INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

The Board of Education will actively pursue making advanced technology and increased access to learning opportunities available to district students and staff. In accordance with federal law, Internet access in our schools will be mediated through the use of blocking and/or filtering software. Internet access will allow district students and staff to access and use information available on distant computers, communicate and share information with individuals or groups of other students and staff, and significantly expand the users’ knowledge base.

Students and staff must understand and practice proper and ethical use. The following are conditions and rules for use:

A. Acceptable Use

1. Internet use facilitates communication in support of research and education by providing access to unique resources and the opportunity for collaborative work. In order to remain eligible as a user, all Internet access should support the educational objectives of the District.

2. Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret. Use for commercial activities by students is not acceptable. Use for product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited.

B. Privilege

Use of and access to the Internet is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use, including any violation of these conditions and rules, may result in cancellation of the privilege. The Board has the authority to determine appropriate use and may deny, revoke, suspend or close any user account at any time based upon its determination of inappropriate use by any user. Each student who receives an account will be responsible for that account and its usage. Therefore, under no circumstances should an account be shared with anyone other than the school district computer coordinator. Each student will also be required to attend an orientation session with a district faculty member pertaining to the proper use of the network.

C. Monitoring

The Board reserves the right to review any material on user-accounts and to monitor fileserver space in order to make determinations on whether specific uses of the network are inappropriate.

D. No Warranties

The Board makes no warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, for the service it is providing. The Board and district staff will not be responsible for any damages a user suffers. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, no-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by the district’s negligence or by the user’s errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user’s own risk. The Board specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy of quality of information obtained through its services. All users need to consider the source of any information they obtain, and consider how valid that information may be.

E. Security

Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. Attempts to log-on to the Internet in the name of another individual will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the Internet.

1 st Reading 5/28/02

2 nd Reading and Adoption 6/24/02

4526-R

 INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE REGULATION

 A. Internet Etiquette

All users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Be polite. Do not be abusive in your messages to others.

2. Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language. Do not engage in activities which are prohibited under state or federal law.

3. Do not reveal your personal address or phone number as well as the address and telephone numbers of other students or colleagues.

4. Note that electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. People who operate the system do have access to all mail. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the authorities and may result in the loss of user privileges.

5. Do not use the network in such a way that you would disrupt the use of the network by other users.

6. All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be public property.

B. Vandalism and Harassment

Vandalism and harassment will result in cancellation of user privileges. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm, modify, and destroy data of another user, computer hardware or software. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creating of computer viruses or attempts to modify the operating system.

Harassment is defined as the persistent annoyance of another user, or the interference of another user’s work. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, the sending of unwanted mail.

C. Procedures for Use

Student users must always get permission from their instructors before using the Internet and follow written and oral instructions from their instructors.

D. Encounters with Controversial Material

Users may encounter material which is deemed controversial in nature and which users, parents, teachers or administrators may consider inappropriate or offensive. The district has installed protective filtering software to prevent access to vulgar, obscene and inappropriate material. However, on a global network it is impossible to ensure that such content will not be encountered and an industrious user may discover controversial material. It is the users responsibility not to initiate access to such material. Further, it is the responsibility of users to notify teachers if and when such material is encountered so that further preventive steps can be taken to make such material inaccessible.

E. Parental Approval

The Building Principal is responsible for receiving signed parental approval form before students may access the Internet. Parental approval stays in effect while student is enrolled in the district or until the parent withdraws permission in writing.

 F. Penalties For Improper Use:

Any user violating these rules, applicable state and federal laws or posted classroom and district rules are subject to loss of Internet access privileges.

1 st Reading 5/28/02

2 nd Reading & Adoption 6/24/02

INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE EXHIBIT

 Parental consent

 If you would like your child to be permitted to have Internet access via our library connection, please read and explain the above policy, regulation and agreement on Internet Acceptable Use to your child and sign the agreement below. These sign-off sheets should be returned to your school's main office.

Part I

I understand the above conditions and rules in the Internet Acceptable Use Policy and Regulation. I further understand that any violation of the above conditions, rules, and Acceptable Use Agreement may result in the loss of access privileges and/or disciplinary and/or appropriate legal action for those violating these conditions.

I hereby give permission for my child, , to access the Internet.

Parent or Guardian ___________________________

Signature: _______________________________

Date: ____________

Part II

I have read the Internet Acceptable Use policy, regulation and agreement. I understand that this access is designed for educational purposes. I also recognize that while protective measures including filtering software have been put in place it is impossible for Valley Stream UFSD 13 and its employees to guarantee that access to controversial materials will not take place and I will not hold them responsible for my child accessing such materials on the Internet. Further, I am aware that there are commercial services available on the Internet and any charges incurred by me or my child regarding such services will be my responsibility and not the district’s. I also release the Board and the district from any and all claims of damages of any nature arising from my, or my child’s use, or inability to use, the system. Further, I accept full responsibility for supervision if and when my child’s use is not in a school setting.

I hereby give permission for my child, , to participate in Internet access in school.

Parent or Guardian: _________________________________

Signature: _____________________________________________

Date: ______________  

PART III – Publication of student’s work

I understand that my child’s work may be published on the Internet for non-commercial purposes, and I hereby give my permission for such publication of my child’s work. I also understand that my child will be identified by first name only.

My permission stays in effect while my child is enrolled in District 13 or until I withdraw my permission in writing to the building principal.

Parent Or Guardian:___________________________________

Signature: _____________________________________________

Date: _____________

PART IV – Student Agreement

Parents – Please read and explain the terms outlined in this agreement with your child . Child and Parent signatures are required.

When using the Internet I agree that I will follow all of the rules listed below:

1. When I write to other people using the Internet I will remember to be polite and never write anything to hurt someone else’s feelings.

2. I will not use bad language such as cursing or name calling.

3. When I use the Internet, I will not give out my name, address, phone number or any information about myself or people I know to anyone.

4. I will not try to do anything that will cause damage to the computer.

5. If I encounter inappropriate material in the use of the Internet, I will alert a teacher.

I understand and will abide by the district's Internet Acceptable Use policy, regulation and agreement. I further understand that any violation of the district’s policy is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Should I commit a violation, my access privileges may be revoked, school disciplinary actions may be taken, and/or appropriate legal action.

________________________

Student Name Signature

I have read and discussed these rules with my child:

________________________

Parent/Guardian Name Signature

1 st Reading 5/28/02

2 nd Reading & Adoption 6/24/02

INTERNET SAFETY POLICY

The Board of Education is committed to undertaking efforts that serve to make safe for children the use of district computers for access to the Internet and World Wide Web. To this end, although unable to guarantee that any selected filtering and blocking technology will work perfectly, the Board directs the Superintendent of Schools to procure and implement the use of technology protection measures that block or filter Internet access by:

• adults to visual depictions that are obscene or child pornography, and
• minors to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors, as defined in the Children’s Internet Protection Act.  

Subject to staff supervision, however, any such measures may be disabled or relaxed for adults conducting bona fide research or other lawful purposes, in accordance with criteria established by the Superintendent or his or her designee.

The Superintendent or his or her designee also shall develop and implement procedures that provide for the safety and security of students using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; monitoring the online activities of students using district computers; and restricting student access to materials that are harmful to minors.

In addition, the Board prohibits the unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding students; unauthorized online access by students, including hacking and other unlawful activities; and access by students to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web. The Superintendent or his or her designee shall establish and implement procedures that enforce these restrictions.

The computer network coordinator designated under the district’s Computer Network or Acceptable Use Policy, shall monitor and examine all district computer network activities to ensure compliance with this policy and accompanying regulation. He or she also shall be responsible for ensuring that staff and students receive training on their requirements.

All users of the district’s computer network, including access to the Internet and World Wide Web, must understand that use is a privilege, not a right, and that any such use entails responsibility. They must comply with the requirements of this policy and accompanying regulation, in addition to generally accepted rules of network etiquette, and the district’s Acceptable Use Policy. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, the revocation of computer access privileges.

Cross-ref : 4526, Computer Network for Education

Ref : Public Law No. 106-554

47 USC §254

20 USC §6801

1 st Reading 5/28/02

2 nd Reading & Adoption 6/24/02

INTERNET SAFETY POLICY REGULATION

The following rules and regulations implement the Internet Safety Policy adopted by the Board of Education to make safe for children the use of district computers for access to the Internet and World Wide Web.

I. Definitions

In accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act,

• Child pornography refers to any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture or computer or computer generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. It also includes any such visual depiction that (a) is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or (b) has been created, adapted or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or (c) is advertised, promoted, presented, described, or distributed in such a manner than conveys the impression that the material is or contains a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
• Harmful to minors means 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.

II. Blocking and Filtering Measures

• The Superintendent or his or her designee shall secure information about, and ensure the purchase or provision of, a technology protection measure that blocks access from all district computers to visual depictions on the Internet and World Wide Web that are obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors.
• The district’s computer network coordinator shall be responsible for ensuring the installation and proper use of any Internet blocking and filtering technology protection measure obtained by the district.
• The computer network coordinator or his or her designee may disable or relax the district’s Internet blocking and filtering technology measure only for adult staff members conducting research related to the discharge of their official responsibilities.

• The computer network coordinator shall monitor the online activities of adult staff members for whom the blocking and filtering technology measure has been disabled or relaxed to ensure there is not access to visual depictions that are obscene or child pornography.

III. Monitoring of Online Activities

• The district’s computer network coordinator shall be responsible for monitoring to ensure that the online activities of staff and students are consistent with the district’s Internet Safety Policy and this regulation. He or she may inspect, copy, review, and store at any time, and without prior notice, any and all usage of the district’s computer network for accessing the Internet and World Wide Web and direct electronic communications, as well as any and all information transmitted or received during such use. All users of the district’s computer network shall have no expectation of privacy regarding any such materials.
• Except as otherwise authorized under the district’s Computer Network or Acceptable Use Policy, students may use the district’s computer network to access the Internet and World Wide Web only during supervised class time, study periods or at the school library, and exclusively for research related to their course work.
• Staff supervising students using district computers shall help to monitor student online activities to ensure students access the Internet and World Wide Web, and/or participate in authorized forms of direct electronic communications in accordance with the district’s Internet Safety Policy and this regulation.
• The district’s computer network coordinator shall monitor student online activities to ensure students are not engaging in hacking (gaining or attempting to gain unauthorized access to other computers or computer systems), and other unlawful activities.

IV. Training

• The district’s computer network coordinator shall provide training to staff and students on the requirements of the Internet Safety Policy and this regulation at the beginning of each school year.
• The training of staff and students shall highlight the various activities prohibited by the Internet Safety Policy, and the responsibility of staff to monitor student online activities to ensure compliance therewith.
• Students shall be directed to consult with their classroom teacher if they are unsure whether their contemplated activities when accessing the Internet or Worldwide Web are directly related to their course work.
• Staff and students will be advised to not disclose, use and disseminate personal information about students when accessing the Internet or engaging in authorized forms of direct electronic communications.  

• Staff and students will also be informed of the range of possible consequences attendant to a violation of the Internet Safety Policy and this regulation.

V. Reporting of Violations

• Violations of the Internet Safety Policy and this regulation by students and staff shall be reported to the Building Principal.
• The Principal shall take appropriate corrective action in accordance with authorized disciplinary procedures.
• Penalties may include, but are not limited to, the revocation of computer access privileges, as well as school suspension in the case of students and disciplinary charges in the case of teachers.  

Adopted 6/24/02