Parental Controls on School iPads

At SPHS are proud to be a 1:1 iPad school fully embracing technology as an essential part of both daily operations and student learning. We believe that technology, when used thoughtfully and responsibly, enhances engagement and makes learning more meaningful. Our teachers integrate innovative digital tools to create purposeful educational experiences, preparing students not only to succeed academically but also to navigate and thrive in a technology-rich world. We are committed to teaching students ethical and responsible use of technology, ensuring they develop the skills and values needed for their future. Thank you for partnering with us on this important journey!

South Portland Schools sets content and security filtering on school iPads, as well as limiting apps to district/school approved apps. Because students learn at different times of the day based on their preferences of home environments we do not attempt to control when devices are active or turned off. We do understand that every child/family has their own needs and sometimes additional restrictions are appropriate, and so permit the use of Parental Controls on school iPads. This is something that should be set by the student’s parent or guardian to reflect their needs. The instructions that follow are to help parents/guardians set up those parental controls. If you need help with this process please email help@spsdme.org

On School iPads parental controls are set though ‘Screen Time.’ Explore this link for more information about Screen Time:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208982

The link below provides a more indepth link from Apple on iOS parental controls, some of which may not apply to school iPads but may be helpful to parents whose children have personal iOS devices:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304

To lock the screen time settings, select Lock Screen Time Settings and then enter a passcode. Please note that you will be asked to provide an Apple ID or phone number in case the passcode needs to be recovered. 

We kindly ask that you avoid placing any restrictions or screen time limits on your child's school device during school hours. When restrictions are enabled, students may be locked out of essential learning tools and platforms. In some cases, resolving the issue may require a complete reset of the device, which we try to avoid whenever possible.

While there are occasionally workarounds—such as entering a screen time passcode—this can create complications during the school day, and we are not in a position to manage or request access to family passcodes. We truly appreciate your support in helping ensure that students stay connected and ready to learn during school hours.