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Internet Safety in District 58
Overview
District 58 provides students with access to technology and online resources when they meaningfully support teaching and learning. Technology is one of many tools available to our students and teachers, and our focus is on the quality and purpose of technology use rather than the amount of time students spend on devices.
Students benefit from a balance of digital and non-digital learning experiences. When technology is used, District 58 works to provide a safe, age-appropriate environment through multiple layers of safeguards, including Internet filtering, device and account restrictions, student safety monitoring, teacher monitoring tools, digital citizenship instruction, and active adult supervision.
No technology solution can prevent every instance of inappropriate content or behavior. For that reason, District 58 combines technical safeguards with clear expectations, classroom supervision, and instruction designed to help students become safe and responsible digital citizens.
Policies and Expectations
District 58's technology practices are guided by Board Policy and administrative procedures governing access to the District's electronic networks.
Students are expected to use District technology for educational purposes and in accordance with District expectations for appropriate technology use, including the District’s 1:1 Student Agreement, which is included as part of the District registration process. District systems may be accessed and monitored by the District and its authorized agents to help ensure appropriate and safe use.
During the school day, technology use should be purposeful and connected to learning. Students should not be given unrestricted "free time" on District devices. When technology does not add value to a learning experience, teachers are encouraged to use non-digital approaches. District 58 also provides digital citizenship instruction to help students learn how to make safe, responsible, and respectful choices online.
A Layered Approach to Student Safety
District 58 does not rely on a single filtering or monitoring product to protect students. Instead, several safeguards work together.
These include:
- Internet content filtering on District-managed student devices
- Filtering protections that continue when District-managed student devices leave the District network
- SafeSearch for Google Search queries
- Restricted YouTube access
- Restrictions on applications, device functionality, and student accounts
- Monitoring of supported student Google Workspace activity for potential safety concerns
- Apple Classroom and GoGuardian tools that allow teachers to supervise student device activity during instruction
- Classroom expectations and active adult supervision
- Digital citizenship and responsible-use instruction
Technical safeguards are regularly reviewed and adjusted as technology, student needs, and available security tools change.
For more information about the District's approach to student safety, please see below.
District 58 uses Cisco Umbrella security and filtering technology to restrict access to inappropriate Internet content on District-managed student devices. Filtering protections are designed to follow District-managed student devices when they are used outside the District network as well as while they are at school. This provides an additional layer of protection when students take District devices home or connect them to another network.
Filtering categories and restrictions are managed by the District and are intended to prevent access to content that is inappropriate for students or inconsistent with educational use.
No Internet filter is perfect. Occasionally, an appropriate educational resource may be blocked, or inappropriate content may not be immediately identified by automated systems. Students should tell a staff member or trusted adult if they encounter inappropriate or concerning content.
District 58 enforces SafeSearch protections for student Internet searches where supported. SafeSearch helps reduce the appearance of explicit content in search results. SafeSearch and the Internet filtering provide important technical safeguards but are not substitutes for active supervision and responsible technology use.
Student access to YouTube is restricted. YouTube access is restricted to content approved by either YouTube's automated system or videos that have been approved by our teachers.
District 58 provides students with Google Workspace for Education accounts to support teaching and learning. Student accounts are centrally managed by the District and configured with age-appropriate restrictions. Depending on grade level, certain Google services or features may be unavailable or limited.
Supported student Google Workspace activity is also monitored through Bark for Schools, which helps identify potential student safety concerns. When activity is flagged, designated District personnel can review the alert and determine appropriate next steps.
Student email access is restricted according to grade level. For younger students, access to email applications may be disabled. Other student accounts may have restrictions on whom students can communicate with. Supported student email and Google Workspace activity may also be monitored for potential safety concerns.
District 58 reviews student access to generative artificial intelligence tools based on student age, instructional purpose, privacy, and safety considerations. Access to Gemini and Gemini features within Google Workspace is restricted for students unless specifically enabled by the District for an approved educational purpose.
Artificial intelligence tools continue to change rapidly. The District will continue reviewing available features and determining which tools are appropriate for student use and when they add meaningful value to teaching and learning.
District-managed student iPads include restrictions designed to limit certain device functionality and provide an age-appropriate environment. The District centrally manages applications and settings on student iPads. Students cannot independently install applications from the App Store; applications used for instruction are distributed and managed by the District.
Teachers are encouraged to use Apple Classroom to supervise student iPad use during instruction. Apple Classroom allows teachers to view student screens and direct students to specific applications or resources.
AirDrop is restricted on District-managed student iPads. This prevents students from independently using AirDrop to exchange content with nearby devices.
District-managed Chromebooks include Internet filtering, account restrictions, and centrally managed applications and extensions.
District security and filtering technology is deployed to manage student Chromebook environments to provide filtering protections. Teachers are encouraged to use GoGuardian during instruction to monitor student Chromebook activity and help students remain focused on assigned learning activities.
Student Chrome accounts are centrally managed by District 58, allowing the District to configure browser, application, extension, security, and other settings.
Device practices vary by grade level:
Grades K–3: District iPads generally remain at school. Devices may be sent home when needed for District e-learning or other specific instructional purposes. Classrooms have been equipped with charging stations.
Grades 4–8: Students take their District-issued devices home and are expected to return to school with them fully charged.
Families remain important partners in establishing healthy technology routines and supervising children's overall technology use at home, particularly on personal devices and accounts that are outside District management. District 58 provides safeguards for District-managed technology while also helping students develop the skills and judgment they need to navigate an increasingly digital world.
Families are encouraged to talk regularly with their children about:
- what they are doing online
- what to do when they encounter inappropriate or upsetting content
- protecting passwords and personal information
- communicating appropriately with others
- recognizing scams and unsafe interactions
- asking a trusted adult for help when something does not seem right
- maintaining a healthy balance of digital and non-digital activities.
Students should understand that if they encounter something inappropriate online, they do not need to investigate it, respond to it, or handle it themselves. They should stop, close or put down the device, and tell a trusted adult.
The goal of these conversations is not simply to restrict students' access to technology. It is to help children gradually develop the skills necessary to make safe, healthy, and responsible choices when using technology.
An Ongoing Commitment
Technology changes quickly, and District 58 will continue reviewing its practices, safeguards, and instructional use of technology. Decisions about student technology are made with our students' educational needs, safety, developmental needs, and the needs of our local community in mind. We will continue seeking a thoughtful balance between the opportunities technology provides and the importance of non-digital learning experiences.
We welcome ongoing conversations with families about student technology use and Internet safety.
Parents and guardians with questions or concerns may contact their child's principal, the Director of Technology Callie Salaymeh at csalaymeh@dg58.org or the District 58 Technology Department at 630-719-2768.