The application of the following recommendations should be considered in the context of each student’s age and level of maturity.

• Electronic devices (computers, laptops, iPads, etc) should be used in “public areas” of the house. It is not recommended that children, particularly younger children, use or charge their devices in their bedrooms.

• Life in the modern world is rapidly becoming digital and, while there is research on the positive effects technology has on student engagement and learning, there is a growing body of research on the effects of screen reading. There seems to be no doubt that a computer can be a window on the world of information that is now available and served up digitally. The amount of time in front of a computer screen and the quality of the material being viewed or read are certainly important considerations in balancing both the positive and negative effects of digital text. One thing is clear, powering down electronic devices including televisions, cell phones, and game systems, an hour before going to sleep helps in getting the brain into sleep mode.
• We filter the Internet while students are using district-owned devices on campus and off-campus. We have different levels of filtering based on the age of the students. However, the Internet is always changing and sites come and go. No filter is perfect and what may be considered objectionable Internet content varies from household to household. While students are at home on their personal devices, the home router is the access point to the Internet. You can add additional restrictions to your child’s device when it accesses your router. Please contact your Internet service provider for specific directions on how to access your router’s settings.
For convenience, links to both Comcast and Verizon can be found below.

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/set-online-parental-controls

https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/internet/security/parental-controls

• Most importantly, be involved in your student’s online life. Talk openly and honestly about Internet safety and being good digital citizens. We do this at school, as well. A student should feel safe when coming to a responsible adult if he or she encounters something online that is distressing.