Running head: RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY LETTER 1

Responsible Use Policy Letter

Laura Ray

Grand Canyon University

TEC 530

November 8, 2017
Responsible Use Policy Letter 2

Responsible Use Policy Letter

Part 1: Compare and Contrast Table

Comparison of Technology Policies for

St. Francis Xavier School and Paradise Valley Unified School District

Similarities Differences

St Francis Xavier PVUSD

Covers a variety of topics such as
internet use, devices use, and school
email
Tells what students can and cannot do
with the technology
Details consequences for misuse of
technology
Defines cyberbullying, hacking,
vandalism, and other key areas for
clarity amongst stakeholders
Does not use current
terminology and focuses
on what students should
not do
Only discusses what the
students are asked to do,
not what the school will
do
Does not detail rules
regarding social media or
use of by parents
Describes in detail the
care and use of school
property such as
Chromebooks
Uses verbiage such as
“digital citizen” and
focuses on what students
should do
Details services provided
by the school
Discussion the proper use
of social media by
parents, specifically as it
relates to the posting of
pictures of children
Describes in general terms
what is expected relating
to care and use of devices
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Part 2: Letter to School Administrator

Dear Ms. Cavnar,

In reviewing St. Francis Xavier’s technology policy and comparing our policy to those of

other districts and the standards set forth by ISTE and other leaders in the industry, it is clear that

our Technology Policy and Responsible/Acceptable Use Policy needs to be updated to better

reflect both our mission as a school and as a technology department, and to fit the demands of

current technology and the needs of the school community.

Our technology policy can be described as an Acceptable Use Policy. It details what the

students are to refrain from in relation to the use of technology. As a Jesuit Catholic School that

values Christian ideals as well as commitment to justice, our policies should better reflect our

mission. The formation of a technology mission statement that reflects both the school’s

philosophy as well as our educational vision for the Technology Department would be a guiding

force in the creation of an updated Use Agreement. The US Department of Education National

Education Technology Plan suggests that schools set a clear vision for technology use and

integration. In setting this mission, we can fully reach our goals. Further, migrating from an

Acceptable Use Policy where the focus is on what students cannot do, to a Responsible Use

Policy where the focus is on what responsible use looks like would best fit our motto of students

being “Kids for Others” in the digital world.

Our technology policy is very lengthy. While detailed description can be helpful, there

are some that may be better listed in a different format, so as to highlight the more important

aspects of the policy. For example, there is a 40 point list of care for chromebooks. This is

important, but should be relocated to a specific document students and parents sign as part of the
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1:1 Chromebooks program and does not need to be included in the general policy. Removing

items such as these can help make our policy more succinct.

Our policy states clearly how students are to act and manage their devices, but does not

detail what the school is responsible for or what we provide. Additionally, there is no

information within the policy about digital equity or our school’s plan for providing technology

to those who cannot obtain it for themselves. As a ministry of the community, and in effort to

communicate to the needy the ways we can provide connectivity to those in need, our technology

policy should better describe what we provide to students and families. The National Education

Technology Plan asks that schools work to close the digital divide, the inequity when it comes to

digital access of students in low income homes. In being committed to doing justice, our

school’s mission should be made more clear here.

Our technology policy states nothing about the education students will receive regarding

digital ethics or citizenship. As a school dedicated to ethical behavior, we must make this a

forefront of our policy. Additionally, our policy offers very little guidance to parents. As a K-8

school, we must seek to educate not only students but parents as well, as much of the concern

involving technology is new to parents.

As technology continues to change, our policy must match pace. Some aspects of our

technology policy such as the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) plan are no longer needed since

we have school issued devices. Others parts such as the social media usage need to be clarified.

Our technology plan is part of the student handbook as a whole, but we should consider making

it a standalone document. Doing so would require students and parents to sign it separately

from the handbook and help to bring attention to the requirements within it.
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Thank you for your time and consideration in regards to our Technology Plan. I look

forward to continued collaboration as we further to school’s mission with regards to technology.

Laura Ray

STEM coordinator

US Department of Education. (n.d.). National education technology plan. Retrieved November 8,

2017, from https://tech.ed.gov/netp/

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References

PVUSD. (n.d.). Parent student handbook 2016-2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017, from

https://www.pvschools.net/cms/lib/AZ01902189/Centricity/Domain/1927/16-

17%20Parent%20Student%20Handbook%20FINAL.pdf

St. Francis Xavier School. (2017). Family handbook. Retrieved November 8, 2017, from

http://school.sfxphx.org/family-handbook.html

US Department of Education. (n.d.). National education technology plan. Retrieved November 8,

2017, from https://tech.ed.gov/netp/