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Technology Access

In Parkway Schools, we use a variety of digital tools to create dynamic learning experiences for our students. We strive to help our students find a healthy balance with technology and use it responsibly while also providing guidance and safeguards to protect them.

Parkway utilizes content filters to minimize inappropriate material and allow access to beneficial learning resources. While no filter is 100% effective, we continuously evaluate and refine our filtering practices to keep our students safe.

A key part of our digital learning environment is Google for Education. All Parkway students are issued Google account that are designed with different levels of access to ensure they are using the right tools for their age and grade level. Below is a breakdown of the core Google products and how they are managed and monitored by the district to keep all students safe.

Elementary School Students (Grades K-5)

Elementary accounts are configured for essential learning needs.

  • Gmail: To ensure safety and focus on school-related communication, elementary students can only email other students and staff with an @parkwayschools.net account. This keeps their conversations within our secure school network while still allowing for them to learn about how to communicate via email.

  • Google Search: All students have access to Google Search, which is protected by Google’s SafeSearch feature. This automatically filters out explicit or inappropriate content from search results.  Additional filters are also used to provide an additional layer of safety for students.

  • YouTube: Students can only watch videos that have been approved for educational use by a teacher or are part of an age-appropriate content library. This prevents them from accessing general public content on YouTube.

  • Google Drive, Meet, and Gemini: Student have full access to these core learning tools, which are vital for classroom work. Google Drive is for storing and creating documents and Google Gemini is a helpful tool for writing and brainstorming. Google Meet is for virtual meetings and collaboration with their classmates but as with Gmail, elementary students can only join Meets with other students and staff with an @parkwayschools.net account. All activity on all of these tools is monitored for student safety and Parkway data and interactions are not used to train or contribute to the public Gemini Artificial Intelligence language model.

Secondary Students (Grades 6-12)

As students mature, their Google account provides them with greater access to communication and collaboration tools to support their learning and preparation for college and career.

  • Gmail: Secondary students can email both within and outside the district, allowing them to communicate with teachers, classmates, and external educational resources as needed.

  • Google Search: Students have access to Google Search with SafeSearch turned on to filter inappropriate content. Additional filters are also used to provide an additional layer of safety for students.

  • YouTube: As with our elementary students, video content is restricted by age and teacher approval to ensure they are only viewing appropriate educational content.

  • Google Drive, Meet, Chat, and Gemini: All secondary students have full access to these tools for their schoolwork. Google Chat is also enabled for secondary students, allowing for group collaboration on projects and assignments. Parkway data and interactions are not used to train or contribute to the public Gemini Artificial Intelligence language model

Please Note: For the safety of our students, all devices connected to the Parkway network, including personal devices, are subject to content filtering and monitoring. Users should not have an expectation of privacy on the network.