Instructional Technology

Starting in summer 2026, District 65 is moving to a centralized collection model. In an effort to be responsive to community concerns, we believe this new approach helps provide families with greater choice and flexibility around student device use over the summer months.

All student iPads will be collected at the end of the school year unless an individual Opt-In form is completed for each student. If you have multiple children in the district, you must submit a separate form for each child you wish to take home a device. If you do not want your child to take their device home over the summer, no action is required on your part.

Eligibility for Summer Take-Home

• Current students in Grades K-7 who are returning to District 65 for the 26-27 school year are eligible to keep their devices for the summer if a form is submitted for them.
• Students enrolled in ESY and Newcomers summer learning programs will use their iPads during programming. However, a form must be completed for these students if you want them to keep the device once their program ends. If no form is on file, the device will be collected on the final day of the summer program.
• Current 8th-grade students and any students leaving District 65 at the end of the 25/26 school year are not eligible for the take-home program; these devices will be collected at the end of the school year.

Summer Access & Usage

Students with a completed opt-in form will have access to the same educational technology tools they have used throughout the 25-26 school year via Clever until July 31. Starting August 1, Clever access will be paused as we prepare our systems for the new school year, and regularly used digital tools will be unavailable until the start of the 26-27 school year.

Next Steps: How to Opt-In

If you would like your student to take their device home for the summer, please complete the following steps in PowerSchool for each child:

1. Log into the D65 PowerSchool Parent portal
2. Select a student's name from the top tabs.
3. Select “Forms” on the left-side panel.
4. Choose the “General” tab at the top of the forms page
5. Open the “Student iPad Summer Take-Home (Opt-In)” form.
6. Read through the form and complete the required questions.
7. Repeat these steps for any other eligible students you'd like.

If you have any issues accessing PowerSchool, please email registrationinfo@district65.net.

Deadline

Forms must be completed by May 24, 2026. If a completed form is not received for a specific student, that student’s device will be collected at the end of the school year and re-issued to them at the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

Note on Special Considerations

If your student uses a district-issued device for communication or other unique learning needs, educators and case managers will work directly with families to ensure students continue to have access to necessary supports over the summer. Please reach out to your child's educator or case manager if you have specific questions.

As part of annual student fees, families pay a technology fee that includes the Device Protection Plan. This plan covers up to two claims per school year for accidental damage or loss, such as cracked screens, broken ports, or missing accessories. Students are expected to care for their devices, follow staff directions for responsible use, and notify a teacher right away if a device is damaged or lost so Technology Services can coordinate repairs or replacements.

If a student device is damaged, the student should connect with their classroom teacher, who will submit a support ticket on the student’s behalf. The Technology Services team will provision a replacement device as quickly as possible. Each school also has access to loaner iPads that students can use during the school day while their device is being repaired.

Approval decisions are based on compliance with the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA), Illinois’ student data privacy law that ensures companies protect student information when it is collected, maintained, or shared. District 65 provides students and staff with a variety of digital tools to support teaching and learning.  We maintain a public District 65 Digital Resources page, which lists tools used with students that collect personally identifiable information (PII) and are covered by a data privacy agreement.

Additionally, we also maintain the following resource outlining what is available on district-issued devices and through district-supported platforms:

Digital Citizenship and Computer Literacy

Digital citizenship and computer literacy are integral components of our educational approach. District 65 supports students in developing essential skills by aligning our curriculum with the Illinois Instructional Mandates, I-SAIL Standards, Illinois Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards.

Illinois Instructional Mandates

Our district is committed to meeting and exceeding the Illinois requirements for student internet safety and computer literacy skills:

• Internet Safety Education (K-12): While the state requires instruction for grades 3-12, District 65 provides age-appropriate Internet Safety Education for all students in grades K-8.
  • Grades K-5: Instruction is integrated into Library Media classes as part of Research & Digital Literacy units.
  • Grades 6-8: Instruction is aligned with the Illinois Standards Aligned Instruction for Libraries (I-SAIL) Standard #3: Digital Literacy, ensuring students understand the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living in a digital world.
• Computer Literacy Skills (K-12): In accordance with Illinois mandates, all students receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain computer literacy skills embedded across the curriculum at every grade level. Educators incorporate skills and resources from the Computer Literacy Knowledge and Skill Development Continuum to build foundational technical skills, data security awareness, and privacy practices.

Computer Science

Students engage in Computer Science specials in grades 2, 3, and 5. These learning opportunities integrate:

• Illinois Computer Science Standards: Including algorithms, programming, and the impacts of computing.
• Computer Literacy Skills: Practical hardware and software proficiency.
• Internet Safety: Real-world application of privacy and security.

Illinois State Standards & ISTE Standards

• Illinois State Standards Intersection: There is a purposeful intersection with technology and digital literacies within all Illinois English Language Arts, Spanish Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Science standards. These core state standards specifically reference the use of digital tools, keyboarding, technology, and engineering in respective content areas.
• ISTE Standards: We continue to build knowledge and incorporate ISTE Student Standards across all grade levels to ensure students develop informed and responsible technology habits.