In This Issue

STUDENT SAFETY & WELL-BEING

ACCEPTABLE USE

INSTRUCTIONAL ENGAGEMENT & BALANCED & BLENDED LEARNING

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

FAMILY TOOLS SPOTLIGHT

SKYWARD

LOOKING AHEAD

Dear McKinney ISD Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! As we begin a new year, our commitment remains clear: to provide every student with a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment that prepares them for success in school and beyond.

Technology is an important part of today’s learning environment, and we recognize the questions families are asking about screen time, student well-being, online safety, responsible use, and artificial intelligence. As technology continues to evolve, so must our practices and expectations.

This year, the McKinney ISD Digital Safety & Responsible Use Task Force Team is reviewing our current district practices. A key part of this work is reviewing screen time during the school day. We are looking beyond the number of minutes students spend on a device to examine the purpose, quality, and developmental appropriateness of that time. Our expectation is clear: active learning, not passive screen time.

In McKinney ISD, we believe technology should enhance great teaching, not replace it. Through our blended learning model, teachers intentionally balance technology with direct instruction, discussion, reading, writing, collaboration, movement, problem solving, and hands-on learning. When digital tools are used, they should have a clear instructional purpose; helping students research, create, communicate, think critically, solve problems, and demonstrate their learning.

We are equally focused on creating a safe and responsible digital learning environment. McKinney ISD uses grade-level appropriate filtering and monitoring tools and establishes clear expectations for how district devices, accounts, applications, and networks should be used. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly present in education and the workplace, we are also committed to preparing students to use approved AI tools safely, responsibly, and ethically, while protecting student privacy and academic integrity.

This work is ultimately about ensuring that technology serves our students and our instructional goals. Our goal is not more technology or less technology. It is the right technology, used at the right time, for the right instructional purpose.

We also know that responsible technology use is a shared responsibility. Throughout the year, we will continue to communicate with families, share resources, and provide greater clarity about how we are navigating an evolving digital world.

As we begin this school year, one thing remains unchanged: great teachers, strong relationships, meaningful learning, and the well-being of our students will always come first.

Thank you for your trust, partnership, and continued support of McKinney ISD. We are excited to welcome our students back and look forward to an outstanding school year.

Every Student, Every Day!

Shawn Pratt

McKinney ISD Superintendent

STUDENT SAFETY & WELL-BEING

The district uses grade-level appropriate monitoring and filtering tools to help keep students safe online:

★ Action item: Sign up for the free Deledao Parent Portal to set at-home device policies and get weekly activity reports. Watch for an invitation email from Deledao. Check the spam/junk folder if you don't see it.

Online safety is a shared responsibility between school and home. Talk with your student about their technology use, and reach out to a teacher, counselor, or campus administrator with any concerns.

ACCEPTABLE USE

District devices and student accounts are educational tools designed to support learning, collaboration, creativity, and communication.

Students are expected to use technology responsibly and in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

• Approved only: Students should only use district-approved applications, software, and websites.

• No bypassing: Attempting to bypass filters, hack the network, or alter device settings is strictly prohibited.

• Accountability: Academic dishonesty, cyberbullying, or unauthorized access to another student's device or files will be addressed per the Student Code of Conduct.

Consequences range from re-teaching and redirection to administrative intervention, depending on severity and frequency. Full policy details are in the Student Handbook.

MISD uses a defined set of district-approved platforms for two-way school-home communication:

Official School Communication

McKinney ISD uses approved communication platforms to ensure secure, reliable communication between schools and families.

If you receive a message from a platform you do not recognize, please contact your child's campus before responding.

INSTRUCTIONAL ENGAGEMENT & BALANCED & BLENDED LEARNING

Technology is a powerful instructional tool; but it never replaces great teaching.

McKinney ISD believes students learn best through meaningful interactions with teachers and classmates while using technology with purpose.

Our instructional approach includes:

• Active Learning – Students create, collaborate, solve problems, and apply learning in authentic ways.

• Purposeful Technology – Devices support lesson goals rather than serving as passive entertainment.

• Balanced Learning – Teachers intentionally balance screen time with hands-on learning, discussion, movement, reading, writing, and collaboration.

• Developmentally Appropriate Access – Technology use grows with students, beginning with shared iPads in early elementary and progressing to individual MacBooks in secondary schools.

This balanced approach reflects current research and the growing national conversation around healthy student technology use while ensuring students develop the digital skills needed for college, careers, and life.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we live and work. McKinney ISD is committed to preparing students to use AI safely, responsibly, and ethically.

Student Privacy Matters

To protect student privacy:

Student and teachers may never enter personally identifiable information—including names, student IDs, addresses, passwords, or student photographs into any AI tool unless specifically authorized through a district-approved platform.

AI Tools Used in McKinney ISD

District employees use AI tools such as:

• Google Gemini

• Microsoft Copilot

• Solution Tree AI

• Panorama Solara

Students use only district-approved instructional AI tools, including:

• MagicSchool AI

• Adobe Express AI features

Learn More

Families can learn more by reviewing these district resources:

• Student Code of Conduct

• Student Handbook

• Technology Resources Student Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

• McKinney ISD Artificial Intelligence Plan

• 1:World Student Laptop Program

• McKinney ISD Digital Resources (Approved Apps List)

• McKinney ISD Digital Use Guidelines Overview

If you have questions, please contact your child's campus or visit www.mckinneyisd.net for additional information.

Together, schools and families can ensure every student uses technology safely, responsibly, and successfully.

FAMILY TOOLS SPOTLIGHT - SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS

McKinney ISD utilizes Skyward Family Access to allow parents and guardians secure access to view school-related information regarding their student(s), including:

• Communication

• Student Demographic Information

• Schedules

• Grades

• Attendance 

• Health Information

• Bus Information

• Report Cards

• Progress Reports

Families may want to get the Skyward app on their phone.  Here are the directions:

Download the App: Get the app for your device on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Create a 4 digit passcode to secure your login to the app. You can also enable Face ID.

Locate Organization - Type in McKinney ISD. Then click on the result.

In Account Description (at the bottom), type a name for the account. For example, “Parent” or your name. (your choice). This step must be completed!

Then select "Sign In with McKinney SSO".

Log in with your SSO (Rapid Identity) username and password.

Select “Continue in app”.

Once you have the app on your phone you will be able to:

• See student schedules

• Submit attendance letters

• See your student’s report card

And more

LOOKING AHEAD

In our next issue we will focus on:

Digital Citizenship and Responsible Use

Students are expected to demonstrate good digital citizenship by using technology safely, responsibly, and respectfully. This includes protecting personal information, communicating with kindness and integrity, respecting the privacy and intellectual property of others, and using digital resources for educational purposes. Students should think critically about the information they access and share online, report inappropriate or unsafe content or behavior to a trusted adult, and follow all district policies regarding acceptable technology use. By making responsible choices in digital environments, students help create a safe, positive, and productive learning community for everyone.

McKinney ISD is committed to teaching students to be responsible citizens.