What would not surprise me is HUNDREDS of schools all over the country doing the same thing.
And it seems that's exactly what's going on. One of the links in the article was for a PBS documentary about a school that uses laptops. In it, the principal demonstrates how he can monitor the students via webcam. Here's a direct link.
Of course, that's monitoring done in school. This case involves spying on a student at home. But, we have to wonder...