What are some tips on how my child can protect and care for their Chromebook?
During this time, it is important that students and their families provide proper care for their
Chromebook by adhering to the same rules that students have while in school.

• Always charge the Chromebook overnight so that it is fully charged and available the next day.

• No food or drink near the Chromebook

• Always keep the Chromebook on a flat and stable surface where it will not be bumped or knocked over. This includes both when using it and when charging it.

• Never carry the Chromebook in the open position. The lid should be closed when transporting.

• The student should be the only person using the Chromebook. The browsing history of the Chromebook is always being recorded and the student will be held responsible for all websites that are accessed.

  The district provides an offsite filter that keeps students from inappropriate websites. It is always possible for filters and safeguards to fail so we recommend that parents always monitor

  the websites of their children on their Chromebook.

• Do not place anything on the keyboard before closing the lid (eg. pens, pencils, etc.)

• The Chromebook should never be left in a car or any unsupervised area.

• The Chromebook should be left in a secure place at home during spring break or any trips away from home.

• Please report a lost or damaged Chromebook to your child's school immediately.

How does my child login to their Chromebook?
All students of HISD are assigned an email address of their graduation year, first initial, last name. (Ex. 19jdoe@hamiltonisd.org.)  The password for their email address will be their last name and the three numerical digits. 
To log into the Chromebook please enter their email address and click on next and type in their password. If your child doesn't remember their email address and password please contact their homeroom teacher or email tech_dept@hamiltonisd.org with your child's information and grade and we will provide the information. 

What is Classlink and how does my child use it?
Classlink is a single sign-on service that allows students and teachers to have all of their websites needed for instruction on one page as well as saving usernames and passwords to allow for quicker access. 
Classlink can be found at https://launchpad.classlink.com/htxisd and then click on the option at the bottom to sign in with Google. It will prompt you for the email address, please enter the students' information. 
Most websites listed on the Classlink site will allow students to enter their username and password the first time and will save it, so they do not need to enter it again. Some sites will not allow us to save usernames and passwords, but students can at least access the site on Classlink. 

How can my child read books when they can't go to the school or public library?
There are many different sites that are opening up the ability to check out audiobooks as well as online books. Here is a page that was put together that allows kids to read online. 

How do I clean my child's Chromebook?
Here is a short video on how to clean your child's Chromebook. Please remember, if you use disinfectant wipes to clean it, we recommend squeezing any extra moisture out before using them to clean your Chromebook. It can seep under the keyboard and damage the electronics. 

Is my child's Chromebook filtered for inappropriate content?
Hamilton ISD must be compliant to standards set by the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to monitor online activities of minors and block inappropriate content. You can find more information about CIPA here.  Hamilton ISD uses a program known as GoGuardian that monitors student internet usage as well as flags and blocks inappropriate content. Any HISD issued Chromebook that a student uses their email address to log into, is automatically filtered by GoGuardian.  Here are some guidelines for Internet Safety and children.

Basic guidelines to share with your kids for safe online use:

• Follow the family rules, and those set by the Internet service provider.

• Never post or trade personal pictures.

• Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name or location.

• Use only a screen name and don't share passwords (other than with parents).

• Never agree to get together in person with anyone met online without parent approval and/or supervision.

• Never respond to a threatening email, message, post, or text.

• Always tell a parent or other trusted adult about any communication or conversation that was scary or hurtful.

Basic guidelines for parental supervision:

• Spend time online together to teach your kids appropriate online behavior.

• Keep the computer in a common area where you can watch and monitor its use, not in individual bedrooms. Monitor any time spent on smartphones or tablets.

• Bookmark kids' favorite sites for easy access.

• Check your credit card and phone bills for unfamiliar account charges.

• Find out what, if any, online protection is offered by your child's school, after-school center, friends' homes, or any place where kids could use a computer without your supervision.

• Take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange.

What if my child can't log into required websites such as Renaissance Place, Successmaker, etc?
Please contact your child's teacher first. They have all their account information. If the teacher is unable to resolve the issue, they will contact the Tech Dept, and we will work with them to resolve the issue. The teacher will then get back with you after the issue has been fixed. 

What if my child's Chromebook has a cracked screen, touchpad that doesn't work, etc?
Please fill out this form to let us know the issue that the Chromebook is having. A member of the Technology Dept will then be in contact with you to let you know additional steps to take to drop off your Chromebook so we can work on it and quickly get it back to the student.