Technology Annual Notices and Use Agreements

Ames Community School District commits to equity and access that empowers every individual to reach their full personal and educational potential.  That commitment extends into the digital learning spaces where our students and staff increasingly create, collaborate, and communicate.   Technology devices and online resources are critical to our educational program, and access is subject to the terms and conditions outlined in this technology use agreement.  This information is presented annually to families during online registration and is also available in the Annual Notices web page.  

Annual Notice: Student Devices

Ames Community School District provides internet-enabled devices and chargers to all students in grades PK-12. Chromebooks are the most common type of device issued to students, but they may also access tablets, desktop computers, and other equipment approved for use on our network. Any device available to students will be labeled as the property of Ames Community School District and will be tracked using our inventory management systems. All devices are provided for the express academic purposes of teaching and learning, not personal use.

Annual Notice: Google Workspace/Third-Party Tools

The district assigns Google Workspace for Education accounts to all students and staff. This ad-free service provides access to Google Drive, Google Classroom, Google Meet, and a managed email account ending in @ames.k12.ia.us.  (Students in grades K-5 may only email teachers and peers.)  View a complete list of Google Workspace tools. Google accounts also allow the district to safely authenticate our users on other sites and provide access to a variety of third-party learning tools. A few of the sites and tools available to student are listed below:

• Seesaw & Google Classroom: Secure, online learning platforms and communication tools.
• Follett Destiny & MackinVia: School library catalog and access to ebooks and audiobooks.
• WeVideo & SoundTrap: Web-based video and sound-editing tools for multimedia projects.
• Snap&Read:  Text-to-speech extension to support a diverse range of reading needs.

The list of tools and resources available to students is constantly evolving. Staff are encouraged to seek out new and innovative uses of technology to engage their students; therefore, the teacher is often the best source of information about particular sites used in the classroom.  Additional information on the use of technology in the Ames Community School District is described in board policies 604.11 Appropriate Use of Online Learning Platforms, 605.4 Technology and Instructional Materials, and 605.6 Internet – Appropriate Use.  

Annual Notice: Filtering & Monitoring of Online Activity

All on-site network traffic in the Ames Community School District is filtered in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and federal eRate guidelines. Any off-site activity involving the use of a student Chromebook or while logged into a student Google account may also be subject to filtering and monitoring. There is no guarantee of privacy from administrators, technology staff, or other designated personnel when using district-provided technology. The district reserves the right to take immediate action when responding to student online activity. 

Annual Notice: Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) applies to commercial companies and website operators that knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The goal of COPPA is to place parents in control over what information is collected from their young children online and requires parental consent before such information can be disclosed. With permission, schools may also act as an agent for the parents when disclosing information in an educational context. 

Ames Community School District contracts with some vendors, including Google, that require parental consent under COPPA. Teachers may also design lessons that involve the use of free online tools which also require consent under COPPA. The disclosure of student information by district staff is subject to local, state, and federal policy including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). No student data will be collected or disclosed for commercial purposes. The district is requesting your permission to collect, use, and disclose your child’s data under COPPA to the extent necessary to achieve the goals of our educational program.

Annual Notice: Ames Public Library Data Sharing Agreement

Ames Community School District and the Ames Public Library have entered into a data sharing agreement for the purposes of creating student library cards for all K-12 students. The agreement involves the disclosure of some personally identifiable student information. Student library cards provide access to electronic resources offered by Ames Public library, including research and homework databases; learning resources; downloadable e-books, audiobooks, music, managainzes, and video streaming. No action is necessary for your child to participate, and you may opt out of the sharing agreement during online registration. Parents or guardians may also opt out of the program at any time by contacting their child’s school.

Technology Use Agreements

In order to access the district’s technology resources, students and their families must agree to the terms and conditions defined in this document. Teachers and/or administrators will review these statements with students at least once per year, and parents will be asked to acknowledge these statements during online registration. 

Student Technology Use Agreements

• I understand that access to the internet and district technology is a privilege, not a right; there may be consequences for not adhering to the technology use agreements and for violating rules.
• I understand that my access to district technology is intended for academic purposes only.  
• I will not use district technology to conduct personal business or to access entertainment.
• I will follow the policies of the Ames Community School District and abide by all local, state, and federal laws when using my device at school, at home, or at any other location.
• I will honor my family’s values and follow school expectations when using the device.
• I will not use personal devices to access online resources at school without staff permission.  
• I will not activate personal hotspots or other access points at school without staff permission. 
• I will respect the district’s content filters and will request staff support to access blocked content. 
• I will respect intellectual property rights, including copyrights, with regards to online information.
• I will not engage or participate in any form of cyberbullying or harassment.  If I witness any form of cyberbullying or harassment, I will report the behavior immediately to a trusted adult.
• I will not capture video, audio, or pictures without the consent of all persons being recorded, their knowledge of the media’s intended use, as well as the approval of a staff member.
• I will keep the device in my possession at all times or secure it in a safe place when not in use.
• I will treat the device with care at all times by carrying it appropriately, keeping food and drink at a distance, and avoiding extreme temperatures.
• I will only clean my device using the cleaning methods approved by the school district.
• I will not attempt to repair the device on my own nor pay someone else to repair the device for me.  
• I will only add apps or extensions that enhance my learning and serve an educational purpose.  
• I will keep all accounts and passwords assigned to me secure, and I will not share this information with any other students.
• I will not release personal information to strangers when using the device.
• I will charge the battery on my device every night if allowed to take it home.
• I will bring the device to school every day.  If I do not have my device, I may need to make up work outside of the school day.
• I will report problems with my device, including any damage, as soon as possible after it happens. 
• I will report the loss or theft of a device to an administrator as soon as possible after it happens.
• I will return the device when requested or if I withdraw from the district at any time.

Parent/Family Technology Use Agreements

• I/We understand that access to the internet and district technology is a privilege, not a right; there may be consequences for not adhering to the technology use agreement and for violating rules.
• I/We understand that access to district technology is intended for academic purposes only.
• I/We will not use district technology to conduct personal business or to access entertainment. 
• I/We will follow the policies of the Ames Community School District and abide by all local, state, and federal laws as it relates to use of district technology, regardless of where that technology is used.
• I/We will discuss our family’s values regarding the Internet, including acceptable online behavior.
• I/We will respect intellectual property rights, including copyrights, with regards to online information.
• I/We will not engage in any form of cyberbullying or harassments.  If I/we witness any form of cyberbullying or harassment, I will report the behavior to the school administrator.
• I/We will supervise the student’s use of the device at home and set clear expectations for the use of technology outside of school.
• I/We will encourage the student to keep the device secure at all times.
• I/We understand that fines may be assessed in order to repair damage to district technology or to replace lost equipment.  Intentional damage may result in the need to replace the device at full cost
• I/We will only attempt to clean the device using methods approved by the school district.
• I/We will immediately report any damage to or loss of district technology to the school district. 
• I/We will not attempt to repair the device nor pay someone else to repair the device on our behalf.
• I/We will discuss the importance of protecting our online identity by not sharing passwords or other personal information with friends and strangers.
• I/We will charge the student device every night or make arrangements to charge the device at school.
• I/We will work to ensure the device is brought to school each day.  I/We understand that failing to do so may place the student at an educational disadvantage and that I/we may be called to bring the device to school if the problem persists.  
• I/We will report problems with a device, including any damage, as soon as possible after it happens. 
• I/We will report the loss or theft of a device to an administrator as soon as possible after it happens.
• I/We agree to return the device when requested or when my/our child withdraws from the district.  
• I/We have reviewed the statements in the technology use agreements and agree to abide by the terms and conditions therein.