(Bring Your Own Technology)

Technologies continue to change the world in which we live. It also provides many new and positive educational benefits for classroom instruction. To help facilitate the changes that technology has to offer, students in Henry County Schools may now bring their own technology to school.

For purposes of BYOT, technology is defined as privately owned wireless and/or portable electronic hand held equipment that includes, but is not limited to, existing and emerging mobile communication systems and smart technologies, portable internet devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), hand-held entertainment systems or portable information technology systems that can be used for word processing, wireless internet access, image capturing/recording, sound recording and information transmitting/receiving/storing, etc.

Only the internet gateway provided by the school may be accessed while on campus. Personal internet connective devices such as, but not limited to, cell phones / cell network adapters are not to be used to access outside internet sources.

Responsibility to keep the device secure rests with the individual owner. Henry County Schools is not liable for any device stolen or other damages that may occur while on school property. If a device is stolen or damaged, it will be handled through the administrative office similar to other personal artifacts that are impacted in the same manner. It is recommended that devices be customized in order to physically identify devices. Additionally, protective cases are recommended for devices.

The use of technology to provide educational material is not a necessity but a privilege. A student does not have the right to use a laptop, cell phone or other electronic device while at school. When abused, privileges will be revoked.

Students and parents/guardians participating in BYOT must adhere to all Board policies, specifically, Internet Acceptable Use (IFGBA) and Internet Safety (IFGBA). Additionally, technology:

Must remain in silent mode while on school campuses and on school buses.

May not be used to cheat on assignments, tests, standardized tests or for non-instructional purposes (i.e. personal phone calls or text/instant messaging)

May not be used to record, transmit or post photographic images or video of a person, or persons on campus during school activities and/or hours.

May only be used to access files on computer or internet sites which are relevant to the classroom curriculum. Games are not permitted.

The school’s network filters will be applied to one’s connection to the internet and attempt will not be made to bypass the filtering system.

Bringing on premises or infecting the network with a Virus, Trojan or program designed to damage, alter, destroy, or provide access to unauthorized data or information is a violation of policy IFBGA.

Processing or accessing information on school property related to hacking, altering, or bypassing network security policies is in violation of policy IFBGA.

The school district has the right to collect and examine any device that is suspected of causing problems or was the source of an attack or virus infection.

Access to student drives or Henry County Schools network will not be permitted. Files may have to be saved to the C Drive of the device, a jump drive, an external drive or another media device.

Printing from personal laptops to Henry County Schools printers will not be possible.

Personal technology must be charged prior to bringing it on school property and must run off its own battery while at school. Charging technology will not be allowed.