1:1 DIGITAL LEARNING FAQs for Parents/Students

Will students be able to take the Chromebook devices home?
- Beginning the week of September 3, 2019 who are part of the pilot program will be able to take their devices home
Is there insurance available for my student’s Chromebook?
- Parents/Guardians re strongly encouraged to purchase the annual 1:1 device insurance with a premium of $30 per year. Parents must purchase the insurance by 10/31/19 in order to participate.
What if I can not afford to pay the annual insurance premium?
- If a student and/or family is unable to pay the premium, he or she should speak with their building principal to discuss their situation and ask for a waiver. Parents experiencing an economic hardship will be required to request a waiver.
What happens if a parent does not purchase the insurance for the Chromebook device?
- If a student is not enrolled in the student one-to-one device insurance program, and has not been approved for a waiver of the fee, that student, and/or his/her parent(s)/guardian(s), are subject to pay the repair costs or full replacement cost of a device lost or damaged beyond ordinary wear.
What does the insurance cover?
- The insurance policy will cover repairs or replacement of damaged equipment resulting in normal use. Students and/or parents will be financially responsible for any damages caused by intentional misuse. Students who intentionally misuse or abuse the equipment assigned can be subject to disciplinary action and/or fined for any needed repairs. The annual premium covers the following for up to two incidents per year:

Key Replacement
Keyboard, Palmrest, TouchPad Replacement
Screen Replacement
Accidental Damage
Theft of Device
Battery replacement
Charger Replacement
Loaner device and insurance on loaner while students Chromebook is being repair

6. What happens if I have already submitted two incident claims for the school year and my child has a third incident?

Following the second occurrence during a school year, the student will be required to pay the full cost of the repair/replacement.

7. Will students be able to take the devices home during the summer?

During the pilot year, Chromebooks will be collected at the end of the school year.

8. What should a student do if they leave their Chromebook at home?

Students are responsible for bringing their devices to school fully charged each day. If a student leaves their Chromebook at home they may go to the Media Center and request a loaner. A minimal number of loaner devices are available for student use. It is important that students become responsible for bringing their devices to school each and every day.

9. What happens if a student forgets to charge their Chromebook and the Chromebook has no battery life left?

The student can either borrow a charger from the teacher if available or can go to their school library and request a charger or loaner device for the day. Again, it is important that students become responsible for bringing their devices to school each and every day fully charged.

10. What should a student do if their Chromebook is broken?

If a student’s device is broken, they should bring it to their Homeroom Teacher and have it checked-in for repair. The Teacher, Librarian or Technology Integrator, will then issue a loaner to the student while their device is being repaired. Individual schools may have specific hours for students to drop-off devices. Please check with your school librarian .

11. What should a student do if their Chromebook is lost or stolen?

If you believe your device is lost or stolen, please notify your Homeroom Teacher. If the device is charged we may be able to locate it. If the device has been stolen, please contact your school office.

12. How will Chromebooks be safely transported between school and home?

A case will be provided. Students are encouraged to exercise care when transporting their device in their backpack even if it in a case. Students should not put excessive weight on the Chromebook cover and should not throw or toss their backpack.

13. Will my child need any additional accessories for their Chromebook?

Students who want to use a mouse can purchase one for their own use. These will not be provided by the district. It is also recommended that students have their own headphones to use when needed.

14. Should my student bring their battery charger to school?

Students MUST leave their battery charger at home and come to school each day with their Chromebook fully charged. If students need a charger they can borrow one of the school chargers. This will avoid chargers being lost or misplaced while at school.

15. Will students be able to print from Chromebooks at school?

Yes, specific printers in the building will be available for students to print on.

16. How does my student connect to the Internet at home on their Chromebook?

Attached we have provided some general directions.

17. How will the school address digital citizenship/online safety with students?

Currently digital citizenship is already taught within the Library Media curriculum at the elementary, middle and high school levels with regard to information literacy, copyright, and internet safety.

18. Can the district monitor my child’s online activity when using the school issued Chromebook?

When a student uses any district resources such as: Chromebooks issued by SPS, the google suite for education products, or just browses the web signed in under the students.sheltonpublicschools.org account whether it be at home or school their activity is logged. These resources are owned by the district and we are required by law to put in reasonable measures to limit access to inappropriate material and to monitor inappropriate student behavior. While there is no staff member that is monitoring activity all day long, if there is a problem the log files will be accessed by an Administrator. Students and Staff should have no expectation of privacy when using district resources as outlined in the terms of our Student Network/Internet Usage policy.

19. What happens to the Chromebook if my child leaves the district?

The student will need to return the Chromebook to their Homeroom Teacher.

20. How often will the Chromebooks be used in the classroom?

Classroom teachers will determine when it is appropriate for students to use their devices in class. The district sees the Chromebook as another tool to support teaching and learning in the classroom just as pencils and books are tools. It is not expected or encouraged for students to be on devices 6+ hours per day.

21. What if I don’t have internet access at home?

If students do not have internet access at home, you should notify your child’s Homeroom Teacher. There are several options available including: reduced monthly access fees for low income families through various service providers and instructions for students on how to work offline using the Chromebook. Many tasks that students may be required to complete for homework may be available as an off-line activity. Our goal is to provide equal access to technology for all students of Shelton Public Schools.

22. How do I clean my Chromebook?

Use microfiber cloth to wipe down the screen or wipes specifically meant to clean a computer. Never use any product containing any alcohol, ammonia, or other strong solvent to clean your Chromebook. Do NOT spray or wipe your Chromebook with any windex/household cleaner/water and/or cleaning cloth/wipes. Clean your Chromebook keys and screen with a lightly moistened soft cloth.

23. Can I personalize/decorate my Chromebook?

The devices are the property of Shelton Public Schools. Students may not decorate, personalize or mark the actual Chromebook in any way. They should not remove any asset tags or labels affixed by the district.

24. Can parents/siblings use the device?

Only the student assigned to that specific device is permitted to use it. Parents should not allow other family members to use the device.