You can decline the take-home Chromebook

From 6th grade on, the district sends a Chromebook home with every student, every night. You don't have to accept one, at any grade.

If nobody told you that, you are not the only one. It doesn't really get announced. It just starts.

Some families are fine with it. A lot of us weren't, and we didn't find out until we were already a year in, arguing with our kids every night about a device the school sent home.

Four steps

If you want the Chromebook to stay at school

Sign the petition. Show our numbers and community support to the Board.
You do not have to sign the technology form.
Email your child's building principal. Example letter available below
Tell your child's teachers that your child will need printed copies of homework. A short, friendly note is enough.

What makes this possible

The district has said two things in writing to the Board that matter here. Families are not required to sign the device agreement. And paper alternatives are workable.

Neither of those depends on your child's grade. Families across the middle school and high school have already sent letters in.

What we are asking for, and what we suggest you ask for:

No district Chromebook sent home with my child
Homework on paper, or a paper equivalent when an assignment would normally be digital
No Chromebook during study hall, since the homework is on paper anyway
The same instruction and the same opportunities as every other student, with no penalty
No expectation that you buy a computer for home

One thing worth saying up front. This is a request to the district, not a complaint about your child's teacher. Teachers didn't choose this and they can't fix it on their own.

You are not the only one

Families are already declaring their intention to leave the Chromebook at school and sending letters. Many more haved showed their support for our choice by signing.

Join us, and when more classes add paper alternatives, they will exist for everyone.

Add your name and tell us your child's grade. You can also just show that you support our choice.

A letter you can copy

This is what we're sending. Change whatever you want. Short is fine.

Dear Principal Hogan,

I'm writing about my child, [NAME], who is entering [GRADE] this fall.

We are declining the take-home Chromebook. We would like [NAME] to use school devices at school only when a teacher assigns them, and to do homework on paper.

Specifically, we are asking for:

No district Chromebook sent home
Homework on paper, or a paper equivalent when an assignment would normally be digital
No Chromebook use during study hall
The same instruction and opportunities as every other student, with no penalty in grading or participation
No expectation that we provide a computer at home

I understand this takes some coordination, and I'd rather sort it out sooner than later. Please let me know if any of it needs discussion.

Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
[PHONE OR EMAIL]

Middle School Principal: rhogan@newpaltz.k12.ny.us. Copy the Superintendent at sgratto@newpaltz.k12.ny.us if you want it on the record.

Act now

Devices are being rolled out in the first two weeks to 6th graders. We also want to give teachers as much time as possible.

A note on your child's grade

If your child is starting 6th grade, this is the year the device first comes home. At Lenape it stayed at school.

If your child is already past 6th grade, the same letter works. Change the grade and send it.

If you have questions, or you want to compare notes with a family who has already done this, email us. We'll answer.