EUSD is committed to using educational technology in safe, balanced, and purposeful ways. As you may have heard at your child's back-to-school night, this year we are further strengthening our districtwide practices to ensure technology supports meaningful learning while maintaining a healthy balance of digital and non-digital experiences for students. 

This year we have made the following updates:

- Devices Stay At School: Devices are not sent home, they remain safely at school at all times.
- No Digital Homework: There will be no digital homework given to students in any grade.
- Devices Off the Desk: Devices remain off desks when not in use, keeping students focused on instruction.
- Limited Use with Substitutes: Sub plans will not include digital tasks, unless when absolutely necessary and when the substitute is trained.
- Limited, Purposeful Screen Time: A maximum of 3 technology sessions take place per day, with no more than 60 minutes of total use per day. This means that each session can only be 20-30 minutes long or less, keeping screen time brief and purposeful. 

*Please note that adjustments may be made as appropriate to support individual learning and student needs, including students with 504's or Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).*

Please review more about District-wide technology use practices and updates below. 

Our Approach: Safe, Balanced & Purposeful

Technology is a tool to enhance learning, not to replace meaningful instruction. When students use an iPad or other educational technology at our schools, there should be a clear learning purpose behind it. Our approach centers on these three principles:

Safe: Students learn responsible digital habits, and device use is actively monitored.

Balanced: Screen time is limited so that students have plenty of opportunities for discussion, collaboration, hands-on learning, movement, reading, writing, and other non-digital experiences.

Purposeful: Technology use is connected to a specific instructional goal.

Digital Citizenship Lessons:
Student safety continues to be our top priority with technology use, including teaching students to be responsible digital users. As such, digital citizenship lessons begin at the start of the school year and continue throughout the year.

All K–6 students participate in grade-level digital literacy and well-being curriculum. Teachers facilitate these lessons in class approximately once per month. While we have always provided these types of lessons in some form, the Educational Services Department has adopted a new program through Common Sense Media that is more aligned with our goals and will be a continuous learning opportunity for students throughout the year. 

As part of these lessons, students will explore topics such as:
- Healthy technology habits and digital well-being
- Information and media literacy
- Digital footprints and online identity
- Safe and responsible technology use
- Students in grades 2–6 also receive grade-appropriate instruction in research skills, helping them learn how to find, evaluate, and responsibly use information.

Student Responsible Use Agreement:
An updated Student Responsible Use Agreement must be completed by all students in class before iPad distribution will happen. Teachers will walk through the agreement with their class to ensure that students understand what is and is not acceptable use of their school-provided devices. Students who do not follow the terms of the agreement will have appropriate consequences, including but not limited to the potential of losing the chance to use the device. 

Technology is used to enhance instruction, not replace it. It can be used for the following purposes:
- Math Support or Enrichment: Targeted practice and challenge activities tailored to each student's level.
- Projects and Research: Students explore topics and develop critical thinking through guided inquiry.
- Reading Support or Enrichment: Engaging tools that build fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills.
- Writing and Typing: building essential communication skills for the digital world.

Ipads are also used for Benchmark Assessments:
- Math iReady: Administered 3 times a year (Kindergarten: 2 times) to track math growth and inform instruction.
- Reading (Amira K-2): Administered 4 times a year to assess early reading fluency and development, and in compliance with the CA Reading Difficulties Risk Screener.
- Reading: STAR (3-6): Administered 3 times a year to measure reading comprehension and growth.

Technology is NOT used for:
- Free Time: Devices are not used to fill unstructured time
- Class Rewards: Technology is not used as an incentive or reward for class behavior.
- Entertainment: Games, videos, YouTube, or other entertainment content are not permitted

Device Monitoring: Teachers have access to Apple Classroom to maintain full visibility and control over every device in the room.
- Keeps Students Focused: Teachers can direct student attention and lock screens instantly.
- Ensures Safe Use: All activity is visible and restricted to approved content only.
- Supports Learning in Real Time: Teachers can share apps and websites directly through the platform and can see the apps that students are on. 

Additional Safety Measures: 
- All school devices include Lightspeed content filters
- All school devices are monitored by Bark and Lightspeed alerts (24-7 human monitoring)

If you have questions about specific device use in your child's classroom, please connect with their teacher directly. 

Encinitas Union School District
101 South Rancho Santa Fe Rd. | Encinitas, CA | 92024