Phone and Technology Policy

Permitted Use of Personal Electronic Devices

The use of personal laptop computers, tablets, and mobile devices on campus is a privilege that is subject to the policies in the school student success code and the following rules. All policies set in place in this Acceptable Use Policy continue to apply when a student brings a personal device for use on campus.

Students are responsible for securing their devices upon entry into the school building (laptops, tablets, cell phones, phone chargers, etc.) on campus. Cell phones and tablets must be stored at Post 1 of the building. MAPCS assumes no responsibility or financial liability for any damage the student or parent/guardian suffers, including but not limited to theft, physical damage, loss of data, or software malfunctions of a personal laptop computer. If a device/computer appears to have been stolen, the student will immediately report the incident to the Principal or a Designee, and in some cases, a report must also be made to the police.
The student must adhere to any additional guidelines which the MAPCS personnel may require. The use of the electronic device may in no way disrupt or distract from the learning environment, including the use of cell phones, etc.
Students may ONLY connect wirelessly to the school’s network using ONLY MAPCS issued technology. Students are not permitted to connect their personal devices to the school network at any time. Devices that do not support this network connectivity are not permitted. All usage must be in accordance with the policies in the Student-Parent Handbook and be consistent with the Mission and Philosophy of MAPCS. Students are strictly prohibited from using peer-to-peer software, file-sharing programs, telnet/ssh, or messenger programs as well as other resources/network-intensive applications. The use of network monitoring software or applications considered intrusive by the school is considered to be a serious offense and will result in disciplinary action articulated in the school student success code.
The student is responsible for coming to school with a fully charged device/laptop and may not connect to any classroom outlets for charging their device without adult permission.
Student use of a personal laptop on campus must meet the requirements of the Acceptable Use Policy. Laptops are not to be used for games, chat, viewing of music videos or other forms of entertainment.

This Laptop Acceptable Use Policy is intended to promote responsible use and protect students and the school from liability resulting from any misuse of the school-issued laptop. Technology, on or off-campus, must be used in accordance with the mission and philosophy of MAPCS as well as the Acceptable Use Policy for Technology. Staff may set additional requirements for use in their respective classes.

MAPCS laptops remain the property of MAPCS at all times. Therefore, there is no assumption of privacy. MAPCS reserves the right to inspect student laptops at any time during the school year. Misuse of the laptop may result in disciplinary action up to and including reimbursement of a damaged device.

Above all, the laptop program at MAPCS is an academic program, and the policies governing the use of the laptop support its academic use. To maintain the integrity of the laptop program, all students and parents/guardians must acknowledge and agree to the following conditions of use:

Laptop Distribution and Care

Students must not have food or beverages anywhere in the vicinity of the assigned laptop.
The laptops issued to students are the property of MAPCS and are made available as learning tools.
Students will be issued their laptops to students on an as needed basis.
Students are responsible for knowing how to properly operate and protect the laptop. This includes not leaving the laptop in a location where it can be damaged by cold, heat, or moisture.
LAPTOPS MUST NEVER LEAVE THE ASSIGNED classroom.
If a laptop is damaged or malfunctions, students must report the damage to their teacher or support staff as soon as possible (before the end of the school day) for evaluation. If a student damages the laptop (outside of reasonable wear and tear), the students/parents are responsible for the expense of repairing or replacing the device.
If the laptop is lost or stolen, the student must report the incident to a staff member immediately. In the case of theft, students/parents are responsible for replacing the lost or stolen laptop at his/her own cost.
Students are not permitted to repair, alter, modify or replace laptops without express authorization from MAPCS. Under no circumstance will MAPCS replace or repair a student laptop without the required payment from the student/parent.
Laptops must remain free of any writing, drawing, stickers or labels that are not the property of MAPCS.

General Expectations

Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to all Acceptable Use Policy for Technology regulations from the Student-Parent Handbook relating to the use of technology in addition to this laptop Agreement.
Students may not remove or circumvent the management system installed on each laptop. This includes removing restrictions or “jailbreaking” the device.
Students may only connect to the Internet via the wireless network provided by MAPCS while on campus.
Sound must be muted at all times unless permission is obtained from the teacher for instructional purposes.
Headphones will be issued to each student for use with the laptop as needed. The headphones must be returned at the end of the class period or learning session depending on the instructional model of the day.

Prohibited Use

Leaving the laptop unattended.
Looking at pornographic/inappropriate content.
Exchanging laptops with another student.
Allowing other students to retain or remove the laptop from their presence.
Copying certain Internet materials or reproducing or transmitting materials without the permission of the author or other right-holder.
Plagiarizing academic materials. It is the student’s responsibility to respect and adhere to all copyright, trademark, and other intellectual rights and trade secret laws.
Using the laptop for any action that violates existing school rules or public law.
Creating, accessing, or distributing offensive, profane, bullying/threatening, pornographic, obscene, rumors/gossip, sexually explicit, or other content not aligned with the school’s mission and philosophy.
Use of chat rooms, (social media “live” features) or messaging services not authorized by the teacher for academic use. MAPCS – HS Handbook 2025-2026 Page 26 of 105
Accessing sites selling term papers, book reports, and other forms of student work.
Spamming: sending mass or inappropriate emails.
Gaining access to other student’s accounts, files, and/or data.
Use of the school’s internet/e-mail accounts for financial or commercial gain or for any illegal activity.
Bypassing the MAPCS web filter through a web proxy.
Sharing passwords, addresses, or other personal information on the Internet without the authorization of a parent or school representative.
Using or possessing hacking software.

Precautions

In consideration for receiving the laptop from MAPCS, each student and his or her parent or legal guardian agrees not to sue and hereby releases, waives, discharges, holds harmless, indemnifies, and defends MAPCS, as well as their respective employees, personnel, staff, volunteers, agents, directors, affiliates and representatives, from any and all liability, losses, damages, claims, actions and causes of action of every nature for any and all known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, bodily or personal injuries, property damage, or other loss, whether claimed by the student, parent, legal representative, or any third party, relating in any way to the use of the laptop furnished by MAPCS to the student.
This laptop Acceptable Use Policy applies to MAPCS students at all times, whether or not the students are on campus, as MAPCS students are school representatives at all times.