CC schools introduce new Chromebook monitoring system for parents

By Kate Hayden, khayden@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Parents and guardians of Charles City district students have a new way to monitor their students’ internet use on district 1:1 devices.

The school district’s technology department is offering free device monitoring through Securly, the online filter software utilized for district-issued Chromebooks in grades 3-12. Parents sign up through the Charles City school district’s website to receive portal access and weekly email reports on their students’ Chromebook use.

“This was the technology department putting forward a recommendation to offer something for parents to monitor students on the Chromebook,” Superintendent Dr. Dan Cox said.

The Charles City Community School District installed Securly services during the summer of 2016, but parent monitoring wasn’t operational until this past week, district Communications and Engagement Specialist Justin DeVore said. Sixty-seven district parent/guardians have already signed up to use the system, DeVore said.

“We’re encouraging parents to continue to sign up, and we’re talking about ways at the beginning of the year to make sure parents are aware of it,” DeVore said.

The software program tracks keywords students search for, websites students visit, videos or media watched, and logs the timestamp of all student activity online. Parents cannot view the text of messages sent or notes students take online, although they can see what time students use messaging services like Google Hangouts, DeVore said.

The program is limited to parents or guardians. The portal requires parents to provide their personal email address and their student’s email address, and the district cross-checks that information within the data system to ensure no outside viewers are monitoring a student’s activity.

Although parents cannot view the content of messages or video conversation transcripts, the software tracks keywords relating to topics such as cyberbullying or self-harm.

Securly will send flagged messages to parent portals and school officials when it detects something perceived as concerning, DeVore said. Parents are encouraged to contact the school if they see concerning messages.

The monitoring service is available to all parents of students in grades 3-12, but the idea was brought forth after the district introduced 1:1 Chromebooks to younger grades, Cox said.

“At the high school level, most parents are comfortable that their students have the skill and ability to do what they’re supposed to do, and probably not need as much guidance,” Cox said. “In grades 3-8, parents want to be able to monitor and assist their kids — whether dealing with cyberbullying or just knowing where they are going [online] using their school devices.”

Securly is working to release more features for the district, DeVore said. The company anticipates introducing text message alerts to parents in the next two to four months and anticipates offering social media parent controls in the future.

Currently, Charles City district students are blocked from social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter during the school day, but can access those websites before and after school on their Chromebooks. YouTube can be accessed during the school day in a restricted mode.

A future feature may allow parents to block certain social media sites on their students’ devices.

For now, the district is trying to get the word out on the new monitoring feature, DeVore said.

“We see this as an extra tool that we can provide to parents to help them monitor their student’s activity on a school 1:1,” DeVore said.