Student Technology

The purpose of the Student Rights and Responsibilities, which is inclusive of the Acceptable Use of District 129 Technology Policy, is to familiarize students and families with the expectations of responsible, safe, productive, and respectful student conduct during both in-person and virtual instruction. Any updates or changes to these procedures will be communicated in multiple media formats, including an update to this document. Access to student policies can be found on the district and individual school websites. If you would like a printed copy, please contact your child’s school office and they can assist you. Please be aware that student-issued devices are the property of the school district, inappropriate use of the equipment may result in remote device deactivation and the suspension of student accounts. Should a student engage in inappropriate virtual behaviors, disciplinary actions may be issued. Our entire staff would like to welcome our new and returning students to a new and exciting school year in School District 129, where we embrace the curiosity, complexity, and joy of learning! 

Effective July 1, 2021, Illinois school districts will be required by the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA) to provide guarantees that student data is protected when used by educational technology companies, and that data is used for educationally beneficial purposes only (105 ILCS 85). 

Student Online Personal Protection Act

can my child bring their own laptop/tablet to school?

Because of the required programs and support that is necessary for students in the classroom, students must use school-issued devices for all educational activities in the classroom.

can my child use their own device at home?

For school-related activities (homework, research, online classwork, etc.), students will be required to use their district-issued device. While students may be able to access many educational sites, including Schoology, on their own device, please be aware that their experience on their home device versus a district-issued device may be different. District issued devices are filtered for inappropriate content and are set up for optimal functionality with district-approved apps, extensions, and websites.

can students download apps or extensions onto their devices?

Students may only download apps and extensions that have been approved by West Aurora School District 129. Students using iPads have access to the Self-Service store and may download apps. Students using Chromebooks may download approved apps and extensions through the Chrome Web Store.

Can students watch streaming media on district issued devices (Netflix/Hulu/etc)?

Students sign the district Acceptable Use Policy at the beginning of the year, which outlines the proper uses of district-issued devices. Students should only be using devices for educational purposes and accessing sites that have been approved by their teacher. This may include educational videos that have been embedded into the curriculum at West Aurora School District 129.

Can we use devices to play games at home?

Students sign the district Acceptable Use Policy at the beginning of the year, which outlines the proper uses of district-issued devices. Students should only be using devices for educational purposes and accessing sites that have been approved by their teacher. This may include educational games that have been embedded into the curriculum at West Aurora School District 129. Students on district-issued devices will experience similar filtering features at both home and school.

Will the district monitor what my student is doing on the Internet while at home?

District 129 uses a content filter that limits what students are able to view on the Internet while using district-owned devices. This content filter monitors the student’s internet usage while at school and at home. The filter is configured to block objectionable content and non-age appropriate websites, but no content filter is perfect. There is no substitute for parental monitoring of student use of devices while students are at home.

Will my student have more homework with devices going home?

The workload for each class is determined by individual teachers. The devices are meant to be a tool for students to use and should not impact a change in the homework that is assigned.

Will the charging cord be provided when students take devices home?

Yes. All devices will be sent home with the proper accessories to charge the devices. Students should only use accessories provided by the district to charge their devices. Third party chargers can damage the device and should not be used. If you are interested in purchasing additional chargers for your devices, please send an email to techpilotquestions@sd129.org. It is the students’ responsibility to bring their devices to school fully charged and ready to use. Damage to the cords is also covered under the district Technology Protection Plan and should be reported to their teacher immediately.

Tech Resources for Families

We know that families may occasionally need support with our instructional tech platforms and devices. We have created several videos and documents to assist you and your student to minimize any disruption to instruction. Many resources are available in English and Spanish. We will continue to add resources here as needed.