Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Google and Bing Search will be inaccessible for Bend-La Pine Schools elementary students in grades K–5.
This change is part of our ongoing effort to be intentional about educational technology use in our classrooms. As digital tools continue to evolve, we want to make sure that the resources students use at school are age-appropriate, instructionally aligned, and supportive of safe, reliable research practices.
Instead of using Google and Bing Search, K–5 students will access research topics and information by tapping the Research icon on their iPad home screen. The icon has a magnifying glass and takes students directly to the elementary Bend-La Pine Schools Media Center website where our K-5 research databases are accessed. These databases provide students with a more focused and reliable place to search for information.
Students who need images for projects will also have access to a curated image search resource. On the research website, students will find a button that takes them to a Safe Image Search site. This gives students a safer and more purposeful way to look for images connected to their learning.
If you would like to explore safe and reliable research practices more deeply with your students, please take a look at the related lessons in Wayfinder, accessed via Clever. These lessons are designed to help students learn how to find current, reliable information online.
