605.4 - Technology and Instructional Materials

The board supports the use of innovative methods and the use of technology in the delivery of the education program in accordance with applicable state instructional technology requirements.. The board encourages employees to investigate economical ways to utilize instructional technology which include laptops, tablets,, computers, smart devices, software platforms  and other technologies as a part of the curriculum. Instructional technology shall support, and not supplant, foundational learning.

For grades kindergarten through five, the district limits digital instruction to no more than sixty (60) minutes per school day. Digital instruction means the use of instructional technology to deliver lessons, assignments, assessments, or instructional activities. A student’s parent or guardian may request additional reductions in the student’s digital instruction. Students in these grades will not have access to and use digital devices during recess. 

The school board will adopt or renew any district one-to-one digital device program for all participating grade levels. Prior to adoption or renewal, the board shall complete a technology adoption checklist in accordance with applicable laws. The checklist must be retained by the district and made available to the Iowa Department of Education for audit purposes. 

This policy will not apply in the following circumstances: 

• Use required pursuant to in individualized education plan (IEP) or plan developed pursuant to section 504 
• Assistive or adaptive technology used to provide a student access to instruction or to accommodate differing student abilities 
• Teacher directed demonstrations using a projector, smartboard, or similar display device when students are not individually operating a digital device 
• State assessments, screenings, progress mentoring, and local diagnostic assessments that require the use of one-to-one digital devices. 
• Dedicated computer science and technology curriculum.
• Students enrolled in an online learning program operating pursuant to Iowa Code 256.43

It is the responsibility of the superintendent or designee to develop a plan for the use of instructional technology in the curriculum and to evaluate it annually. The superintendent or designee will report the results of the evaluation and make a recommendation to the board annually regarding the use of instructional technology in the curriculum.

Legal Reference:
Iowa Code § 279.8, 279.89
281 I.A.C. 12.3(12), 12.5(10), .5(17).

Cross Reference:
604.11 Appropriate Use of Online Learning Platforms
712 Technology and Data Security
712 R1 Technology and Data Security- Security Requirements of Third Party Vendors Regulation
 

Approved: 7-17-89  
Reviewed: 7-13-26
Revised: 7-13-26