID” for all students. This managed Apple ID cannot be used to download and install apps of the student’s choosing (see section 4). Other limitations of this Apple ID are outlined in section 4. Please do not add a personal Apple ID onto the student iPad.


4. District-Approved Apps

Each student will be issued a district-created Apple ID which cannot be used in Apple’s App or iTunes stores. The App Store will disabled on the student device and District 196 will have its own app store called Self-Service which will only offer approved age-appropriate instructional apps to the student. Students will be able to choose from those pre-approved instructional apps with the guidance from staff.

The following apps and features will not be available on the student-issues iPads:


  • AirDrop - This allows students to wirelessly pass images and files from one iPad to another.
  • FaceTime -- This is a video chat application.
  • Game Center -- These are games provided by Apple.
  • iMessage -- This is Apple’s text communication app that uses Wifi to send text and picture messages.
  • iTunes Store -- Allows students to download music and video.
  • Find my Friends/Mac/iPhone/iPad Feature -- If reported lost or stolen, the district MDM can put the iPad into “lost mode” and request a GPS location. The ability to share the GPS location or to find other students who share their GPS location is also not available on the student iPads.
  • iCloud Photo sharing/streaming/mail/keychain, Apple Pay, and HomeKit -- These are not available for students due to the terms of service of the district-created Apple ID.