Freire Charter School Wilmington is issuing each student a Chromebook. This network-wide investment in student technology will enable us to facilitate student learning during times of prolonged virtual learning, while also enhancing our long-term ability to develop students’ 21st Century skills including technology literacy, critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving.
The computing device will allow students to direct their own learning and have a greater reliance on active learning strategies. Students will be able to transfer knowledge across disciplines. The increased access to technology will enhance instruction and provide more achievement opportunities for our students.
In order for your child to receive this computer, you must sign this contract indicating that you have reviewed this contract with your child and that you are both agreeing to the following terms:
Return of Chromebooks: The Chromebooks provided are Freire Charter School property; therefore, any Freire Charter School or Freire Schools employee may examine the Chromebooks and search their contents at any time for any reason. The school reserves the right to require the return of the Chromebook at any time, and the Chromebook must be returned if a student is unenrolled voluntarily or involuntarily or graduates.
Care of Chromebooks: Students are responsible for the general care of the device they have been issued by the school.
- No food or drink is allowed next to the device while it is in use.
- The device must remain free of any writing, drawing, stickers, other than any applied by Freire Charter School.
- The device must never be left in a car or any unsupervised area.
Software: Only legally licensed software/applications, media, or other data is permitted on the Chromebook. As this computer is the property of Freire Charter School, we have the ability to install and uninstall software at our discretion and remotely. Students may not download software/applications, media (including songs, photos, videos) without a Freire Charter School’s or Freire Schools Network Office employee’s prior approval.
- Students MAY NOT replace the provided operating system on the Chromebook with any custom software or applications.
- Students MAY NOT remove or modify any school-installed software/applications.
Privacy: Neither students nor parents/guardians have any right to privacy of any data saved on the Chromebook or in any Freire Charter School network drives. Freire Charter School and the Freire Schools Network Office has the ability to remotely monitor student activity on this Chromebook and will do so at its discretion. The School will never access the camera when the camera has not been activated by the student.
Furthermore, Electronic mail, network usage, and all stored files shall not be considered confidential and may be monitored at any time by designated Freire Charter School or Freire Schools staff to ensure appropriate use. Freire Charter School cooperates fully with local, state or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to violations of computer crime laws, and may give proper authorities access to email, files, and network usage data during the course of an investigation.
Saving Files: Students should not save files on the device. Freire Charter School will provide students locations to save their school-related work. All files left on the Chromebook will be erased upon its return, and the school can take back the device at any time. Freire Charter School and the Freire Schools Network Office accepts no responsibility for lost files. Therefore, students should never use the Chromebook to store information or files intended for personal use.
Remote Access: As these devices are being distributed during a school closure, there may be times with Freire School IT staff need to access your device remotely for installation of software or IT support. Students and parents are expected to comply with all requests for access. Freire Charter School and the Freire Schools Network Office also has the ability to remotely access the Chromebook for purposes, such as locating a lost device, software or program updates, IT support, etc., and may do so without notice to you or your child.
Technical Help: The student or parent/guardian is expected to contact Freire Schools IT Support atrobert.kaufman@freirewilmington.org immediately if the Chromebook is not functioning properly or if you need general technical support.
Missing or Stolen Chromebook: If your student is missing their Chromebook and/or suspect it has been stolen, you are required to alert Freire Schools IT Support immediately at techsupport@freirecharterschool.org. If the Chromebook is stolen while on loan to the student, you (the parent/guardian signing below) are responsible for the entire replacement cost of the equipment, not to exceed $300.
Media Access & Safety: Students will have access to all available forms of electronic media (websites, videos, files, etc.) and communication which are in support of in support Freire Charter School’s educational goals and objectives. Some media and content have been blocked to better ensure the safety of our students. These filters do not replace the importance of parents/guardians in monitoring student Chromebook usage. Parents are expected to be partners in ensuring students’ Internet safety.
School Rules: All rules, policies, and procedures of Freire Charter School that apply to students in school apply while using the Chromebook. School administrators may develop additional rules regarding use of the device in the future.
Acceptable Use: The student to whom the equipment is issued will be responsible at all times for its appropriate use. For more detail, please refer to the Freire Charter School Student Technology Policy which can be found in the Student & Family Handbook (summarized below)
- Acceptable use of Freire Charter School technology is any use that is consistent with the educational objectives of the school and in accordance to the Freire Charter School Code of Conduct. This includes student academic work, college exploration and research, and employment exploration and research and parents assisting students with understanding a school activity or using the device. For further clarification on uses not listed here, please refer to the school’s Technology Coordinator or Freire Schools IT Support at robert.kaufman@freirewilmington.org. All use is subject to review by Freire Charter School and Freire Schools Network Office staff and administration.
- Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are on school grounds and in the community. Communications on the network are often public in nature and general school rules apply. Students must respect the rights of others in both the school community and in the global community.
Unacceptable Use: General examples of unacceptable Chromebook uses which are expressly prohibited include but are not limited to the following:
- Personal Use & Use by Others – The Chromebook is intended solely for the Freire student’s educational use. Students are not permitted to use the computer for personal use. Family members and others are not permitted to use the Freire Charter School computer for any reason except for assisting a Freire student with a school activity or using the device. Parent use to participate in a parent-school family meeting is acceptable.
- Illegal Activity – It is unacceptable use to promote or engage in any activities which are deemed criminal under federal, state or local laws, including:
- Copyright infringement (including utilizing peer-to-peer file-sharing applications or execute programs to facilitate the downloading or exchange of copyrighted or unauthorized music, movies, and other intellectual property, etc.)
- Using the Chromebook to arrange for the purchase of illegal substances or alcohol.
- Intentionally harming or destroying the hardware, software or data of another user, whether at Freire Charter School or at any site connected to the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the creation or spreading of computer viruses.
- Engaging in cyberbullying, harassment (including sexual harassment) or using objectionable language in public or private messages, e.g., racist, terrorist, abusive, sexually explicit, threatening, stalking, demeaning or slanderous language. Cyberbullying and harassment are defined in the Freire Charter School Student and Family Handbook. Note that Freire may consider an action to be harassment regardless of whether it is considered harassment under the law. Any repeated or unwanted communication may constitute harassment. Any communication with the direct intention of harassing, threatening, implying, or otherwise causing harm to individuals and classes of individuals is a violation of school policy. Kinds of Harassment or cyberbullying include:
- Sending/forwarding unsolicited email, junk mail, or propagating chain letters.
- Email “bombing,” spamming, etc.
- Inappropriate images, text, audio, commentary, etc. that demeans based on age, ancestry, citizenship, color, creed, disability, domestic or sexual violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.
- Forging electronic information.
- Creating, altering, or deleting the attribution of origin (“from” in email, IP address headers, etc.).
- Sending messages under someone else’s address or posing as another user in any way.
- Taking a passive role as a bystander by encouraging a bully or willingly not taking any action to prevent abuse from occurring.
- Doing any of the above through electronic applications including but not limited to email, Snapchat, Instagram, Tik Tok, etc.
- Other Unacceptable Uses – Other unacceptable uses of this Chromebook include but are not limited to:
- Providing your password to another person or changing your system password. Users may be held accountable for actions performed under their account name if it has been determined that their account was negligently left accessible. If a user suspects their account security has been compromised they are required to immediately contact Freire Schools IT Support at robert.kaufman@freirewilmington.org.
- Reposting a message that was sent to you privately without permission of the person who sent you the message. It is unacceptable to post private information about another person.
- Posting personal contact information about yourself or other people. Personal contact information includes your address, telephone, work address, etc. It is unacceptable to agree to meet with someone you have met online.
- Using this Chromebook for commercial use, including providing or purchasing products or services.
- Using the Chromebook to access material that is profane or obscene. This includes pornography, inappropriate music or text, etc.
- Opening an email attachment from an unknown source.
Notice Regarding Inappropriate/Illegal Content: The policy above states that students may not access any obscene or inappropriate content, that students should have no expectation of privacy, and that system monitoring may lead to the school discovering violations. Our automated monitoring system, Gaggle, uses technology and trained professionals to evaluate content 24 hours a day for potentially harmful content, messages, documents, images and more. If there is discovery of objectionable content or a potentially harmful situation, Gaggle alerts the school. Gaggle is also required by federal law to report suspected child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
If Freire’s automated monitoring system discovers that a student has stored or sent sexually explicit images, parents and law enforcement will be notified if we suspect the student has committed a crime.
Terms of Acceptance: In accepting this Chromebook, the Freire student’s parent/guardian is responsible for returning this Chromebook on time in the same condition as when I received it. Furthermore, you understand that:
- If, after an IT inspection, it is determined that Chromebook screen, hardware and/or casing is damaged, you will be charged repair or replacement costs.
- If after an IT inspection, it is determined that they did not return all cables or accessories, you will be charged replacement costs.
- If you or your child tampers with the equipment, you will be charged to repair or replace the Chromebook and any cables or accessories and may also be subject to disciplinary action.
- You agree to pay for the replacement cost of the Chromebook at a cost not to exceed $300 should you fail to return the device within 30 days of the designated return date (TBA) or if the device is stolen, lost, or damaged beyond repair.
- Any fines or charges resulting from illegal or unacceptable use of the Chromebook are the responsibility of the parent/guardian.