October 24, 2024
Dear Princeton Parents and Guardians,
We are writing to inform you of important updates regarding the monitoring of student devices following the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 29 (SB 29). This legislation introduces new rules about how and when schools can access and monitor school-issued devices, and we want to ensure you are aware of these changes.
Please be aware that Princeton City School District, either directly or through a technology provider, is able to monitor all school-issued devices (as that term is defined by O.R.C. 3319.325). The monitoring can include the following features: student interactions with school-issued devices, including web activity and keystroke monitoring, and to prevent and respond to threats to life or safety. The District monitors these features for educational purposes of instruction, technical support, exam proctoring, and/or as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
Please note that the District has NOT implemented any new or changed monitoring services. This notice is a new requirement per Ohio Senate Bill 29 (“SB 29”), which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly at the end of June 2024, signed by Governor DeWine on July 24, 2024, and became effective on October 24, 2024.
What Does Senate Bill 29 Say About Monitoring Student Devices?
Under SB 29, schools and technology providers have the ability to access school-issued devices (such as laptops or tablets) for daily educational use and also under specific circumstances to ensure student safety and the appropriate use of technology. However, if a device or account is accessed outside of daily educational use for a safety or discipline issue, the bill also requires that families are promptly informed when such access occurs.
Key Points to Know:
Notification Requirement: If a school district or a technology provider accesses a student’s device outside of daily educational use, the school is required to notify the student or their parent/guardian within 72 hours. The notice must include:
A written description of the reason for accessing the device
Details about which features of the device were accessed (e.g., camera, microphone, browsing history)
A description of any potential threat that led to the access
Exception for Imminent Threats: In cases where immediate notification could pose a danger to the life or safety of students or staff, the school is allowed to delay the notification. In such cases, the school must notify the student or parent within 72 hours after the threat has passed.
Why Is This Important?
This policy aims to strike a balance between protecting students' safety and maintaining transparency about how school-issued devices are monitored. As schools continue to use technology to enhance learning, it's important to ensure both privacy and security are maintained. These monitoring provisions are designed to help safeguard students from potential online threats or misuse of school-provided technology while keeping you informed of any interventions.
What Can You Expect?
We want to assure you that any monitoring or access to student devices will only occur in accordance with the law and to protect student well-being.
Our district uses various educational platforms, such as Google for Education and our student information system, ProgressBook, to provide students with the best possible learning experience. These tools are essential for daily instruction, homework assignments, communication, and keeping track of grades and attendance. Please be aware that accessing these platforms for educational purposes will not trigger a notification under SB 29. This is because they are used regularly to support classroom instruction and school operations rather than in response to a safety concern or device misuse.
Our priority is always the safety and privacy of all students, and we will continue to follow these guidelines responsibly. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s principal.
Thank you for your attention and ongoing support of our school community.
As Always…Go Vikes!
G. Elgin Card
Superintendent