- Kent School District
- Frequently Asked Technology Questions
Technology
Page Navigation
- Technology Overview
- Acceptable Use Policy
- Laptop Support
- Device Agreement
- Device Handbook
- Digital Learning Toolkit
- Digital Use Expectations for Students
- Family Tech Academy
- Frequently Asked Technology Questions
- Frequently Used Links
- Home Internet Access
- Hotspots
- Online Safety
- Privacy & Data
- Software Library
Frequently Asked Technology Questions
-
Contact the Customer Support Center for Help
Tech support is available to Kent School District (KSD) students, families, and staff on school days from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- CustomerSupportCenter@kent.k12.wa.us
- (253) 373-7030
We can help with:
- Logging in on KSD devices or platforms (laptop, Skyward Family Access, Office 365, etc.).
- Troubleshooting issues with KSD hardware (laptops, printers, etc.).
- Resolving issues with KSD software (Office 365, Canvas, etc.).
Free hotspots and home internet access are available to families in need.
Laptop Questions
-
How do I check to see if there are any updates for my laptop?
Making sure your computer is updated to the latest version is one way to make sure your computer is running smoothly. Please follow the steps below to check for updates on your computer.
- On the desktop, find Computer Help and double-click on it.
- Click on Tools.
- Click on Windows.
- Click on Windows Updates.
- Another window will pop up, click the check for updates button (the button may say retry, if it does, click that button).
- Go back to the Computer Help window, click on Apps.
- Click on Software Center.
- Once it is complete, please restart your computer.
-
How do I log in to my laptop?
Log in to the laptop using your KSD username and password.
- Username: Enter “sn” and then your six-digit student ID number. For example, “sn123456.”
- Password: Enter your password.
-
What do I do if my laptop is not working?
First, please go through the questions and answers on this webpage to see if you can resolve the issue.
If not, email CustomerSupportCenter@kent.k12.wa.us or call (253) 373-7030 to create a new ticket.
Please contact us immediately if:
- The camera, microphone, or drives are no longer working.
- Something has been spilled on the laptop.
- The laptop is no longer charging.
- The screen has been damaged.
- The keyboard has been damaged or stops working.
-
What do I do if my laptop will not turn on?
- Unplug the laptop charger from the laptop.
- Hold down the power button for 45 seconds then release the power button.
- Plug the charger into the laptop.
- Try and turn the laptop on.
- If that does not work, check your power cable. Make sure the main cable is plugged securely into the power brick and then plug it back into the wall.
If the laptop still will not turn on, please contact the Customer Support Center to create a new ticket.
-
What do I do if my laptop will not charge?
The laptop power cord has two parts: the main cable and the power brick. Make sure the main cable is plugged securely into the power brick and then plug it back into the wall.
If the laptop still will not charge, please contact the Customer Support Center to create a new ticket.
-
How do I connect my laptop to my home internet?
In order to access the internet from your KSD laptop, you will need to connect to your home WiFi.
- Turn on the laptop.
- Do not log in yet. Click on the wireless icon on the bottom right of the screen.
- Connect to your home WiFi network. If your home network requires a password, please enter your home WiFi password.
- Once it is connected, click the power icon to restart the laptop.
- Log in to the laptop using your KSD username and password.
- Username: Enter “sn” and then your six-digit student ID number. For example, “sn123456.”
- Password: Enter your password.
-
Can I connect my laptop to my home printer?
No. KSD laptops cannot be connected to home printers. Please use your home computer to print using one of the following options:
- Save the file on a thumb/flash drive and then print from your home computer.
- Email the file to your student Outlook email account and then access using web-based Outlook on your computer to print.
-
How can I take care of my laptop?
To take care of your laptop, we recommend that you:
- Be careful having liquids around your laptop.
- Slowly plug in and unplug the power cable to avoid causing damage.
- Do not leave anything, including papers, between the screen and the keyboard when you close your laptop. Leaving items on top of the keyboard can lead to a cracked screen or overheat the laptop.
- Lightly dampen a soft cloth with water and clean the screen and keyboard for general cleaning.
-
What do I do if my laptop is lost or stolen?
Please report lost and stolen laptops to the Customer Support Center immediately.
If your laptop is stolen, we will provide proper information for filing your police report. This allows us to connect with our theft recovery vendor in a timely fashion.
-
What do I do if my camera is not working in Teams?
If your camera is not working in Microsoft Teams but seems to work in other applications like Camera and the Chrome browser, please follow the steps below to fix it.
- Click on the start menu.
- Find and open Software Center.
- Search for "camera" in the search window.
- Click the Camera Update, the name is 8X0G3 or G4 camera update.
- Click on the blue "Repair."
- Click "Yes" on the last prompt that comes up.
- Try using your camera in Microsoft Teams again.
-
What can I try if Microsoft Teams is not working?
If Microsoft Teams is lagging or not working (unable to join meetings or chat), please try the following things.
Option 1: Try using Microsoft Teams in a web browser.
Option 2: Update Microsoft Teams.
- Click on the profile picture in the top right.
- Click "Check for updates."
Option 3: Sign out of Microsoft Teams.
- Click the profile picture in the top right.
- Click "Sign out."
Option 4: Quit Microsoft Teams
- Right-click on the Teams icon on the bottom.
- Select "Quit."
Canvas Questions
-
How do I log in to Canvas?
Visit the Canvas area of the Digital Learning Toolkit to learn more about this learning management system.
Leaving KSD Questions
-
I am leaving KSD. Will I still have access to Office 365 apps and files?
No. You will lose access to all work and files saved in applications like Teams, OneNote, OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, and all other Office 365 apps once you graduate or transfer to another school district.
Save your work or personal content from your Kent School District account (email and online documents) before you leave. Follow the instructions to back up your files and folders and transfer them to your personal OneDrive or Gmail account (PDF).
If you downloaded Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook onto your personal laptop device, the apps will go into “reduced functionality mode” sometime within 90 days after you leave Kent School District.
Reduced functionality means you can only view or print your documents. All features for editing or creating new documents are disabled, and you will see a message that asks you to enter a product key or add your computer to an active Office 365 account.
There are a few options If you want to continue editing or creating documents.
- Upload your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files to Google Drive if you have a personal Gmail account. You’ll be able to edit the files with Googles Docs, Spreadsheets, and Presentation, and even download later as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files later
- Obtain a Microsoft account from your new school, college, or institution.
- Purchase a personal Office 365 subscription. Apply while you still have a Kent School District email address to receive the home use discount. The new software will not retain your KSD online documents or email.
-
How do I save my Office 365 files before I leave KSD?
-
What do I do with my laptop if I'm leaving KSD?
Please return your laptop to the school you were attending.
Office 365 Questions
-
How do I log into Office 365 on a personal device?
- Visit office.com.
- Sign in using your KSD email and the password you use to log into your KSD computer.
Safety & Acceptable Use Questions
-
Are students protected from inappropriate internet content?
Kent School District (KSD) uses filtering software that operates on all devices, whether students are at home or at school. All filtering and internet safety protections are age- and grade-level appropriate and have been implemented in compliance with the Child’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
-
Are families expected to monitor usage to prevent unacceptable use of technology?
Even though internet traffic is filtered on Kent School District devices, it is a good idea for parents and guardians to be aware of what activities your students are engaged in online as an additional measure of safety for students. We embrace parent engagement in their student’s education and development of personal responsibility.
- For more information about the appropriate use of electronic devices, please refer to Electronic Resource Policy 2022 and Procedure 2022P.
- For more information on grade-level specific Internet Safety resources visit Common Sense Media Family Engagement Resources.
-
How does KSD monitor for acceptable usage compliance?
All internet traffic, including email and file storage, on district resources is logged and can be reviewed if concerns arise. Students may be able to delete their browsing history on the laptop, but all internet activity is also logged centrally at the district office whether students are at home or at school.
Skyward Questions
-
How do I log in to Skyward Family Access? What if I don’t have my username or password?
- Visit the Skyward Family Access login page.
- Follow the instructions to set or reset your Skyward Family Access password if it is your first time logging in or you have forgotten your password