***NOTE: The form is required to be completed by ALL STUDENTS with their Parent or Guardian.
A SEPARATE FORM MUST BE COMPLETED FOR EACH STUDENT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

This form's intent is dual purpose.  By completing this form, this will document your acceptance and compliance to all Middletown Public Schools technology policies. This form will also provide you the opportunity for any parent or guardian to request a school device or internet access for at-home use.

As stated, a separate form should be completed for each student in your household. If you do not have internet access, Cox is currently offering a month free access via COX CONNECT2COMPETE. Website: https://www.cox.com/residential/internet/connect2compete.html


ETHICAL USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Students at Middletown Public Schools understand that technology must be used in ethical ways that promote a respectful, nurturing, and supportive environment.  As such, students are expected to use technology in compliance with the MPS Acceptable Use Policy.

- Acceptable Use Policy: http://bit.ly/MPS-AUP

The use of technology to harm, demean, or to create a hostile learning environment for others, will not be tolerated.  

1:1 DEVICES AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Middletown Public Schools will provide a device for each student that does not have access to one at home.  Once issued, it becomes the responsibility of the student.  Students will be expected to return their device in good working order, free from damage. Any damages incurred outside of normal wear and tear will be billed to the parent/guardian up to the cost of replacing the device.  No permanent skins or stickers should be applied to these devices.  It remains the property of the Middletown Public Schools.  MPS reserves the right to periodically inspect devices (including the contents) throughout the school year.  Students should not have an expectation of privacy in the school-provided laptop/Chromebook or its contents.

PARENT SIGN-OFF

All students requesting an "At Home" device must complete this form with a parent. Parents should review the MPS Acceptable Use Policy, Parent & Student Technology, Photo Release, and Student WebMail Agreements WITH their child prior to completing this form.  

- Parent & Student Technology Agreement: https://bit.ly/2QMjJ7h
- Acceptable Use Policy: http://bit.ly/MPS-AUP
- WebMail Agreement: http://bit.ly/webmailagreement
- Photo Release Agreement: http://bit.ly/MPSPhotoRel

Students will have access to free Google and Microsoft Educational Accounts. These collectively, will provide access to Email, Calendar, Google Drive, One Drive, and both Google and Microsoft applications such as Docs, Spreadsheets, etc..  The accounts provided are educational. Privacy rights are protected to a greater degree than with accounts available to the public.  

It is important that students remember that the accounts provided are for educational use and remain the property of the Middletown Public Schools.   As such, students may not use these accounts for purposes that do not comply with the Acceptable Use Policy or the code of conduct.  

LOGIN AND EMAIL

Each student is provided with a Microsoft login which will be used to login to the device. Email accounts for students are accessible for school use.  This will be the only email account that will be used for communication between students and staff at MPS.  Students are expected to check their email accounts daily to ensure they remain up to date with all communications.  Parents who wish to monitor communications for their student(s) should request the password to the Microsoft account from their child.  Parents will continue to receive communications from the school through the email accounts they provided which is visible in the Power School Portal.

CONTENT FILTERING

Middletown Public Schools employs a content filtering system that is applied to all district-owned computers and accounts used by students. By CIPA requirements, we must filter students' access inside and outside school.  The content filter limits students’ access to content that is inappropriate for educational purposes, both at school and at home.  Any attempt by a student to bypass this system will be considered a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy and may result in disciplinary action or loss of technology privileges.  

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Middletown Public School District has support available via email (helpdesk@mpsri.net).   Assistance is handled via this system to communicate hardware, login, and software issues.  Students who experience problems with the school supplied laptop/Chromebooks should inform us via helpdesk@mpsri.net.  In most cases, we can resolve issues via the internet and phone. On occasion, remote access may be required. If the issue can not be first resolved via a phone conversation, a tech support specialist can escalate the problem to the Technology Department.  The school stocks a limited number of laptops/Chromebooks for loan in the event of a technical problem.