Acceptable+Use+Policy

// for Exploring Your School's Acceptable Use Policy and Internet Safety Policy //
 * A Scavenger Hunt **

Having an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) may not be enough. Regular revision and updating is an important and necessary process to ensure the AUP is comprehensive in its coverage. Collaborative online tools and social interaction are common today and policies need to address social networking, cell phones, and more. It is important for school policies to reflect this world of interactivity.

Taking a defining stance isn't always as easy as it appears. Revising and updating an AUP should be about **more** than what a student should NOT do. Instead, the vision for how Internet technologies **should** be used needs to be considered and facilitated.

Let's go on a Scavenger Hunt to see how the following items [ in red text ] are addressed in your policies.


 * 1.** **INTERNET SAFETY POLICY**

Schools and libraries are ** required to certify ** that they have in place certain Internet Safety policies, pursuant to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), 47 U.S.C. 254(h) and (i), in order to receive E-rate discounts for Internet access.


 * Update ** the Internet Safety Policy to include plans for
 * ** Educating minors ** about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking Web sites and in chat rooms.
 * ** Cyberbullying awareness and response **
 * As of March 3, 2010, the SBE requires principals to report to law enforcement ALL CRIMINAL OFFENSES that have occurred on school property. Offenses involving sexual assault, sexual offense, or indecent liberties with a minor MUST BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY to law enforcement and to the superintendent’s office THE NEXT DAY.” G.S. 115C-288(g)


 * The Internet Safety policy should //already// address:**
 * Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and the Web ;
 * //inappropriate matter//: definition is to be made by the school or library board or administration (Is it defined in your policy?)
 * //minor//: any person less than 17 years of age
 * The safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
 * Unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors online;
 * Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors; and
 * Measures designed to restrict minors’ access to materials harmful to minors.

BASIC Requirement of CIPA: Schools and libraries are **required** to have some type of filter or blocking technology [TPM: Technology Protection Measure] on all of its computers with Internet access – regardless of location. The filters must protect against access to visual depictions that are:
 * 2.** **TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION MEASURE** //(filter)//
 * Obscene
 * Defined as child pornography
 * Harmful to minors
 * Any content deemed //inappropriate for minors// by local standards
 * … and must include the monitoring of the online activities of minors. (This monitoring provision does not apply to //public libraries//.)

The filter may be disabled. ..
 * For ADULTS engaged in bona fide research or other lawful purpose. There is no such disabling provision for minors.
 * Frequent requests for disabling do not need to be time consuming for the staff to administer, technologically difficult, or costly. Procedures to streamline the process can be created and posted in every classroom.


 * 3. PUBLIC MEETING**
 * Schools must also hold a public meeting, before which reasonable notice is provided, to review the policy.

=**RECOMMENDATIONS**= School boards would be well advised to address Internet use and TPM unblocking/disabling procedures for “patrons” in the policy, which may allow members of the general public to use the schools’ Internet access during non-operating hours.

It is possible that a parent, student, staff member, or patron could initiate a complaint with the FCC, which would prompt an investigation. Under CIPA, the FCC can require a school or library to reimburse its E-rate discounts for any period of time it was out of compliance. However, a legal determination can only be done as part of a formal court procedure following legal standards, such as those established by the Supreme Court in Miller v. California. Include in your policy a procedure for addressing complaints.

=**QUESTIONS**= >> >> Thanks, >> Bryan Strauch >> Networking Specialist >> Media and Technology >> Harnett County Schools" >>
 * 1) When was the current policy last revised?
 * 2) What grade would you give the policy? (A, B, C, D, E, or F?)
 * 3) How does your "Tech" department respond to requests for unblocking sites? Is the response antagonistic or does it promote understanding and awareness? How does it measure up to this technician's response?
 * "Unfortunately, dictionary.com uses an ad service that displays inappropriate images. With no way to block embedded ads at the network level, we had no choice but to block dictionary.com. Sorry for the inconvenience this may cause everyone. Here are some great alternatives:
 * http://www.merriam-webster.com/
 * http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
 * http://www.google.com/dictionary
 * K-8 instructional computers (Macs) have a built in dictionary app.

= =
 * Source for Scavenger Hunt List:** Digital Learning Environments Series, Vol. 1, No. 1, by NCDPI: Instructional Technology and Connectivity Services, //“A Brief on Internet Safety and E-rate Compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA)”// / May, 2010


 * Schools and districts should consult council familiar with FCC rules and judicial interpretation regarding CIPA in order to craft appropriate policy and procedure related to //Internet Safety policy// and //Technology Protection Measure// (TPM) requirements.