There is no cost for students to participate in the district’s 1:1 program or online learning related to the use of a district-issued device. Students and families are responsible for any damage to the device. To help reduce financial risk, families may purchase the Optional Device Protection Plan for $30 per K-8 student per year for a Chromebook or $50 per High School student per year for their Student Laptop. A breakdown of potential repair or replacement fees, with and without the protection plan, is available at https://www.susd.org/departments/information-technology/optional-device-protection-plan. 

Coverage depends on each family’s individual policy. Families should contact their insurance provider to determine whether student devices are included. Repairs must go through SUSD’s established repair or replacement process; outside repairs are not permitted. If an insurance carrier provides funds, families should coordinate with the school office to determine how payment can be submitted to address any fines for damage or loss.   

Yes. Families may purchase the Optional Device Protection Plan (DPP) at any time during the school year. To enroll, visit the DPP page and select the English or Spanish PDF link, which will take you to the current year’s Microsoft Form. After submitting the form, watch for automated emails throughout the process; these may occasionally be routed to junk or spam folders. 

Your school’s Student Device Point of Contact (Library or Bookstore staff, depending on grade level) will review the request and provide instructions for bringing the device in for inspection. Devices must be inspected to confirm they are eligible for coverage. If the device is denied due to existing damage, families will receive an email stating that the request has been denied and a work order will need to be initiated by calling 480‑484‑HELP (4357), Option 2. Any fines for damage must be paid before a replacement device becomes eligible for DPP coverage, and the DPP form will need to be resubmitted for the new device. 

If the device is approved, the request moves to the Student Activities team, who will open the DPP payment window. This step may take a few days. Once the window is opened, families will receive an email with payment instructions. Please note that the payment window remains open for 14 days. 

Yes. The Optional Device Protection Plan significantly reduces the cost of repairs or replacement, but it does not eliminate all potential expenses. Families are still responsible for any damage or loss not covered by the plan, as well as any fines assessed before the plan is purchased. Devices must pass an eligibility inspection before coverage begins; if damage is found during that inspection, repair costs must be paid before the device can be covered. Once the plan is active, covered incidents are repaired at the reduced rates outlined for the current school year. 

The plan covers normal wear and tear, accidental damage, and common repairs such as cracked screens, damaged casings, broken keyboards, as well as lost, stolen, or damaged Student Devices or AC Adapters. A full list of covered items can be found here.

Students are fully responsible for the care and safekeeping of their assigned device at all times, including repair or replacement costs. Families may purchase the Optional Device Protection Plan to help reduce liability. Incidents occurring at school will be addressed in coordination with site administration. 

If a device is damaged, parents should contact the SUSD IT Help Desk at 480‑484‑HELP (4357), Option 2 to have a work order created. Families will then be directed to the student’s school for next steps. SUSD IT will facilitate the repair. 

Students must return their device to the school if they transfer or withdraw from the district. Devices must be returned in good working condition and include all components, including their original issued power cord. 

Families who prefer that a device remain on campus must contact their school’s administration to ask whether this option is available. Some schools may have their own process and may have different procedures or limitations. The school will provide guidance on whether on‑campus storage is permitted and, if so, how it is handled. 

Yes. SUSD’s goal is for students to always have a working device, so learning is not interrupted. When a device needs repair, it is typically swapped with another functioning device rather than “loaned” temporarily. Because devices are reassigned and may be used by multiple students over time, it is especially important that each student takes responsibility for the condition of the device issued to them. 

No. Students must log in using their district-assigned username and password to access their device. When logged in, security features and content filtering are applied to help protect students from accessing inappropriate material. These protections apply both on campus and off campus, including at home and on public Wi-Fi networks such as libraries or restaurants. Any attempt to bypass or circumvent filters may result in disciplinary action. 

Yes. Scottsdale Unified School District uses a web-filtering system (Lightspeed) that applies to filtering at both the device and user account levels. Filtering is active whether the device is used at school or off campus on another Wi-Fi network. 

Yes. Teachers can monitor student device use during the school day using Lightspeed Classroom. This tool helps ensure students are using technology appropriately and staying focused on learning while in class. 

Yes. Scottsdale Unified School District offers a Lightspeed Parent Portal that allows parents and guardians to view their student’s web activity on district-issued devices. This feature is currently in a beta testing phase, which means access is available to any parent or guardian who requests it. Families are encouraged to share feedback on the value of this tool, as parent input will help inform how the district expands the feature in the future. 

To activate the Parent Portal, the district needs the student’s ID number and the parent or guardian email address(es). For privacy and security, access can only be provided to email addresses that are officially associated with the student in Synergy. 

Parents or guardians may email or call the SUSD IT Help Desk to initiate the request. Once verified, access instructions will be provided. (480) 484-HELP 

Yes. Most home routers include built-in options to block or filter websites. Parents can set filters to apply all the time or only during specific hours—such as at night or during homework time. 

To set this up, you’ll need to log into your router’s web interface using the router’s IP address (typically found on the router label or in the manual). From there, you can adjust filtering or parental control settings based on your preferences. 

District-issued hotspots are provided to support student learning by ensuring reliable internet access at home. Students and families must follow the same expectations that apply to district devices and technology use. This includes appropriate, school-related use only, and following all rules in the Student Code of Conduct and Technology Use Agreement. More information can be found here. 

Families can access troubleshooting resources here. If issues continue, parents may contact the Technology Services Help Desk for assistance. 

District Wi-Fi is available whenever students are on campus and may be accessed during the school day as directed by staff. 

No. The 1:1 program does not eliminate all textbooks. Requirements for digital and physical materials vary by school and course. 

Teachers provide instruction on appropriate device use at the beginning of the school year and continue to reinforce expectations and skills throughout the year as part of daily classroom instruction. 

Yes. Students may use headphones (including those with a microphone) and wired or wireless mice. While most students find the built-in trackpad sufficient, a mouse may be used if preferred.  

District-issued devices are required for student use. Exceptions can be considered by school administrators. Each SUSD device is licensed and managed through district systems, allowing SUSD IT to apply security settings, content filtering, software updates, instructional applications, and secure testing environments required for state assessments. Personal devices cannot be managed or secured in the same way and require permission to be used for instructional use. 

Appropriate use expectations are outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and Technology Use Agreement. These expectations are reviewed with students in age-appropriate ways, and both students and parents acknowledge the agreement. Violations may result in disciplinary action and/or fines. 

Yes. Devices can be damaged by extreme heat or weather. Students should take care not to leave devices in hot cars or exposed to the elements. 

Yes. When devices are returned and refreshed or if a student withdraws, district Technology Services staff will reset it to district settings, remove student-specific data and accounts, and reprovision it.