P-H-M is a 1:1 Device School District
As part of P-H-M’s strategic technology goals, the District is 1:1 with Chromebooks or iPads with every student in the District, nearly 11,000 students! Students in grades 6–12 (approximately 6,000 students) are issued a personal Chromebook device to take home with them.
Penn High School students were the first to receive Chromebooks at the start of the 2014 school year, followed by all three middle schools in 2015. Elementary students in grades 1–5 have Chromebooks to use in the classrooms during the school day and Kindergartners use iPads.
Digital Devices
Cell Phone Policy
Beginning with the 2026-27 School Year, Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 78 (SEA 78) requires that personal wireless communication devices are powered off and not accessible to students during the school day. The school day means from the first bell in the morning to the last bell at the end of the school day.
This law is applicable to all grade levels: elementary, middle and high school.
Please click the links below see the student expectations and progress of discipline for each group:
Chromebooks – Browsers can expand learning and extend students’ reach
Chromebooks are lightweight personal devices (keyboard with hinged screen/lid) designed for browsing the internet and accessing network items. P-H-M issues one to each middle school and high school student to carry home and use throughout their secondary school career. Read more about the advantages of P-H-M’s Chromebook initiative and the benefits it provides to our students.
- Chromebook Guidelines
- Acceptable Use Policy
- Chromebook Acknowledgment Form
- Chromebook Insurance High School
- Chromebook-Insurance-Middle-2026-2027
Chromebook Technical Assistance
If students are having a technical issue with their Chromebooks or need repairs or a replacement, families can email chromebooks (at) phm.k12.in.us. P-H-M’s Technology Department will respond to emails Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. If necessary, appointments will be set up at the student’s home school.
iPads – Small tablets are a good fit for young children in the primary grades
Our iPads are loaded with educational software and learning games, and students enjoy using them. They are meant to supplement, not replace, instruction. Students are always supervised when using iPads in the classroom.
Student Classwork, Grades & Information
Skyward Family Access – See your students’ grades & other student information
In order to use this application, P-H-M must have your email address on record. If you have not shared an email address with your school, please contact your school’s front office to update your contact information and receive access.
You will need to set your own password using the step-by-step instructions below.
Canvas – Shows your student’s schoolwork and classroom information
In order to use this application, P-H-M must have your email address on record. If you have not shared an email address with your school, please contact your school’s front office to update your contact information and receive access.
You will need to set your own password using the step-by-step instructions below.
Getting Started with Skyward & Canvas
- Step-by-step Family Access & Canvas login instructions
- Skyward Parent Toolkit for more information on getting started with Skyward
- Get help with your Skyward & Canvas accounts by emailing familyaccess (at) phm.k12.in.us
eLearning – Provides organized online learning outside the classroom when school is canceled
eLearning is facilitated by P-H-M teachers who create lesson plans and make them available online (and offline) for students to work on outside the classroom. eLearning is an alternative to scheduling make-up days.
- Learn more on our eLearning page
- Contact your child’s teacher for help with eLearning
Communication Tools
Parents and guardians receive alerts, updates, and posts on:
- Urgent Alerts, such as School Closings and Delays
- Principal & Teacher Newsletters
- School & Classroom Calendar of Events
- Fill out Permission Slips & other Required Forms
- Volunteer, RSVP for events, Item Donation Sign-up
- Attendance Notifications
Follow us on Social Media for examples of #PHMExcellence
What do we mean when we use #PHMExcellence? Follow us and find out! (Remember to confirm you are seeing official, not fake, accounts. If needed, request to join closed groups.)
Instructional Resources
Clever – Allows students to visit numerous secure sites with a single login
Clever is the solution to the problem of multiple log-ins! Once logged in to P-H-M’s Clever portal, students can go directly to several of their most-used programs including Plato and Study Island.
- Watch the Clever video to learn more
- Login to Clever
Elementary Launch Pad – Quick access to age-appropriate applications
Students will find some of their favorites here, and parents can browse offerings by subject. All are free and available online at home and at school.
Student Online Safety at School
P-H-M’s Acceptable Use Policy: Our Commitment to Student Online Safety & Digital Wellness
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation has multiple safeguards in place to protect students while using district-issued devices and accessing the P-H-M network.
P-H-M has a longstanding commitment to providing students with safe, filtered internet access in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). The district uses network firewalls and Securly, a Chromebook filtering application, to block inappropriate online content. Since 2018, P-H-M has also made Securly available to parents at no cost, extending online safety tools to families.
In accordance with Indiana Code (20-26-5-40.5), P-H-M has formally incorporated these existing internet safety practices into the district’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).
P-H-M uses several tools and practices to promote student safety and digital wellness:
- Social Media Restrictions: Social media apps are not permitted on district-owned devices. Social media websites and applications are also blocked for students through the district’s network firewall.
- Personal Device Restrictions: In accordance with Indiana law, student use of personal computers and cell phones during the school day is not allowed.
- YouTube Safety Controls: YouTube is configured to enforce restricted viewing, limiting students to videos identified as appropriate by YouTube or approved by school staff.
- Artificial Intelligence Restrictions: Students do not have access to Google Gemini AI through their district Google accounts and on their Chromebooks.
- Student Wellness Monitoring: P-H-M uses Bark, a student safety monitoring application, to scan student Google Workspace accounts daily for potential warning signs involving bullying, depression, self-harm, and other safety concerns. When potential threats are detected, designated school staff receive alerts for review and appropriate follow-up.
- Digital Citizenship Education: P-H-M uses Common Sense Media curriculum to teach students responsible internet use, online safety, and digital citizenship.
Student Responsibility and Acceptable Use
P-H-M’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) establishes clear expectations for responsible online behavior, appropriate use of district technology, and the educational use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Students are expected to understand and follow these guidelines. By logging in to the P-H-M network, students acknowledge their responsibility to comply with the policy and are accountable for their online conduct.
The AUP is included in student handbooks each school year to ensure students and families are informed of the district’s expectations.
Hāpara: Helping Teachers Guide and Monitor Student Chromebook Use
In addition to equipping teachers with interactive tools, Hāpara runs a school-based filter that is always operating on the networks inside our buildings so students are safe while browsing.
Online Safety at Home: Tools for Parents
Secondary students take their Chromebooks home; as district issued devices, the activity on the Chromebooks is continuously filtered by Securly even while students are at home.
Securly: Keeping Parents Informed About Student Online Activity
In addition to teachers using Hāpara in the classrooms, P-H-M middle schools and Penn High School Administrators also have Securly to help monitor and keep students safe on their school-issued Chromebooks.
Middle and high school parents receive a weekly email from Securly.com that shows parents their student’s online activity while using their P-H-M issued Chromebook. Parents can also download the Securly app to make at home management easier.
Click here to read the instructions on how to set up your parental settings in Securly.
Making Online Payments
P-H-M’s Online Payment Systems – A safe & convenient way to pay for school fees and services
We’ve partnered with “e~Funds for Schools” to pay book fees and “RevTrak” to purchase tickets to community education classes and DVT / Planetarium shows.
SchoolCafé – Parents can monitor their student’s cafeteria purchases & pay for them online
See what your student is eating and limit the choices, if you wish. Keep tabs on account balances and replenish when needed—all online!
Affordable Internet Access for Families
Low-Cost Internet Plans and Resources
Several national discount programs are available to help eligible families get online. The “EveryoneOn” program lists a number of resources, including free/discounted computers and user training, for households who meet income requirements.