APS Student Tech Grades PK-4

At Austin Public Schools, students in grades Pre-K - 4 use classroom iPads during their instructional day.

• Each student is assigned an iPad to use throughout the year and that iPad is stored in a classroom cart when not in use.
• Students use iPads to reinforce concepts taught in class, demonstrate understanding of material, or to practice their learning.
• Students are not able to download their own apps on assigned iPads.
• Students do not take iPads home except in specially arranged circumstances.
• Inappropriate behavior on technology is treated in the same manner as any other kind of inappropriate classroom behavior.

Internet and Device Use at School

• APS network filtering complies with all federal laws and state statutes regarding student safety and data privacy.
• The school network is additionally filtered to remove access to online games, social media, streaming video, gambling, etc. while at school.
• Students using district-issued devices only have access to one web browser, Safari, which allows the district to protect against unsafe extensions and downloads.
• Personal phone use is discouraged and personal hotspots are not allowed.
• All students are required to sign the APS Acceptable Use Policy, which lays out expectations for their online behavior.
• Any student violating the district AUP may face behavior consequences in the classroom or from administration.

Internet and Device Use at Home

• Although students do not bring their school-assigned iPad home, they may use personally owned devices for learning practice as desired.
• It is important to balance technology use and screen time with other types of age appropriate activities.
• Having clear expectations with your child about their technology use is important. This can include:
• setting time limits
• requiring device use in an open/public area
• rules about who they can communicate with online
• understanding the age 13+ rule used by most social media platforms