Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Emerging next generation curriculum is different from traditional textbook based curriculum by emphasizing collaborative learning experiences, demonstration of learning mastery using multiple methods (including non text based means), and use of online digital resources. In order to provide students access to this curriculum and learning strategies and to better prepare them for the digitally enhanced and information rich environment they will encounter in higher education and the modern workplace, the district recognizes that every student needs a district managed educational computing device both at school and at home. The most equitable, supportable, and cost efficient way to provide this is through a take home 1-to-1 Chromebook program.

What devices will students be using?

Students will be using convertible touch-screen enabled Acer Chromebook that transition between laptop mode and tablet mode. These Chromebooks have 4GB of RAM and 32GB of solid state storage. Students in grades 5 and 9 will receive a brand-new Acer Spin 512 (R853tn) which they will be expected to keep for the next four years. Students in other grades may receive a different model Acer Chromebook (R851tn, or R752tn). All Chromebooks are pre-enrolled into the district's management and monitoring systems.

What are my options for obtaining a device?

- Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, all students will be borrowing a district-managed Chromebook.

What does “district-managed” mean?

District-managed means that your device is enrolled in the district’s Google Chrome Management console. Enrollment requires a license to be purchased and assigned to a specific device. Once enrolled, the district can push out network access policies, filter web content, and manage apps and extensions. It also allows for additional web and content filtering through GoGuardian.

Enrollment in the district’s Google Chrome Management console is also an important part of protecting your student’s online/data privacy and assisting students in creating a positive digital footprint.

Can students use a personal account on a district-managed Chromebook?

Devices borrowed from the district are limited to logging in only from district accounts (@opusd.us). Note that the district only manages the user experience (including web filtering) when a student logs into a Chromebook using their district-issued account (@opusd.us). If they log in using a personal google account, their activities are not monitored nor are their web browsing filtered for accessing potentially inappropriate materials. A personal account also allows the use of retail streaming video services (such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime video), which are normally blocked from district-managed Chromebooks. Legacy Chromebooks from the district's prior Lease or Purchased programs may allow personal accounts to be logged into the device outside of school hours.

When will students receive their devices?

Students in grades 6-12 will receive their device at registration in August. Students in grade 5 will receive their device during the first week of school.

Why did the district choose to go with a standardized district-managed Chromebook instead of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model at the middle and high schools?

There are several reasons for using a standardized Chromebook over a BYOD model.

First and foremost is student safety. Chromebooks were specifically chosen because they are designed to be more secure than laptops, to resist hacking, and to prevent the introduction of malware. Since 2010, when Chromebooks were introduced, there have been no verifiable attacks on the Chrome operating system. For more information on the security of Chromebooks, please review the following article: https://www.androidcentral.com/what-makes-chromebook-so-secure. We manage all district Chromebooks to ensure only district-approved apps and extensions are accessible to students, web content is filtered, and teachers can monitor student use during class.
Second is student experience. Chromebook were chosen for their robust design and functionality in the educational setting. Chromebooks were designed with student lifestyle in mind: transporting to and from school, in and out of backpacks, accidental bumps and drops, etc. Teachers can only remotely manage Chromebooks in a classroom setting in order to lock down the computer screen to the task at hand and to guarantee test security when completing online assessments. Other computing platforms do not afford teachers the ability to remotely control, monitor, and push out content to Chromebooks. At the present time, teachers need the ability to be able to monitor and manage what students have access to during class in order to keep them focused on the learning task at hand.
Third, a uniform device platform ensures that a teacher’s efforts are focused on instruction and engaging students in learning, rather than trying to troubleshoot a unique personal device. Teachers should not be put into a position of having to provide tech support to a myriad of device types to ensure that classwork can continue in the face of a tech problem with a personal device.
Fourth, the district can ensure equity of access when all students are using a similar computing platform. All students can easily be provisioned with the right software, the correct tools, and have similar user experiences without some students having a poor experience because their machine did not meet the proper specifications or have access to the right software tools.
Finally, District Tech Staff cannot guarantee support and security for an unlimited number of different computing platforms on a BYOD network. There are some configurations of devices and operating systems which have had problems associating with the district’s BYOD network in the past.

Warranty & Insurance

What happens if a Chromebook malfunctions or is damaged?

In the event a device malfunctions or is damaged and in need of repair, the district-managed device may be turned in to the Chromebook help desk window or District’s Technology Department (using the Chromebook HelpDesk web portal and ticketing system), and the district will either repair the damage in-house or send it out to an authorized repair partner for servicing. In some cases, malfunction/damage may be covered under warranty, but in other cases, the damage or failure will be outside the scope of warranty and there will be a cost associated with carrying out the repair. Depending on the circumstances, the cost of a repair may be passed on to families, particularly in the case of willful damage or abuse of equipment.

The district typically will collect devices needing repair or servicing and send them out to the respective repair partner on a weekly basis. Students dropping off a device for repair will be issued a loaner Chromebook to use for the duration of the repair.

Does the district offer Insurance for Chromebooks?

The district has partnered with SchoolDeviceCoverage.com (Links to external site - by clicking the link, you will leave OPUSD), a local insurance company based in Agoura Hills, to offer extremely affordable damage/theft/loss insurance coverage for $49 per year. Program details are summarized here: School Device Coverage Information Sheet. Once in possession of your district-managed Chromebook (you will need to provide the service number), parents can sign up for coverage on the School Device Coverage Website (Links to external site - by clicking the link, you will leave OPUSD). Select Oak Park Unified School District under "Apply for a Policy" and paying via credit card. *Some homeowner’s or renter's insurance policies also cover theft (but not loss) of personal electronic devices. You will need to verify with your insurance provider if your policy covers school Chromebooks.

What happens if the Chromebooks are lost or stolen?

As with a lost textbook, families will need to pay for the cost of replacing a lost or stolen device. Some parents may have property insurance or renter’s insurance that covers the theft or loss of personal property that may cover such a situation. If a parent has paid for third party theft and loss insurance (such as through School Device Coverage), they would typically submit a claim to that third party and provide a police report documenting the theft/loss. The third party would then pay the parent (or the district) the replacement cost of the device which would be up to $540.

Technical Support

What if my student’s Chromebook needs tech support or servicing?

All district-managed devices (whether purchased, leased, or borrowed) will need to be brought to a site or district help desk hour to receive support. In some instances the repairs may be completed by an OPUSD technician, but for repairs covered under warranty it will involve sending the device to our service providers, Compuwave (Dell models) and MJP Technologies, Inc. (Acer models). A loaner device will be provided to any student needing to surrender their device for repair.

Will technicians be on campus to assist with troubleshooting and basic repairs?

Yes. Technicians will be on campus roughly 3 times a week at Medea Creek and OPHS (see times and locations below). Technicians will be available as needed for elementary support.

Medea Creek Middle School

Location: Chromebook Support Center (library ramp)
Hours: Monday (8-9am) & Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (during lunch)
If you need technical support at another time, please visit the Help Desk window for assistance.

Oak Park High School

Location: Chromebook Support Center (gym foyer)
Hours: Monday (8-9am) & Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (during lunch)
If you need technical support at another time, please visit the Help Desk window for assistance.

Will my student be provided a loaner Chromebook if their device needs repair?

Yes. The district will issue a loaner device to any student needing to surrender their Chromebook for repair. The loaner device may be a different model of Chromebook than the original device but it will still be able to access all student work.

Miscellaneous

Does the Chromebook come with a case or cover?

No, the Chromebooks do not come with a cover. Chromebooks are designed to be more durable than a typical laptop, and were specifically chosen for their ability to withstand the wear and tear of student life. If you would like to purchase a case for your device, please visit the Compuwave webstore (Dell models) or the MJP webstore (Acer models) for case recommendations.

Where can we buy replacement power supplies (power bricks) and replacement pen/styluses?

Replacement parts

Do students in grades TK-4 need a Chromebook?

Students TK through will have access to classroom sets of computing devices (iPads in grades TK-1 and Chromebooks in Grades 2-4). These devices will stay at school and will not go home with the students as with Chromebooks in grades 5-12.

If we are using a personal device at home, can my student leave their district-managed device at school?

At this time, no. Our school sites are not equipped to store and charge a device for every student.

Will students need to bring their Chromebook everyday?

Students will be expected to bring their charged Chromebook to school everyday, unless otherwise stated by their teacher(s).

Can my student access video streaming services with their Chromebook ?

If the students are logged into their Chromebooks from the district issued Google account (@opusd.us), they are not able to access consumer retail video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime video at any time (both at school and at home). The district's internet filtering policy prohibits retail video streaming services through the district's network and district managed student devices.

Are there any health risks related to EMF radiation exposure when using a Chromebook?

Here is a link to a list of resources regarding the health risks associated with EMF radiation exposure: http://bit.ly/EMFhealthsafety