A four-year study of 5,000 middle school students in Texas found that those engaged in laptop immersion programs were less likely to have disciplinary problems (but slightly more likely to be absent from school) than students in schools without laptops (Shapley et al., 2009).

The Texas study also found that the technology skills of students in the laptop programs improved significantly— so much so that after three years, low-income students in the laptop schools displayed the same levels of technology proficiency as wealthier students in the control schools (Shapley et al., 2009).

Proponents of one-to-one programs also assert that such programs create savings in other areas, including reduced costs for textbooks, paper, assessments, and paperwork, as well as a reduction in disciplinary actions (Greaves, Hayes, Wilson, et. al., 2010).

That same study (Greaves, Hayes, Wilson, et al., 2010) identified nine factors that, if present, appear to contribute to higher levels of achievement in schools that have adopted one-to-one programs. The top three factors were:

1. Ensuring uniform integration of technology in every class.
2. Providing time for teacher learning and collaboration (at least monthly).
3. Using technology daily for student online collaboration and cooperative learning.

Students must

1. Respect and protect the privacy of others.
   1. Use only assigned accounts.
   2. Not view, use, or copy passwords, data, or networks to which they are not authorized.
   3. Not distribute private information about others or themselves.
2. Respect and protect the integrity, availability, and security of all electronic resources.
   1. Observe all network security practices, as posted.
   2. Report security risks or violations to a teacher, staff or network administrator.
   3. Not destroy or damage data, networks, or other resources that do not belong to them, without clear permission of the owner.
   4. Conserve, protect, and share these resources with other students and Internet users.
3. Respect and practice the principles of community.
   1. Communicate only in ways that are kind and respectful. Report threatening or discomforting materials to a teacher.
   2. Not engage in behavior that endanger themselves or other students, or negatively reflect upon the reputation of the school or other students.
   3. Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that is illegal and/or violates the school’s code of conduct (such as messages that are pornographic, threatening, rude, discriminatory, or meant to harass).
   4. Not send spam, chain letters, or other mass unsolicited mailings.
   5. Not buy, sell, advertise, or otherwise conduct business, unless approved as a school project.
4. Respect and protect the copyright and attribution of others’ work.
   1. Not infringe copyrights (no making illegal copies of music, games, or movies).
   2. Not plagiarize.

Violations of these rules may result in disciplinary action, including the loss of a student’s privileges to use the school’s information technology resources, confiscation of devices used in contravening these rules, suspension, and expulsion.

Images or videos of students, or their work, may be published or utilized in various electronic resources, including the school website and other online platforms, as well as in print media, including teaching and school promotional materials. If a student’s work is shared, only the first name and grade should be included as credit.

KAS IT department monitor the use of information technology resources to help ensure that users are secure and in conformity with this policy. Administrators reserve the right to examine, use, and disclose any data found across the school’s information networks and any device connecting to these networks in order to further the health, safety, discipline, or security of any student or other person, or to protect property. They may also use this information in disciplinary actions, and will furnish evidence of crime to law enforcement.