Districts Weigh Benefits and Drawbacks of Setting Up Student E-Mail Accounts

Some school districts hoping to improve communication and student engagement in learning are taking a step many educators still view warily: providing students with their own e-mail accounts.

Making e-mail a regular part of students’ school lives raises a host of concerns about inappropriate use. And many teachers doubt that the benefits will outweigh the headaches.

But administrators in districts that have instituted such e-mail service say...