Digital Parenting and Family Technology Support

Every student in the district has access to an iPad during the school day. All secondary students and some elementary students take the iPad home after school to extend learning experiences and complete homework.

While iPads are a powerful learning tool, it is important for families to set boundaries around the proper use of the iPad at home. As a parent or guardian, you have the final say as to how much your child uses the iPad at home. Here are some tips on how you can help your child become a safe and responsible digital citizen. Additional information is available at spps.org/families.

For specific questions or concerns about your student’s iPad, contact your school.

Recommendations for Home iPad Use

Set iPad rules for your child at home

The iPad should be FIRST used to complete school work before students use the iPad for other purposes.
Check your child’s iPad and their school work regularly.
Have your child use the iPad in a main location like the kitchen or living room.
To avoid unsupervised iPad use, charge the iPad somewhere other than your child’s bedroom at night.
If your child is not following your rules, you have the right to limit access to the device.
Read more screentime tips for families at Common Sense Media.

Control Internet Access at Home

At school and at home, SPPS iPad internet content is automatically filtered. Inappropriate and adult content is blocked, as well as social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.)

ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity, and other AI websites are blocked. Students 9-12 have access to Google Gemini via their SPPS Google Apps account.

Families can use the Securly Home app to monitor and further manage their student’s iPad at home. Some popular use cases are:

Setting a “bedtime” for the iPad
Temporarily stop internet access on your student’s school device.
Limiting or block access to Youtube or other websites
Limit or block access to Google Gemini

Technology Support

Infinite Campus for Families

Update contact information and review your student's attendance, schedules, transportation information, and grades.

Get Support about Infinite Campus for Families

iPad Help & Support for Families

Troubleshooting guides for common iPad tasks, including signing into apps and managing browser settings.

Get Support about iPad Help & Support for Families

Schoology for Families (grades 6-12)

Monitor grades, track assignments and get weekly email summaries of completed and missing work.

Get Support about Schoology for Families (grades 6-12)

Securly Home for Families

A free app to manage your student's school iPad at home. Pause internet access, block specific websites or schedule offline time.

Get Support about Securly Home for Families

Seesaw for Families (grades PreK-5)

View your student's digital lessons and activities. Ask your student's teacher for their class QR to see your student's activities and posts.

Get Support about Seesaw for Families (grades PreK-5)

Digital Parenting

Get Support about Digital Parenting

Cybersecurity Reminders for Families

The safety and security of our students is our top priority, both physically and in the online environment. As digital systems continue to evolve and improve, our district also adapts to meet these new opportunities and challenges. Below are some of the security measures we currently have in place for student iPads, as well as information about how our staff help ensure that students are safe online.

iPad Security & Privacy

All student and staff iPads are pre-configured with functionality customized for education. Saint Paul Public Schools actively works with several security vendors to create and update security policies. Some relevant system controls on student iPads include:

Internet Filtering:

Student iPads have pre-installed internet filtering that block websites by categories when students are at school and at home. Blocked categories include sexual content, violence, gambling, games, and others. Social media sites such as Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok are also blocked. While no content filter is 100% foolproof, our Technology Services team is responsive in continually adjusting filters to keep students safe and protected. Staff and families can request to have websites blocked or opened at any time by submitting a service ticket or website contact form. Staff and families can check to see if a website is blocked on SPPS wifi filter using this website. Enter your student’s email address and the website URL to check if the website is accessible.

Youtube:

Youtube is accessible to students and staff, though any video identified by the internet filter is blocked. Additionally, all “Youtube Shorts” are blocked and staff and parents can request an individual Youtube video be blocked or unblocked, just as any website request.

App Store / FaceTime / iMessage:

Although SPPS uses Apple iPads, many apps and tools are not relevant or desirable for the classroom (either physical or virtual!). Pre-installed device management features block apps such as the Apple App Store, FaceTime, iMessage and other tools. Throughout most of the school year students are unable to reset (erase) their own iPads due to the difficulty of setting the device up again and/or circumnavigating the security management features.

Self Service App Store:

Students and staff have access to a special ‘app store’ on the iPads with over 400 apps that have been reviewed for content, data privacy and security guidelines. More information about the App Approval process and Security Review can be found at: spps.org/apps

Securly Home: Monitor Student Screentime and Set iPad Restrictions

Securly Home lets families view & manage student online activity on their school iPad. Accounts are pre-configured and available for all families.

Getting stared with Securly Home:

Go to the app store on your phone and download the free 'Securly Home' app.
Open the app and press the button that says “Get started”.
Enter the email address that you have provided to SPPS in Campus Parent or through Back to School forms. It is important to use the same email address that SPPS has on file because it will automatically connect you to your students’ accounts.
After you enter your email address, press the button that says “Get instant access”.
You will receive an email from Securly to verify your account information. In the email, there will be an access code that you can use to log into the app.
After you have logged in, you should see your students’ names and accounts.

Securely Home features and abilities:

Flagged Activities: If a student searches for or views a website related to self-harm or violence, it is noted in the "Flagged Activities" section on the app.
Blocking websites or apps at home
Setting 'bedtimes' for the iPad or otherwise disabling access at specific intervals.

Additional information about Securly Home can be found on the Technology Services website here. If you have any questions about features in the Securly Home app, please contact homesupport@securly.com.

Student Privacy, Tracking & Location

Companies including Seesaw and Schoology provide online learning tools for Saint Paul Public Schools students. Student data is NOT tracked by these companies after our students leave the district. These companies are unable to see into our systems because of the security and privacy policies purposefully set by both parties.

Our district teams continue to create secure and reliable systems, training resources and guidelines for our students and staff to be successful. For more information on SPPS digital resources, please visit: spps.org/apps.

Additional Family iPad Settings and Controls

Families have the ability to further customize access and restrictions on student iPads at any time using the "Screentime" feature. Families create a 4 digit pin on the student iPad during this process that is not shared with the student. Screentime settings include restricting or disable apps and websites such as Youtube, or set screen time limits. See more details here.

Internet Access at Home

Reliable at-home internet is important to continue school work outside the classroom and in the event of e-learning or inclement weather school closures. SPPS is committed to providing internet connectivity support options for students and families in need. At-home internet connectivity support includes:

A limited quantity of Comcast Internet Essentials codes is available for eligible families. The Comcast Internet Essentials program is the preferred and most reliable option for families in need of home internet connectivity. Please contact your student’s school for more information.
For students and families experiencing homelessness, SPPS school counselors have hotspots available for checkout. Please contact your child’s school for assistance.
Project REACH is also able to provide hotspots to students and families experiencing homelessness or other issues as needed. Project REACH is an SPPS shelter and street-based program that promotes school stability and academic success for PreK and school-age children in temporary housing situations. For more information, call 651-231-0404.