MISD Parent Newsletter Series
Digital Edition August 2025
Keeping Students Safe and Parents Informed
A Monthly Series to Educate, Protect and Partner with Families
For access to MISD's NEW Parent Portal click this link.
If you need help claiming your guardian account or cannot login to your Parent Portal account, please submit a help ticket through the guest form.
*PARENT PORTAL SINGLE SIGN-ON (SSO) ACCOUNT If you are new to McKinney ISD, the “s” is required to claim "Guardian" account.
If you are able to login to the parent portal and need additional support, please click the Help Ticket tile to submit a help ticket.
In This Issue:
Purpose
Featured Topic
Did You Know?
Family Tools Spotlight
Looking Ahead
Purpose
In the 2025–2026 school year, our district is launching a monthly communication and education series focused on student safety, transparent communication, family partnership, and legal awareness. This series will help ensure:
Parents and guardians are informed of their access, roles, and tools
Students receive age-appropriate learning on safety, digital citizenship, and well-being
Schools stay connected with families through proactive outreach and education
Featured Topic
Understanding the Scope Act
The SCOPE Act is a proposed federal law designed to protect students’ privacy and give parents more control over their children's data and online activity, especially when schools use digital tools and technology.
What Does It Mean for Parents and Students?
Transparency:
Schools are required to tell parents what technology tools are being used and what kind of data is being collected about their students.Consent:
Parents have the right to approve or decline certain technologies before their child uses them in school.Access to Information:
You can see what data is collected, how it’s used, and who has access to it.Limits on Data Sharing:
The law restricts how student data can be shared with outside companies or third parties.
Did You Know?
Parents Have Access to Student Digital Resources
MISD Parent Digital Access & Support
McKinney ISD is introducing a Parent Portal to provide families with convenient, centralized access to essential digital tools.
To support a strong start to the school year, McKinney ISD provides parents and guardians with access to a wide range of digital resources through this portal. These tools are designed to enhance communication, streamline student support, and improve access to academic, behavioral, and operational information.
Each digital platform is supported by a designated MISD team to ensure efficient and accurate assistance. Whether you're accessing your child’s grades, completing athletic forms, or managing childcare accounts, support is available through the appropriate channels listed below.
As the school year begins, we expect a high volume of parent and student support requests. Our shared goal is to ensure that every family is connected, informed, and fully operational as quickly as possible. While we strive to respond promptly, please allow adequate time for your request to be processed. Your needs are important to us, and we appreciate your patience and partnership as we work together to ensure a smooth start for all.
McKinney ISD’s digital resources are linked on our website and are approved for the 25-26 school year. Staff and students should use resources in SSO or Teaching & Learning resources linked to the curriculum.
*Note: Digital Resources that are not approved will be blocked for the 25-26 school year!
MISD Approved Resources (LIVE LINK)
Supporting Safe and Healthy Online Experiences for Students
As children and teens spend more time using digital tools for learning, communication, and creativity, the State of Texas has established new guidelines to ensure these tools are used in safe, healthy, and age-appropriate ways while giving parents greater visibility, control, and protection regarding digital services.
McKinney ISD’s goal is not to limit learning or access, but to ensure that students have a safe, supported digital experience by protecting their privacy and keeping families informed, connected, and actively involved.
McKinney ISD is committed to ensuring that students use technology safely and will follow all federal and state requirements to protect students from excessive data collection or materials that are considered harmful to minors. The district considers parents as partners in cybersecurity and online safety.
In accordance with state and federal law, the district will:
Install a filter that blocks and prohibits pornographic or obscene materials or applications, including unsolicited pop-ups, installations, and downloads, before transferring an electronic device to a student to be used for an educational purpose
Block or filter students’ internet access to pictures that are obscene, contain child pornography, or have been determined to be harmful to minors in accordance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
Require direct and informed parental consent for a student’s use of software, other than software excluded from the consent requirement by law.
Require direct and informed parental consent for a student’s use of software that conducts mental health assessments or other assessments unrelated to education curricula that are intended to collect information about students.
Expanding Digital Safety and Wellness Tools
As part of its commitment to student safety, McKinney ISD has enhanced its digital learning environment with two powerful tools from Deledao, a leader in student online protection and mental wellness monitoring.
New legislation requires school districts to:
Filter harmful and inappropriate online content.
Protect student data and privacy.
Monitor and respond to signs of cyberbullying, grooming, or self-harm.
School staff are required to report and support students facing these risks. MISD’s digital safety tools help meet these requirements while strengthening our responses.
What Is Deledao?
Web Filtering System: A real-time web filter that goes far beyond basic website blocking. It analyzes content, text, images, and videos to instantly block or blur harmful material, including inappropriate YouTube content and distracting sites like gaming or social media.
Online Monitoring System: A student wellness monitoring system that flags online searches or activity related to anxiety, self-harm, or threats. Alerts are sent to trained staff and parents to support timely intervention.
What This Means for Students
Increased safety and focus during digital learning
Faster support for students who may be experiencing emotional distress
Accountability for online behavior:
Searches related to self-harm or threats to others will be taken seriously and handled in accordance with McKinney ISD’s Threat to Self (TTS) and Threat to Others (TTO) protocols. Students may be subject to intervention, counseling, or disciplinary action as appropriate.
Awareness that digital activity is monitored for safety, and students are expected to use technology responsibly.
What This Means for McKinney ISD
Strong alignment with state safety and digital monitoring laws
Expanded ability to identify and support at-risk students
A proactive approach to maintaining a safe, supportive, and accountable school environment for all
What Happens After School Hours
On the 'At-Home Policy' page, parents can configure the following policies when students are at home:
Privacy Protection
Content Safety
Blocked Categories
Increasing Parent Access to Library Resources
Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, a parent-facing link will be added to the MISD Library Services webpage, providing direct access to student library activity and material selection through the Destiny Library System. The system will seamlessly allow parents to block checkouts of restricted titles and provide real-time updates through email notifications.
Parents can:
Search for specific book titles
Restrict their child from checking out specific materials
Receive automatic email notifications when their child checks out library materials
View all currently checked-out items and check-out history through their child’s Destiny account
McKinney ISD is committed to providing efficient parent access to our online library catalog. The Destiny online library catalog can be viewed at any time by logging into the parent SSO portal. In response to Senate Bill 13, we are enabling a daily email notification for parents to see what their student has checked out from the Destiny library catalog if there is checkout activity during the school day. Additionally, S.B. 13 includes parent rights to block access to specific titles within the online Destiny catalog for your student. If you would like to access your student’s library account to view what they have checked out, review their checkout history, or restrict them from accessing specific books, then please visit the parent library access tool page located on the MISD library services website. If you would like to review specific policies related to library materials, please refer to MISD board policy EFB Local.
Family Tools Spotlight
Communication Devices
The 89th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1481, prohibiting student use of personal communication devices during the school day. This law and corresponding district policy are intended to reduce distractions, protect instructional time, and promote meaningful student engagement.
Personal Communication Devices include, but are not limited to:
Smartphones
Earbuds and earphones
Smart eyeglasses
Laptops and tablets
Smartwatches
Portable gaming devices
At the Beginning of the School Day:
Upon entering the school building and displaying their student ID, students must power off their personal communication device and store it in their backpack.
During the School Day:
Personal communication devices must remain powered off and securely stored for the entire school day. Devices should be kept in backpacks or, if a backpack is not used, completely out of sight. The use or visible presence of personal communication devices anywhere on campus during the school day is strictly prohibited.
At the End of the School Day:
Once the school day ends at dismissal, students are permitted to use their personal communication devices.
Limited Exceptions:
A student may be permitted to possess or use a personal communication device only with written approval from campus administration and documentation supporting one or more of the following exceptions:
The device is required to the extent necessary to implement the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan.
The device is medically necessary, and its use is authorized by a licensed physician in the State of Texas and approved by designated 504 or ARD committee.
The device is needed to comply with district or campus safety protocols, or as otherwise required by law.
Dual credit students attending dual credit classes on MISD campuses can use phones to authenticate into
Resources for Parents