Focus on Educational Purpose
The Internet has not been provided as a public access or personal Internet service. Use of the Internet is limited to those activities which support education, enrichment, and career development. The school system has engaged and will continue to engage in activities that support the educational use of the Internet . These activities include professional development for teachers in the use of technology for instructional purposes, technical and instructional support for teachers, and the provision of Internet-based resources. The school system has also established links to educational web sites that provide previewed, good quality educational content. Electronic communication activities are limited to educationally related activities and will occur within secure environments. (top)

Education About Safe and Responsible Use
Teachers, administrators, parents, community members and students have access to information about issues related to the safe and responsible use of the Internet. All users receive instructions about responsible use of the Internet and protecting their personal information when communicating on the Internet.  (top)

Supervision and Monitoring
Student use of the Internet is supervised by teachers in a manner that is appropriate for the age of the students and circumstances of use. Employees of the school system visually and technologically monitor Internet use. Users are made aware that they have no privacy when they use the Internet at school. Routine monitoring may reveal evidence of inappropriate activities and an individualized search of activities or personal files may occur if there is a reasonable suspicion of inappropriate activity.  (top)

Discipline
Intentional misuse of technology and the Internet by students and staff is addressed in accord with the disciplinary codes of schools and may result in user restrictions.  Intentional misuse of technology assets is addressed in terms of degrees from warnings to restrictions to criminal prosecution.

These core components are implemented in different ways depending on user age and circumstances of use. The focus for elementary students is on maintaining a safe and secure environment. As students become older, the focus expands to address strategies that help students learn to independently make safe and responsible choices in their behavior when using the Internet. (top)

Access to Inappropriate Material
Internet access is administered as appropriate to student age. Students receive instruction, appropriate to their age, regarding strategies to avoid the inadvertent access of inappropriate material and what to do if they accidentally access such material.

Technology Protection Measure
Although no security system is failsafe, the school system has installed and enforces the use of a Technology Protection Measure. A Technology Protection Measure is a specific technology that is designed to protect against access to inappropriate material. The school system has implemented procedures that enable employees to unblock sites that contain appropriate material that has been mistakenly or inappropriately blocked. (top)

Family and Personal Values
There is a wide range of material available on the Internet, some of which may not be fitting with the particular values of some school families. It is not possible for the school system to monitor and enforce a wide range of social values in student use of the Internet. Parents and guardians are encouraged to specify to their children what material is in accord with their family values. (top)

Safety and Security of Students When Using Electronic Communication
Elementary students use either classroom e-mail accounts or have individual e-mail accounts, as in Gagglenet, where all communication is readily accessible by teachers. Secondary students may have an approved individual e-mail account (such as Gagglenet) to support educational activities. Students may participate in real time electronic communication activities under the direct supervision of a teacher or in moderated environments that have been established to support educational activities and have been approved by the school. Student accounts are established with a username that protects the personal identity of the student. Students receive instruction in privacy and communication safety standards when using electronic communications and other Internet services.   (top)

Responsible Use Issues
Students and school system employees may not engage in activities that are illegal, utilize inappropriate language, engage in plagiarism or copyright infringement or engage in actions that jeopardize the security of the school system and its assets when using the Internet. (top)

Unauthorized Disclosure, Use, and Dissemination of Personal Information Regarding Students
The Internet is used in a manner that protects the confidentiality of users and is fully in accord with the student confidentiality protection requirements of federal law, state law, and system policy. This policy contains limits regarding student and school system employee disclosure of personal information about themselves or others. In line with Family Educational Records and Privacy Act (FERPA), this policy also contains provisions addressing school system employees’ requirements regarding confidentiality and disclosure of student personal information.  (top)

Limitation of Liability
Due to the nature of the Internet, there can be no absolute guarantee that the implementation of the safe and responsible use measures contained in this Policy, including the Technology Protection Measure, will fully protect against access to material or people that may be considered inappropriate or potentially harmful. The school system will not be responsible for any damage students may suffer if they accidentally or intentionally are exposed to such materials or people. Use of the Internet by students is limited to those whose parents have signed a disclaimer of claims for damages against the school system. (top)

Accountability and Community Involvement
The Internet Safety and Technology Responsible Use Policy and Regulations were developed with input and feedback from school system employees and the community. The school system's Web Keepers are representatives from each school who meet quarterly; they engage in ongoing analysis of the Policy and Regulations and make recommendations to System Administration and the Board regarding possible amendments and implementation strategies. Any member of the school community may submit concerns or recommendations to this committee of Web Keepers. (top)