Technology Update | Aug. 14
Since our journey with COVID-19 began last spring, LISD families and staff have adapted incredibly to the increased technology use that is required to continue instruction for our students. We thank you for your cooperation and support as we have made these adjustments.
As we begin classes remotely on Aug. 19, please be sure your technology devices are available and working. If your student needs a district device to complete their assignments, please log in to your Skyward Family Access account to complete your back-to-school forms, where you will find the opportunity to request a device and select a pick-up day/time.
Below you will find details about devices, technology usage and helpful documents that will provide you some support as we all begin to navigate the beginning of the school year learning from home.
DEVICES
Please note, there are time slots available THIS Saturday, Aug. 15 for families to pick-up devices. Use the instructions below for your grade level to complete your back-to-school forms, where you will find the opportunity to request a device and select a pick-up day/time. The appointment scheduling link is located at the bottom of the page when you are accessing your child’s Skyward Family Access Back-to-School Learning Device Survey Form.
Pre-K through 3rd Grade
If your student needs a district device to complete their assignments, please log in to your Skyward Family Access account using these instructions to complete your back-to-school forms, where you will find the opportunity to request a device and select a pick-up day/time. We ask that you also complete the internet survey within your forms so we are able to identify internet needs across the district this fall.
4th & 5th Grade
4th and 5th-grade families will continue to have the opportunity to participate in the district’s 1:X iPad program. Students who do not already have a device will receive a district device as part of the campus material distribution process. Families should contact their campus to pick-up their assigned device. For the 2020-21 school year, all students who opt into the 1:X Program in grades 4-12 will be equipped with an iPad and keyboard. Keyboard resources can be found here.
If you do not want to participate in the 1:X iPad Program and your child still needs a device, please contact your child’s campus for alternative options.
6th through 12th Grade
6th through 12th-grade families will continue to have the opportunity to participate in the district’s 1:X iPad program. If your student needs a district device to complete their assignments, please log in to your Skyward Family Access account using these instructions to complete your back-to-school forms, where you will find the opportunity to request a device and select a pick-up day/time. We ask that you also complete the internet survey within your forms so we are able to identify internet needs across the district this fall.
For the 2020-21 school year, all students who opt into the 1:X Program in grades 4-12 will be equipped with an iPad and keyboard. Keyboard resources can be found here.
Please note, if you do not want to participate in the 1:X iPad Program and your child still needs a device, LISD is offering parents an option to receive a Chromebook with the completion of a Technology Loan Agreement. This option does not provide a replacement benefit program. Any damages or loss may be the family's/student's responsibility.
iPAD REPLACEMENT BENEFIT PROGRAM
For the 2020-21 school year, the fee to participate in the 1:X program will be $20, a savings of more than $500 in the case of accidental damage or loss. This fee provides a replacement benefit program that covers one iPad accidental damage incident and one lost or stolen iPad incident without any additional cost to the family or student.
- 2nd iPad Break | $50 Co-pay
- 3rd iPad Break | Full Repair or Replacement Cost of iPad
- 1st Apple Keyboard Break or Loss of Keyboard Only | $40 Co-pay
- 2nd Apple Keyboard Break or Loss of Keyboard Only | $100 Co-pay
- 3rd Apple Keyboard Break or Loss of Keyboard Only | $110
More information about the district’s 1:X replacement benefit program can be found in the 1:X Student/Parent Handbook.
DEVICE REPAIRS
To expedite repairs and ensure students have the resources they need, the district established the following repair process:
- Step 1: Contact the Help Desk at 972-350-1833
- Step 2: If the issue can not be resolved over the phone, the Help Desk Agent will schedule an appointment at a Repair Center location to have the device swapped out. Due to COVID-19, technicians will not be able to work directly on your device for a period of time.
- If you do not have an appointment scheduled on arrival you will be asked to return home to make one and return at that scheduled time.
- If you have a device that needs repair or is not working, all personal data will need to be backed up before arrival. Follow these instructions on how to back-up your iPad.
SKYWARD: USERNAME & PASSWORDS
You may remember that all student passwords were updated last school year, therefore, students will not need to reset their passwords for the 2020-21 school year. Please use these instructions (Spanish | Chin) if you need help retrieving your Skyward password or username. New kindergarten through fifth-grade students will receive an assigned password from the district, which will be found in your Skyward account. Please note, the assigned password cannot be changed for K-5 students.
WEBEX RESOURCES
All students should have access to WebEx beginning Monday, Aug. 17. We ask that you please be sure your child is able to login to WebEx prior to the first day of school so that students are ready to connect with teachers and other students. For a list of helpful resources click here. Webex resources are also available on the virtual learning websites (LISD.net/virtualelementary, LISD.net/virtualmiddle, LISD.net/virtualhigh).
CONTENT RESTRICTIONS
Digital safety is extremely important to LISD, and the district goes above and beyond to protect its students. With that said, the district highly encourages parents to play an active role in monitoring the apps installed on their child’s devices. As a reminder:
- Elementary iPads will utilize the LISD app store, which ONLY allows instructional apps vetted by the district to be installed on LISD issued iPads.
- Middle School and High School 1:X iPads can access the Apple App Store; however, the district has the ability to hide unapproved apps.
- Starting in 6th-grade students gain access to the Apple App Store. Prior to 6th grade, students could only access the LISD App Store. Parents of 6th-grade student’s please play an active role in helping your child with access to Apple’s App Store.
- Students may be able to install unapproved apps from Apple’s App Store, but will not be able to launch the app on 1:X iPads
- LISD restricts all Apple App Store Apps that are rated 17+
- Please ensure your child(ren) are not purchasing apps that are on the District’s Unapproved App List
For more on digital safety, visit Apple’s Parental Controls.
We know there has been a lot of information pushed out to families this week, so we appreciate you taking the time to read these important details about your child’s technology. As a reminder, please submit your back-to-school forms as soon as you can - starting Monday, Sept. 14, some iPad functions will be restricted until these forms are completed.
If you have any questions, please contact LISD’s Technology Department Help Desk at helpdesk@lisd.net.