Important Update: Transition to District-Provided Chromebooks for the 2025-26 School Year

Posted Date: 4/22/25 (5:16 PM)

Dear SRCS High School Families and Students,

We want to let you know about an important upcoming change regarding student technology use in our classrooms. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the District will transition to a model where all students will utilize a District-provided Chromebook during the school day. Personal laptops will no longer be permitted for classroom use. Current policies regarding personal cell phones remain in place.

This decision has been made with the goal of enhancing the security, equity and consistency of our learning environment. At the end of this communication is some important background with the reasons behind this transition.

We understand that some students and families may have concerns about this change, and this change may require adjustment. We are committed to providing a smooth transition and will offer resources and support to ensure all students are comfortable using their District-provided Chromebooks. Please note that there may be instances for specialized classes, certain projects or other specific reasons that other devices may be used - this will be clearly detailed by the school.

We believe this transition will ultimately enhance the learning experience for all students by providing a secure, equitable and consistent technological environment. More details will be shared as we move into next school year.

Sincerely,

Carmen Diaz Ghysels 
Superintendent

Why We’re Making the Transition Away from Personal Laptops

Enhanced Security
- Maintaining a secure digital environment is paramount. District-managed Chromebooks allow our technology team to ensure consistent security protocols, including up-to-date virus protection, malware prevention and content filtering.
- Personal laptops, while often valuable tools, present security challenges. District staff cannot effectively troubleshoot or repair these devices, and we lack the insight necessary to guarantee they are free from potential security threats.
- We cannot guarantee that personal devices do not contain applications that bypass District content filtering.
Consistent Testing Environment
- For District benchmark assessments and state-mandated testing, students are required to use Chromebooks. This transition will ensure all students are familiar and comfortable with the device they will be using for these critical assessments.
Equitable Access and Support
- Providing District Chromebooks ensures all students have access to a reliable, consistent and supported device. This eliminates potential disparities caused by variations in personal laptop capabilities or access.
Software and Applications
- District Chromebooks are configured with the specific software and applications required for classroom instruction. This ensures that all students are using the same tools, facilitating seamless collaboration and learning experiences. District-owned Chromebooks can be managed remotely, and allow for District wide software updates, and security updates. This allows for all devices to be updated at the same time, and ensures that all devices are up to date.
Data Privacy
- District-managed devices allow for greater control over student data privacy. We can ensure that data is handled in accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the California Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (SOPIPA).(FERPA-U.S. Department of Education, SOPIPA-California Legislative Information).
Classroom Management
- It is easier for teachers to manage a classroom where all students are using the same type of device. This can help to reduce distractions and ensure that all students are focused on the lesson.
Improved Connectivity and Bandwidth
- District Chromebooks are configured to minimize their use of the internet, resulting in faster wifi speeds for everyone.

San Rafael City Schools

www.srcs.org | communications@srcs.org

310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 9490