8271R -- Instruction
Regulations for BOE Policy 8271
SUBJECT: INTERNET SAFETY/INTERNET CONTENT FILTERING GUIDELINES
The Board of Education is committed to the network use of technology in the
District by staff and students.
Internet access on the District's computer system is provided for staff and
students as a means to enhance the educational mission and instructional
programs of the School System, to further District goals and objectives, and
to conduct research and communicate with others. In accordance with such
educational mission and the instructional goals and objectives of the
District, technology protection measures (i.e., filtering or blocking of
access to certain material on the Internet) will be utilized on all
District computers, and electronic devices. with Internet access to ensure
the integrity of educational services and to address safety concerns
regarding the online activities of minors. In accordance with The Children's
Internet Protection Act (CIPA), the term "minor" shall mean any individual
who has not attained the age of seventeen (17) years.
Consequently, the District, unless an authorized "override" (i.e., disabling
of the blocking or filtering measure) is permitted as enumerated below, will
block non-acceptable Internet access for
minors and adults to
visual depictions that are:
1)
obscene (as defined pursuant to CIPA and other applicable
laws/regulations as may be appropriate);
2)
child pornography (as defined pursuant to CIPA and other
applicable laws/regulations as may be appropriate);
3)
harmful to minors. The term "harmful to minors" is
defined, pursuant to CIPA, as any picture, image, graphic image file, or
other visual depiction that:
a.
Taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a
prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;
b.
Depicts, describes or represents, in a patently offensive
way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated
sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual
acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and
c.
Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic,
political, or scientific value as to minors.
In addition, the District will monitor, as deemed appropriate by the
applicable building/program administrator and/or classroom teacher, access
by minors to "inappropriate matter" on the Internet and World Wide Web. Per
CIPA, the District is authorized to filter or block Internet access to other
material determined to be inappropriate for minors. The determination
of what is "inappropriate" for minors shall be made in accordance with
District guidelines and, as appropriate, on a case-by-case determination
depending upon the factors such as the age of the student, the material
involved, and the educational purpose/research for which such material is
utilized.
In order to help ensure the safety and security of minors when using any
form of social media, e.g. Facebook, Twitter, electronic mail, chat rooms,
instant messaging, and other forms of direct electronic communications,
appropriate supervision will be provided by a classroom teacher and/or other
appropriate District personnel; and notification will be given to minors
regarding the prohibition as to unauthorized disclosure, use and
dissemination of personal identification information regarding such
students. Students will also be informed regarding unauthorized access to
District computers and the Internet, including so-called "hacking," and
other unlawful activities by minors online.
In accordance with CIPA, the District will provide students instruction
designed to promote the proper and safe use of the
Internet. Schools will instruct students in appropriate online
behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking
Web sites and in chat rooms, as well as providing education on cyberbullying
awareness and response.
Students in
Shenendehowa will receive grade-level-appropriate instruction annually on
Internet Safety Practices, focusing on the topics below.
Elementary
Students (K-2):
-
Understand and commit to not
sharing personal information with anyone they meet online.
-
Talk openly with their
parents, guardian, or school staff about what they see online and always
tell them if anyone asks for personal information.
-
Commit to follow family and
school rules about safety on the Internet and when playing online games.
Elementary
Students (3-5):
-
Understand and commit to not
sharing personal information with anyone they meet online. This includes
their real name, address, phone number, financial information, school
name, passwords, or other private information.
-
Talk openly with their
parents, guardians, or school staff about what they see online and
should always tell them if anyone asks for personal information or makes
them feel uncomfortable.
-
Commit to follow family and
school rules about safety on the Internet and when playing online games.
Middle and High School Students
-
Understand and commit to not
sharing personal information with people they view as "friends" online.
This includes their real name, address, phone number, financial
information, school name, passwords, or other private information.
-
Commit to ethical online
use:
-
Post only what you would
feel comfortable with the whole world seeing, including parents or
college admissions personnel.
-
Never use the Internet to
spread gossip, bully or hurt someone’s reputation.
-
Post only what you would
feel comfortable with the whole world seeing, including parents or
college admissions personnel.
-
Understand what security
tools are available on most computers to further protect themselves,
their personal information, and their computer from viruses, spyware,
and spam.
-
Understand that they are in
charge of their online experience and should manage it the way they
would in the real world. If something or someone online makes them feel
uncomfortable, they have the right to not respond, delete a post, and
most importantly tell a trusted adult.
-
Commit to never meet in
person with someone they met online.
Source:
http://www.staysafeonline.org/teach-online-safety
In furtherance of the District's educational mission to enact safety
measures to protect students when online, the District has adopted and will
enforce its Internet Content Filtering Policy that includes the operation of
technology protection measure(s) with respect to any of its computers with
Internet access as mandated by CIPA and also in accordance with the
District's Acceptable Use Policies and Regulations. The District shall
enforce the operation of such technology protection measure(s) during any
use of District computers in accordance with CIPA and applicable Board
policies and building procedures.
Furthermore, in accordance with law, the Director of Learning Technology
may
access all such files and communications when authorized by the
Superintendent of Schools to insure system integrity and that users are
complying with the requirements of CIPA and District policy.
. Additionally, dissemination and/or
publication of the District's Acceptable Use
Policy and Regulation will be utilized as one means to
further ensure the implementation of safety measures and appropriate
notification to staff and students as to acceptable, as well as prohibited,
conduct when using District computers or accessing the Internet on such
computers. The standards of acceptable use as well as prohibited conduct by
staff and students when accessing District computers and the Internet, as
outlined in the District's technology policies, are not intended to be
all-inclusive. Staff and students who commit an act of misconduct which is
not specifically addressed in District policy and/or regulation may also be
subject to disciplinary action in accordance with law, the District Code of
Conduct, and/or the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Legal action
may also be initiated as deemed necessary by the Superintendent/designee.
The District is not responsible for any inappropriate content or material
which may be accessed via a staff member's or a student's own personal
technology or electronic device or via an unfiltered Internet connection
received through a staff member's or a student's own personal technology or
electronic device.
No filtering or blocking technology has a one hundred percent (100%)
guarantee that all sites accessed by staff and students are immediately
filtered in compliance with law and District procedures. Consequently, if
District personnel and/or students find an accessible site that is
questionable, the procedure is to contact the appropriate supervisor/teacher
who will notify the Superintendent/designee. The Superintendent/designee
will contact, as appropriate, the service/ software provider and/or the
Director of Learning Technology..
However, under certain specified circumstances, the blocking or filtering
technology measure(s) may be disabled for adults engaged in bona fide
research or other lawful purposes. The power to disable can only be
exercised by an administrator, supervisor or other person authorized by the
School District.
NOTE:
Refer to Policies:
6470 Staff Use of
Computerized Information Resources;
7317
Student Use of Computerized Information Resources (Acceptable Use
Policy);
8271 Internet
Safety/Internet Content Filtering Guidelines
Refer to Regulation:
Refer to Form: 6470F Agreement for Staff Use of Computerized Information Resources
Reviewed: February 7, 2012;
March 12, 2013