Policy Review Committee delays vote on proposal to remove Chromebooks in PreK–1, asks staff for clearer draft

The Policy Review Committee (PRC) on April 22 considered competing drafts of a technology policy that would restrict classroom devices for the district’s youngest learners and limit when school-issued devices may leave campuses. After about 90 minutes of presentation and debate, the committee voted to return Policy 618 to staff for rewording and to meet again on May 14 to finalize language.

Staff presented a recommendation to remove devices in PreK and kindergarten, keep 10 devices per first-grade classroom, and maintain one-to-one devices in grades 2–5; staff had also recommended limiting take-home devices for kindergarten through second grade. Committee member Miss Williams read a board-drafted version that goes further, saying in part that “beginning in the 2026–27 school year, Chromebooks or similar devices shall not be utilized in pre kindergarten through first grade.” That draft would also bar elementary students from taking school-issued devices home except for inclement weather, emergency, tutoring services, or a parent/guardian request.

Staff speaker Dr. Goldberg and operations staff outlined the expected instructional and logistical impacts by grade band. She told the committee the change would be “minimal” for PreK iPad usage but “moderate” for kindergarten and first grade because lesson plans, adaptive programs and formative-assessment processes (for example, Lexia and Imagine Math) would need revision or replacement. Staff also noted contracts for digital PreK programs, Title I device allocations, and operational systems (charging, storage and distribution) that would require attention if classroom sets are removed.

Committee members raised several concerns. Miss Felton, who reported classroom observations, said some PreK teachers use iPads for small-group instruction and listening centers and worried about losing data and differentiated instruction. Other members questioned the draft’s “shall not” phrasing as too absolute and asked that the policy explicitly except devices required by a student’s IEP or 504 plan. The committee also pressed for clear definitions in the policy or regulation for “inclement weather,” “remote/asynchronous instruction” and how summer learning or optional programs would be handled when devices are not assigned to students.

On the take-home device issue, members discussed adding an explicit exception for a parent/guardian request and for summer program participation, and asked staff to draft operational rules that would let the superintendent set parameters for any approved take-home exceptions.

Rather than vote on final language, the committee voted to add the revised Policy 618 as amended to the schedule and asked staff to return with tightened draft language and proposed implementing regulations. The motion to return 618 for further drafting was made by Miss Felton and seconded by Mr. Bowensteel; the committee scheduled a follow-up meeting for May 14 at 3:00 p.m.

The PRC asked staff to include: a clearer definition of remote or asynchronous instructional days; explicit IEP/504 and assistive-technology exceptions; standards for parent-requested device home use; and a regulatory appendix to address summer learning and distribution logistics. The committee did not adopt a final policy on April 22.

Next steps: staff will redraft Policy 618 language and proposed implementing regulation, addressing the exceptions and operational concerns raised; the PRC will reconvene May 14 at 3:00 p.m. to review and, if ready, forward it to the school board for consideration.