I am concerned about the lack of filtering of Internet content when the student takes his iPad home. It is a false assumption if we assume that parents will closely supervise the use of iPads (by the student as well as by younger brothers and sisters). Isn't there something more you can do to filter pornography and other unhealthy sites to be viewed by kids away from school? Or, is there something Alpine Communications or another provider can do to help parents who are concerned? (I don't think keeping the iPad at school is an option in most situations due to the amount of homework students have.)

It is our belief that parents should monitor the use of the Internet when children are at home. This allows each parent to address home Internet use in their own style and promotes active parental involvement in teaching about appropriate digital citizenship.  Any rules that parents have about computer use, Internet access, cell phone use, television programming, etc. should apply equally to their child’s iPad use.

Internet content filtering is never 100% secure, even within the school building. Because of this and the reality that when students leave school they are exposed to unfiltered content via computers, cell phones, television programming, etc., digital citizenship is continually addressed and emphasized during the school day. However, our district cannot be the only place our students are receiving guidance about the standards of appropriate content.  We need the involvement of parents in helping our young people learn and maintain good digital habits that will last a lifetime.

We should note that we are investigating several apps that could possibly filter the student iPads while they are off-campus. We will inform parents if we find an app that will work for our iPad program.

We are assuming that there will be families who choose not to take the iPads home. Our staff understands this and will make sure that homework can still be completed at home, with or without the iPad.