For parent committee reps

Before you complete the school benchmark

Some questions in the school survey require specific knowledge of your school's technology policies — information that may sit with your IT department, head of school, or division heads. Use this template to request what you need before you sit down with the survey.

Go to school survey →
Editable template — click any highlighted field to customize

To:

From:

Re: Technology policy questions from the Parent Technology Committee

Dear ,

I'm a parent representative on our school's technology and community committee, and I'm working on a community benchmark that will help us understand how our school's technology policies compare with peer schools across our network. To complete this accurately, I need some information about our current policies. I'd be grateful if you could help me answer the following questions — or point me to the right person.

A note on divisions: Where policies differ between lower school (K–5), middle school (6–8), and upper school (9–12), please answer for each division separately. If your school has a single unified policy across all grades, one answer is fine. Questions marked with an asterisk (*) are most likely to vary by division.
Devices and access
  • What is the device policy for each division — do students have 1:1 devices, shared carts, or access only through a computer lab?*
  • At what grade do students receive their own Chromebook or laptop?*
  • Does the school have a dedicated computer lab, and if so, how frequently is it used?
Phone and smartwatch policy
  • What is the official phone policy during the school day — are phones permitted, stored away, or prohibited entirely?*
  • Does the policy apply to free periods and lunch, or only to class time?
  • Are smartwatches included in the phone policy?
  • Is there a technology policy for school buses?
EdTech and classroom tools
  • Which learning management system does the school use (e.g. Google Classroom), and at what grade is it introduced?*
  • Which gamified learning platforms are currently in use school-wide (e.g. Kahoot, GimKit, Duolingo)?
  • Are planners and syllabi distributed digitally, physically, or both?*
  • What is the school's general approach to assignments — digital-first, analog-first, or teacher discretion?*
Curriculum and instruction
  • How is research typically conducted — free internet access, supervised access with restrictions, or primarily books and primary sources? Please answer for each division.*
  • Are physical textbooks provided for most classes?*
  • Is typing or keyboard mastery formally taught, and at what grades?
  • Is cursive writing part of the curriculum?
AI policy
  • What is the school's current policy on student use of AI tools — permitted, restricted, blocked, or prohibited?*
  • Are there any restrictions or monitoring of AI access on school networks?
  • Is there guidance on whether teachers may use AI to generate lesson plans, presentations, or to assist with grading?
  • Is there any formal AI literacy curriculum for students?
Digital safety and transparency
  • Does the school have a formal digital safety curriculum? If so, what does it cover and at what grades?
  • Does the school publish documentation explaining what technology is used, when, why, and what skills it develops — sometimes called a Tech Journey Map?
  • Do families receive any reporting on student device or site usage?
  • Does the school formally vet EdTech vendors for data collection and design practices?
Staff and substitute policies
  • Does the school provide professional development for teachers specifically on technology's impact on children — not just how to use technology, but its effects on development and learning?
  • Is there a required lesson plan for substitute teachers that doesn't rely on screen time?
  • What are students expected to do after completing exams or in-class work — are devices kept open or closed?
Family guidance
  • Does the school provide official recommendations for technology use at home, by grade?
  • Does the school take an official position on social media age or access?
  • Does the school sponsor any unplugged initiatives or digital wellness programming for students or families?
Community and alignment
  • Does the school host community events specifically about technology for parents?
  • Is there a formal channel for parents to raise technology concerns to administration?
  • Does the school provide annual updates on how it is adapting to changes in technology and education?
  • Does the parent association have an active role in shaping technology policy?
  • Do parents and administrators meet regularly to align on shared goals around technology?

Thank you for your time. This information will help our committee represent our school accurately in a community benchmark alongside peer schools across the city. I'm happy to share the results with you once complete — I think you'll find the comparison useful as well.

With appreciation,