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Family Technology Handbook

The Family Technology Handbook provides an overview of the digital learning program in Orange County Public Schools. Through the generous support of our local community, OCPS provides a digital device to every student at designated sites, in order to ensure college and career readiness.

Digital Program Participation

Digital Program Participation

  • Devices: OCPS provides devices for students in grades K-12. Students in Kindergarten and first grade are provided with iPads while students in second through 12th grades are provided with laptops.
  • Check Out: Registered OCPS students are issued digital devices at their school sites. At the beginning of the school year schools will often host device distribution dates before the first day of school. Check with the school for those dates. Newly registered students enrolled after the first day of school are issued a device within two school days of registration.
  • Check In: Students withdrawing from or changing schools within OCPS must return the device before they leave the school. Graduating seniors must also return devices before they leave.
  • Device Refusal: Parents/Guardians reserve the right to refuse acceptance of the digital device issued to their student. Parents guardians can then opt for either total device refusal or Bring Your Own Device. For information about Bring Your Own Device please go to BYOD.ocps.net.
  • Device Eligibility: High school students dual enrolled at local colleges and universities who have at least one class on a OCPS campus are eligible to check out a device. Middle school students taking a high school credit course on a high school campus should bring their digital device to the high school campus.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

Parent and Guardian Responsibilities

Parents, guardians, and students are important partners in the OCPS Digital Learning Program and are responsible for:

  • Reporting any loss or damage to the digital device within 72 hours, to report a device as lost, please call (407) 317-3290
  • Providing the school with a copy of the police report listing OCPS as the property owner in the event of theft

The OCPS Parent Portal is your one-stop shop for all of the most important information. The OCPS Parent Portal provides access to:

  • Canvas Parent - this provides access to students' Canvas course assignments, calendar, and grades on work completed in Canvas
  • OCPS Digital Resource Course - this provides guides and information on how to use each of the OCPS platforms
  • School Pay - this provides the ability to pay school issued fines and fees
  • Skyward Family Access - this provides access to student grades, schedules, reports cards, interim reports and more

Student Responsibilities

Student Responsibilities

Students are responsible for keeping track of and caring for their device and any device accessories.

To guide students in appropriate care for their device, students are annually asked to view a device care video: Grades K&1, Grades 2-5, Grades 6-12.

In general, students should:

  • Keep food and drinks away from the device
  • Make sure the device is charged daily for school use
  • Carry the device with both hands when moving it around the classroom
  • Carry the device in a padded backpack and always set the bag down gently on desks, tables or the floor
  • When provided, cases should always remain on the device
  • Return the device to the school at the end of the school year, during inventory periods, when damaged, and upon withdrawal

In case of device or accessory damage, students should submit a help ticket and follow school procedures for obtaining help.

Device Support

Device Support

Students, parents, and guardians are encouraged to try simple troubleshooting methods such as:

  • Restarting the device
  • Reconnecting to the OCPS network
  • Force quitting unresponsive applications

If students require troubleshooting support or a repair for their device or accessory, they should report through a help ticket. A staff member will work with the student to determine the device issue and provide troubleshooting support for both software or hardware related issues. Depending on the nature of the issue, a replacement device may need to be issued to the student.

In some cases, devices may require repair as a result of accidental or intentional damage to device or accessory. Once that determination has been made, parents and guardians will receive notification of a device or accessory fine through email, if applicable. Visit the fees tab to learn more about the district’s device and accessory fee structure.

Device and Network Use

Device and Network Use

Students are required to read and sign the Student Technology Acceptable Use Agreement at the beginning of each school year. The agreement outlines acceptable behaviors for students while using their device while on the district network.

The district filters Internet access for OCPS devices both on campus and off campus in compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act. Parents and families are encouraged to monitor student use of the OCPS device, especially internet use, at home. Misuse of the OCPS device or district network access will result in consequences as prescribed by the OCPS Code of Student Conduct.

Protecting student data and privacy on the internet is important to the district. Students in grades K-12 are provided with personal credentials to access the network, their device, and their instructional resources. Students in grades 6-12 are able to create a unique password at any point throughout the school year by accessing the studentid.ocps.net site.

Fees

Parents/Guardians/Students may be held responsible for the cost of repair or replacement if the digital device is:

  • willfully or maliciously damaged 
  • lost due to negligence
  • not returned at the end of the year or upon withdrawal, and/or
  • stolen but not reported to local law enforcement

Students are made aware that damage to any school property is a violation of the OCPS Code of Student Conduct when they review it annually.

Parents/Guardians must indicate whether they require a printed copy of the Code of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct form is signed by students at school. Parents/guardian must sign and return the parent/guardian form to their child's school. Failure or refusal to sign this acknowledgement form will not relieve a student or the parent/guardian of the responsibility for compliance with the code or accountability for loss or damage to OCPS property. For parents/guardians of students in grades 6-12, this form may be recorded electronically.

Fee Schedule

The fee schedule for this school year can be found below.

Click here for a PDF version of the fine schedule 

Requesting Repair Costs

Repairs are made by an external vendor and the district is invoiced after the repairs have been completed. As a result, repair costs may not be immediately known or available. Repair costs can be requested by contacting the school administration. If there is a difference between the actual cost of repair and the fee paid by the family, a refund will be issued by the school bookkeeper.

Paying Fees

The preferred method of payment is School Pay online. If using School Pay presents a hardship, fees may be paid by cash or check to the school bookkeeper.

Payment Plans

If unable to pay the fee in full, please contact the school for needs-based payment plan options. All financial obligations must be settled by graduation or withdrawal from school, whichever comes first.

Disputing Fees

If you would like to dispute a fee that has been assessed, please contact your school principal in writing. Any fee disputes that are not able to be resolved at the school level can be addressed to the Principal Leader. The decision of the Principal Leader is final.

Fee Duration

Fees which are not paid in full by the end of the school year, roll forward to the following school year for elementary, middle, or high school.