Chromebooks at Lincoln Public Schools

How will students be held accountable for responsible use of the device? Will insurance be provided in the event of damage, loss, or theft?

Students agree to the terms of the Responsible Use Agreement (RUA) prior to signing into the Chromebook for the first time. This RUA can be found electronically HERE. Also, parents/guardians will be required to sign a Parent Acknowledgement of ITT (PA) before the student is allowed to use any school devices and before any Chromebook may be checked out to the student.

Parents/Guardians will have the option to enroll in an LPS Student Electronic Chromebook Assurance Program designed to protect students and families from full financial responsibility for device repairs and/or replacement. Participation in the program is optional and the specifics will be communicated in conjunction with the the site-based distribution plan.

What if a student’s device is damaged?

A process for reporting damage via electronic form will be communicated to students and parents. A temporary “loaner” device will be checked out to the student while their device is repaired. A fine will be assessed for necessary repairs based solely on the cost of the parts required to return the device to a working condition. Details of fines associated with parts is listed on the Device Assurance / Chromebook Assurance Page.

How will devices be protected when being transported between home and school and between classes?

A protective sleeve with a hard liner, handle, and strap or a protective armor will be provided for transporting the device between home and school and between classes. It is an expectation that the student device will remain in the protective sleeve when not in use. This sleeve will not replace a student backpack as there will be room only for the computer inside. The protective sleeve is designed to fit in a typical student backpack along with some books and materials. While the sleeve and backpack work well together, the student’s backpack is NOT a substitute for the protective sleeve.

Will access to the Internet be filtered or monitored while off-network?

Student devices are subject to the LPS Internet filter both on and off of the LPS network. In other words, web pages viewed on the Chromebook are filtered by LPS no matter where the Chromebook is used.

Is the Internet (wired or wireless) required to use the Chromebooks? What about students who don’t have access to the Internet from home?

Many Google and Chrome applications (including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides) allow for offline access.  This will allow a student to work offline and sync to the network drive as soon as they have network access.

Offline access (either by way of a Chrome app or files on the device) has been and will continue to be an important consideration in the selection of digital curriculum resources.

LPS Curriculum Specialists, school administrators, and teachers will endeavor to include opportunities for students to access curriculum content and complete assignments regardless of Internet access.

LPS is actively engaging the Lincoln community in conversations about ways to provide Internet access in public locations throughout the city. Access is currently available in all Lincoln Public Libraries.

Will students be able to bring / use their own computer (from home) instead of the district-assigned Chromebook while at school?

Chromebooks provide a balance of focus, flexibility, and manageability. Providing Chromebooks for all students ensures a consistent computing environment, including district management of user settings and classroom management software (Hapara). It is for those reasons that students should use the district-issued Chromebook while at school.