Chromebooks

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How will students be held accountable for responsible use of the device? Will insurance be provided?

Parents/guardians and students will be required to sign a Responsible Use Agreement (RUA) before the device is allowed to be taken off of school grounds.

Parents/guardians will have the option to enroll in an SBPS Device Repair Incentive Program designed to help students and families defray the costs of device repairs and/or replacement. Participation in the program is optional and the specifics will be communicated in conjunction with the site-based distribution plan.

What if a student's device is damaged?

A process for reporting damage via electronic form will be communicated to students. A temporary "loaner" device will be checked out to the student while their device is repaired. A fine will be assessed for necessary repairs based solely on the cost of the parts required to return the device to a working condition. Links to a list of parts for each model of Chromebook and corresponding prices can be found in the Parents Guide to Student Chromebook Use.

How will devices be protected when being transported between home and school and between classes?

A protective, always-on case will be provided for transporting the device between home and school and between classes. Even gentle handling can damage the screen. In order to safeguard the screen, Chromebooks should be safely closed before transporting the Chromebook any distance, even inside a classroom, and NEVER grab a Chromebook by the screen. Students are expected to leave the device will in the protective case when not in use. This case will not replace a student backpack as there will be room only for the computer inside. The protective case is designed to fit in a typical student backpack along with some books and materials. While the case and backpack work well together, the student's backpack is NOT a substitute for the protective case.

What if my child forgets to charge their Chromebook?

Students are expected to charge their Chromebooks nightly at home and bring the device to school fully charged. Students are also encouraged to leave their power brick at home due to easy misplacement and difficulty identifying each students power cord. If one is available, students who do not bring a charged Chromebook to school may be able to use a "classroom charging cable" which is not allowed to leave the specified classroom. A classroom charging cable may not be available and your student may be required to complete an extra non-digital assignment or may miss in participating in a classroom activity. Forgetting to bring or to charge the Chromebook will NEVER exempt a student from being responsible for coursework.

Will I or my student be able to log in with a non-education Google account?

No, student devices are configured to allow access using only sbbearcats.net credentials.

Will access to the Internet be filtered while off-network?

Student devices are subject to the SPBS Internet filter both on and off of the SBPS network. In other words, web pages viewed on the Chromebook are filtered by SBPS no matter where the Chromebook is used. This filtering does not extend to the student's personal (non-school issued) devices.

What happens if students have been visiting inappropriate websites?

While we do our best to ensure students can access only educationally appropriate sites, some websites are not blocked or are able to bypass our filters. Parents are encouraged to randomly check the browsing history of student Chromebooks on a regular basis. If you discover any inappropriate web activity, please contact your child's teacher or building principal. Inappropriate web browsing is a violation of the district Authorized Use Policy and may result in disciplinary action.

Is the Internet (wired or wireless) required to use the Chromebooks? What about students who don't have access to the Internet from home?

Many Google and Chrome applications (including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides) allow for offline access. This will allow a student to work offline and sync to the network drive as soon as they have network access.

Offline access (either by way of a Chrome app or files on the device) has been and will continue to be an important consideration in the selection of digital curriculum resources.

SBPS Curriculum Specialists, school administrators, and teachers will endeavor to include opportunities for students to access curriculum content and complete assignments regardless of Internet access.

Will students be able to bring/use their own computer (from home) instead of the district-assigned Chromebook while at school?

Chromebooks provide a balance of focus, flexibility, and manageability. Providing Chromebooks for all students ensures a consistent computing environment, including district management of user settings and classroom management software. It is for those reasons that students should use the district-issued Chromebook while at school.

What about computer viruses infecting the Chromebook?

Since the applications run through the browser and online, there is little worry about having viruses infect the Chromebook.