Technology Policy

From the Oak Grove School Parent & Student Handbook 2025-26

At Oak Grove, we are intentional about how, when, and why we integrate technology into the lives of our students. As a progressive Preschool–12th grade school, we place the needs of children and adolescents at the center of our decision-making, and we believe that what young people need most is not more technology, but more connection, more presence, and more meaningful engagement with the real world.

While we acknowledge that digital tools have a role to play in contemporary education, we are deliberately tech-wary: cautious in our adoption, critical in our evaluation, and committed to protecting the developmental integrity of childhood and adolescence.

Our Core Beliefs

  • Human Relationships Are Irreplaceable
    Learning is relational. The teacher-student relationship, peer collaboration, and face-to-face engagement are at the heart of how children grow. Technology may assist, but it will never substitute for the depth of human presence.
  • Childhood Deserves Protection
    Young children need time to play, explore, and make sense of the world with their hands, hearts, and whole bodies. We shield our youngest students from unnecessary exposure to screens and digital tools, especially during the foundational early years. Our classrooms are screen-free up through 2nd grade.
  • Technology Should Serve Deep Learning—Not Displace It
    We value depth over speed, original thinking over automation, and authentic struggle over convenience. Our curriculum is designed to cultivate refl ection, curiosity, and creativity—not dependence on digital shortcuts.
  • Slow Is a Strength
    In a culture of acceleration, we choose to go slowly and thoughtfully. We resist trends that promise efficiency at the expense of attention, focus, and the inner life of students.
  • Digital Literacy Is Essential
    When we do engage technology, we teach students to ask hard questions: Who made this, and for what purpose? What are the ethical implications of its use? What do I gain—and what do I lose—when I use this tool?

Technology Use Is Intentional and Age-Appropriate

Our approach to technology evolves as students grow. We introduce tools with care and context, ensuring they are developmentally aligned and support—not interrupt—cognitive and emotional development.

Whole Human

Our mission is to prepare students to shape the future with wisdom, empathy, and courage. That means cultivating their capacity for attention, discernment, collaboration, and care.
Oak Grove’s tech-wary stance reflects a profound respect for the unfolding of human potential and a belief that education should nourish the mind, body, and spirit in equal measure. We commit to ongoing reflection and dialogue as we navigate these questions with our students, families, and faculty.

Computer Use Policy

As a progressive learning community, we aim to cultivate student agency, focus, and accountability. At the same time, unrestricted personal device use can lead to distraction and place an undue burden on teachers. This policy introduces clear expectations and shared responsibility around technology use, rooted in trust, structure, and care.

Key Guidelines

  • PK-2nd Grade:
    Classrooms are screen-free, and students do not use computers or tablets.3rd Grade: Computers are thoughtfully introduced, and use is limited to literacy tools.
  • 4-8th Grade:
    1:1 School-provided devices (Chromebooks) are introduced in a scaffolded process that encourages digital literacy and citizenship.

    • Devices are closely monitored through teacher supervision and digital filtering.
    • Devices may only be used inside classrooms and within the view of teachers.
  • High School: Students may bring their own devices
    • Students must register their devices with the school network to access WiFi.
    • Network monitoring is used to detect and prevent use of VPNs and stealth browsing.
    • Unregistered or non-compliant devices are blocked.
    • Students who do not have a personal computer may check out a school-issued device for the school year. Students also have access to school devices on a temporary basis when needed.
  • Teacher-Prompted Use Only
    • Devices may only be opened when explicitly directed by a teacher.
    • Clear routines and classroom signals guide usage.
  • Natural Consequences for Misuse of Technology
    • Misuse may result in the temporary use of a school-issued device or a tech-free plan.
    • Repeated infractions may require a permanent tech-free plan or a specifi c plan of support.
  • Learning Resources Accommodations
    • Students with learning or sensory accommodations will have individualized technology plans.
    • Plans will be communicated to students, families, and teachers.
    • School-provided devices will be fully equipped to support documented needs.

Mobile Devices Policy

Parents and caretakers are asked to observe our intention to have a cellphone-sensitive campus and to put phones away and on silent while visiting. Thank you! This policy was created in order to support an environment that is focused on the here and now. The increased use of electronics has become a notable distraction in the learning environment, and we ask students to view their time at school as an opportunity to minimize the steady stream of electronic input. While technology is used at times for approved school purposes, its use is discouraged for social or personal reasons. Therefore, we ask students, staff , and parents/caregivers to observe the following:

  1. Student usage rules are as follows:
    • Mobile devices include smartwatches and any kind of device that can be used to send text messages, emails, make phone calls, play games, take photos, play music, or access the Internet.
    • PK-5th Grade MAY NOT bring mobile devices to campus.
    • 6th- 12th grade may bring mobile devices to campus, but must turn them in to the designated office staff upon arrival. Students may check and send quick messages to and from caregivers/parents at the end of the school day at the designated area.
  2. If a student is seen using a mobile device on campus, it will be collected immediately and returned to them after school hours.
  3. Parents/caregivers and students can communicate by phone through the landline phone system available in the Front Office, High School Office, and in the classrooms.
  4. Adults may use a mobile device to capture images and videos in an inconspicuous way, but are asked to refrain from editing and posting until out of view of others.
  5. All members of our community, including parenting adults, are asked to refrain from walking anywhere on campus with their devices out and in view of others.
  6. Infirmary on campus are screen-free zones.

Media Exposure

Among the issues with which the school staff is centrally concerned is popular culture’s influence on children. Through music, film, video games, the internet, and print, children are subjected to highly potent messages about life. The impact of such messages is revealed regularly in children’s conversations, artwork, dress, and play. The 21st-century media boom threatens to supplant both family and school as primary sources of information and values.

Parenting adults and teachers are not powerless in the face of this. It is the task of both parenting adults and teachers to cultivate critical judgment so that children can become discriminating adults. It is not possible to shield students entirely from popular media even while still young, but it is a parental responsibility to regulate and monitor their access to it. Every person has daily opportunities to choose how to act, what to eat, wear, or acquire, and to focus on the level of attention given to moment-to-moment experiences.

Artificial Intelligence

At Oak Grove, we are committed to nurturing creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and ethical citizenship in a rapidly evolving world. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into society, we recognize its potential to enhance learning, creativity, and efficiency, as well as the responsibility to guide its use with care, equity, and integrity.

  • Human-Centered Learning
    AI is a tool to support—not replace—human connection, reasoning, and expression. Our pedagogy will continue to prioritize authentic relationships, student voice, and meaningful inquiry. We embrace the promise of AI with humility, curiosity, and discernment. As a progressive school, we are committed to helping our students become not simply skilled users of AI—but thoughtful, ethical stewards of its potential, including an understanding of the social, environmental, and equity issues.
  • Transparency and Academic Integrity
    Students must always be honest and explicit about when and how AI tools are used in their work. Using AI to generate or complete assignments without expressed permission and without properly citing is considered a violation of our academic integrity standards.
  • Equity and Accessibility
    We are committed to ensuring equitable access to AI-related learning opportunities and addressing digital divides. AI tools will not be required for student success, but may be made available in a supported and inclusive way.

Digital Literacy and Ethical Awareness

Students are guided to develop critical awareness about AI, including:

  • How AI tools are trained and their potential for bias
  • The difference between fact and AI-generated fabrication
  • The social and ethical implications of automation and data privacy
  • The environmental and social justice costs and consequences of AI generation.

Faculty and Staff Use

Educators and staff may use AI to support planning, communication, and administrative tasks, with an emphasis on transparency, human oversight, and responsible data use. AI will not be used to assess or replace human observations when evaluating students.

Evolving Practices AI technologies are changing rapidly. Our policies and practices will be revisited as needed to stay aligned with current research, community values, and the lived experiences of our students and staff.