Device Guidelines

Student Responsibilities 

• Follow guidelines set by the teacher and school for appropriate use. Use your device for academic purposes only. This device is assigned to students for school use throughout the school day and at home for classwork as appropriate. Students in grades K-5 will leave their devices at school at the end of each day. Students in grades 6-12 may take their devices back and forth from school and home.

• Respect teachers’ instructions regarding the use of your device.

• Follow and agree to Colonial School District’s Acceptable Use Policy, your school Family Handbook, and all local, state, and federal laws.

  • Click here for the Colonial School District’s Acceptable Use Policy. 

  • Click here for the school Family Handbooks.

• Make sure your device is charged and ready for use at the beginning of each school day. You may not have the opportunity to charge your new device at school. You are expected to bring your device to school each day and to all classes. The battery life of this device is expected to be seven hours.

• You do not have to bring your device home every day, but students should make arrangements with their teachers to leave devices at school, if needed.

• Protect your device. Do not leave it in places where it may be damaged, stepped on, sat on, or stolen. You may want to invest in a protective cover.

• No personalization will be allowed: no stickers, markers, or writing of any kind on the bag or the protective case. Inappropriate media may not be used as backgrounds or themes. 

• Students will never share their device or charger with another student.

• When using your device outside of school, the device will still be filtered as it is inside of school. A wifi connection is needed for most work. However, there is a way to use Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in an offline mode if needed. Students are bound by Colonial School District’s Acceptable Use Policy wherever they use their devices.

• Students may not install any other operating system on their device. The operating system, Chrome OS, updates itself automatically. There is no need for additional virus protection.

• Devices are not to be used to take pictures or videos without the consent of all persons being photographed. Taking photos or videos at school should only be done for instructional purposes as directed by the teacher. No pictures of students are to be posted on any social media platforms.

• Students should have their own personal set of headphones/earbuds for sanitary purposes and sound issues related to peer collaboration and noise interference in the classroom.

Repairs

• Students must not attempt to repair their own device.

• Students are also not to take their device to an outside source to be fixed.

• If your device needs to be repaired:

  • A loaner device may be issued to you while you leave yours for repair with the Technology Department.

  • When you are issued a loaner, you will be responsible for any damages to or loss of the loaner.

  • Devices on loan to students having their devices repaired may be taken home if the device being repaired was allowed to be taken home.

  • A member of the Technology Department will notify you when your Device is repaired and ready to be picked up.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

Supervise student participation.

The parent/guardian is responsible for ensuring that:

• Students bring their device to school every day.
• Students notify the school of loss or damage following the appropriate procedures.

It is highly recommended that you join your child's Canvas or Google Classroom page as an Observer.

Monitor student use outside of school.

The parent/guardian must agree to monitor student use of the device at home and away from school. The best way to keep students safe and on-task is for parents/guardians to be present and involved when devices are used outside of school.

Monitoring responsibilities include:

• Be aware that Internet content will continue to be filtered by Colonial School District filtering and policies while devices are attached to networks outside the school.
• Develop a set of rules/expectations for use at home.
• Only allow device use in common rooms of the home (e.g. living room or kitchen), not in bedrooms.
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in what your student is doing on the device. Ask questions and request that your student show you their work often.

Incident Reporting Procedures

In School Damage

• Student reports problem immediately to classroom teacher or principal's office.
• In-house technician evaluates the damage.
• If it's the first incident, it is recorded, and the repair or replacement issued. 
• Parent/guardian notification made with an alert to potential future charges. 
• Incidents beyond the first will result in assessment of charges as indicated.

At Home Damage

• Student and parent/guardian should report the problem immediately to the principal's office. 
• In-house technician evaluates the damage.
• If it's the first incident, it is recorded, and the repair or replacement issued. 
• Parent/guardian notification made with an alert to potential future charges. 
• Incidents beyond the first will result in assessment of charges as indicated.

Misuse/Neglect

• The assigned student, parent/guardian, or a district employee will report damage resulting from negligence or intentional misuse to the principal's office — whether the damage was during or outside of the school day. 
• A parent/guardian conference will be held to review the incident, and resulting discipline and changes will be assessed. 
• Please keep in mind that the technology fee specifically states that it does not cover intentional misuse or negligence. 
• Negligent damage is not limited to the screen but impacts multiple internal and external areas of the device. 
• Examples of negligent damage may include but are not limited to writing on the screen, scratches/etching on the screen or casing, and obvious signs of heavy impact from throwing the device.
• The disciplinary action includes the repair or replacement cost of the device. 

Insurance Program & Repairs

The Colonial School District offers an optional $30 insurance program to protect against potential damages to school-issued devices. Those who qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch may pay a reduced fee of $15 for the insurance. Anyone with hardship that would prohibit any payment for the insurance can contact their school for assistance. 

The optional insurance program will be made available to students through their respective school buildings. Payments can be made via cash, check, or EZSchoolPay. (Note that EZSchoolPay may apply an additional service fee.) Payments can be mailed to the Business Office at 230 Flourtown Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. Checks may be made out to "Colonial School District."

The insurance program has been implemented to support the maintenance of school-issued devices.

• All students will be responsible for any intentional damage or if the laptop is lost. 

• All students will not be responsible for any repair that is related to a manufacturer defect.

• Insurance will cover up to two repairs and will remain in effect for one school year.

• Insurance will not cover the cost of a lost charger or case.

• Declining or opting out of paying for the insurance program means that you agree to pay the repair or retail replacement charges for any damage caused by your child whenever using the device, which is the same requirement for any other school-issued material. 

The following price list outlines the approximate costs of the most common repairs for Chromebook devices, so that both the student and parent/guardian understand the approximate cost associated with those repairs. Actual repair cost may vary by the type of repair needed and the age of the device. 

*Represents new device for 2025-26 school year

Do not take District-owned devices to an outside computer service for any type of repair or maintenance. All repairs must be handled by the Colonial School District Technology Department.

Return of Device

Students who withdraw from the Colonial School District must return their Chromebook and power supply to administrative offices. A receipt will be issued confirming that the device was returned. Failure to return the device will result in a replacement charge and holding of the release of transcripts.

Devices are returned each year prior to the summer break. This allows technology services to inventory all devices, repair known problems, and ensure devices are ready for the start of the school year. The following school year, students will receive the same device.

Many Plymouth Whitemarsh High School students will be taking their District Chromebooks home for the summer. Students may use their device for summer assignments, review and practice that will keep their skills fresh, and to pursue personal learning goals and interests.

Caring for your Chromebook:

• Store it in a cool safe place.
  Avoid leaving your device in the heat or direct sunlight, including hot cars, garages, or near windows. Extreme temperatures can permanently damage the battery and screen. Store the Chromebook out of reach of pets who may chew on cords or younger siblings who might drop or damage it.
   

• Keep food and drinks away.
  Crumbs and spills can cause the device to stop working. Make sure your hands are clean when using your Chromebook.
   

• Don’t install unapproved software or extensions.
  Stick to school-approved apps and extensions to avoid malware or violations of school policies. Colonial School District filtering policies will also stay in place on the Chromebooks for the summer.
   

• Charging your device.
  Don't leave the Chromebook plugged in all the time; this actually shortens the battery life. Restart the Chromebook on a regular basis to allow updates to the operating system. Be careful when inserting cords, cables, and storage devices. Store the charger in the same case or bag to avoid losing it. Bring it to school on August 25 charged up and ready to go!

If the Chromebook is damaged or broken or you need technical assistance, please click here to email the Colonial Technology Helpdesk at CSDsupport@colonialsd.org. Do not try to fix it yourself or take the Chromebook somewhere else to be serviced. 

Moving or Changing Schools

If you will not be returning to the Colonial School District in the fall, please return the Chromebook to the main office at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. 

Q. Is there a fee for the device?
A. The District will provide devices as learning tools and there is an optional $30 insurance program fee to cover up to two repairs per year. See "Technology User Fee & Repairs" section above for details.

Q. If I don't enroll in the insurance program, will my child still receive a device?
A. Yes. Device allocation is not tied to enrollment in the insurance program.

Q. What if a student’s device is lost?
A. If the device is lost, families will be responsible for the cost of a replacement, just as they are responsible for lost textbooks. 

Q. What if a student’s charger is lost?
A. If the charger is lost, families may purchase a new charger on their own. There are various online sites that carry chargers including Amazon, WalMart, Staples, and Best Buy. The insurance program does not cover the cost of a lost charger.

Q. What if a student’s device is stolen?
A. If the device is stolen, families should report the theft to their building administration and file a report with local law enforcement.

Q. What if a student's device is damaged?
A. If the device is damaged, contact the Colonial School District Tech Department. The District will follow the procedures to repair it. If the device is beyond repair, or the repair cost is excessive, families may be expected to pay the repair cost. There may be disciplinary consequences if the damage is deemed intentional. A loaner device will be issued to the student while their device is being repaired.

Q. Who owns the device?
A. All District-provided devices are property of the Colonial School District, and the District retains all legal rights, similar to other resources provided by the District (such as lockers, textbooks, etc.). Students’ right of possession and use is conditional upon full and complete acceptance of the Acceptable Use Policy.

Q. What kinds of internet safety protocols/restrictions will be in place?
A. Currently, the District utilizes tools to ensure the safety of our staff and students, such as content filtering, firewall, etc. These same protocols and restrictions will apply to the devices when in the District.

Q. What if I don't have internet at home for my child?
A. Devices do not come with a dedicated internet connection, but can sign on to most open WiFi networks, including those at coffee shops and libraries. Many internet service providers offer discounted service for families desiring a dedicated connection in their homes. Please notify your building principal for more information.