Technology has fundamentally altered the ways in which information is accessed, communicated, and transferred in society. As a result, educators are continually adapting their means and methods of instruction, and the way they approach student learning, to incorporate the vast, diverse, and unique resources available through the Internet. The School Board provides Technology Resources (as defined in Bylaw 0100) to support the educational and professional needs of its students and staff. With respect to students, Corporation Technology Resources afford them the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge to learn effectively and live productively in a digital world. The Board provides students with access to the Internet for limited educational purposes only and utilizes online educational services/apps to enhance the instruction delivered to its students. The Corporation's computer network and Internet system do not serve as a public access service or a public forum, and the Board imposes reasonable restrictions on its use consistent with its limited educational purpose.

The Board regulates the use of Corporation Technology Resources by principles consistent with applicable local, State, and Federal laws, the Corporation's educational mission, and articulated expectations of student conduct as delineated in the Student Code of Conduct. This policy, its related administrative guidelines and the Student Code of Conduct govern students’ use of Corporation Technology Resources and students' personal communication devices when they are connected to the Corporation computer network, Internet connection, and/or online educational services/apps, or when used while the student is on Corporation-owned property or at a Corporation-sponsored activity (see Policy 5136).

Users are prohibited from engaging in actions that are illegal (such as libel, slander, vandalism, harassment, theft, plagiarism, inappropriate access, and the like) or unkind (such as personal attacks, invasion of privacy, injurious comment, and the like) when using Corporation Technology Resources. Because its Technology Resources are not unlimited, the Board also has instituted restrictions aimed at preserving these resources, such as placing limits on use of bandwidth, storage space, and printers.

Users have no right or expectation to privacy when using Corporation Technology Resources (including, but not limited to, privacy in the content of their personal files, e-mails, and records of their online activity when using the Corporation’s computer network and/or Internet connection).

First, the Corporation may not be able to limit access technologically, through its Technology Resources to only those services and resources that have been authorized for the purpose of instruction, study and research related to the curriculum. Unlike in the past, when educators and community members had the opportunity to review and screen materials to assess their appropriateness for supporting and enriching the curriculum according to adopted guidelines and reasonable selection criteria (taking into account the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities, and developmental levels of the students who would be exposed to them), access to the Internet, because it serves as a gateway to any publicly available file server in the world, opens classrooms and students to electronic information resources that may not have been screened by educators for use by students of various ages.

Pursuant to Federal law, the Board has implemented technology protection measures that protect against (e.g., filter or block) access to visual displays/depictions/materials that are obscene, constitute child pornography, and/or are harmful to minors, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act. At the discretion of the Board or the Superintendent, the technology protection measures may be configured to protect against access to other material considered inappropriate for students to access. The Board also utilizes software and/or hardware to monitor online activity of students to restrict access to child pornography and other material that is obscene, objectionable, inappropriate and/or harmful to minors. The technology protection measures may not be disabled at any time that students may be using the Corporation Technology Resources if such disabling will cease to protect against access to materials that are prohibited under the Children’s Internet Protection Act. Any student who attempts to disable the technology protection measures will be subject to discipline.

The Superintendent or Director of technology may temporarily or permanently unblock access to websites or online education services/apps containing appropriate material, if access to such sites has been blocked inappropriately by the technology protection measures. The determination of whether material is appropriate or inappropriate shall be based on the content of the material and the intended use of the material, not on the protection actions of the technology protection measures.

Parents/Guardians are advised that a determined user may be able to gain access to services and/or resources on the Internet that the Board has not authorized for educational purposes. In fact, it is impossible to guarantee students will not gain access through the Internet to information and communications that they and/or their parents may find inappropriate, offensive, objectionable or controversial. Parents of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using the Internet.

Pursuant to Federal law, students shall receive education about the following:

Staff members shall provide instruction for their students regarding the appropriate use of technology and online safety and security as specified above. Furthermore, staff members will monitor the online activities of students while at school.

Monitoring may include, but is not necessarily limited to, visual observations of online activities during class sessions or use of specific monitoring tools to review browser history and network, server, and computer logs.

Building principals are responsible for providing training so that Ed-Tech users under their supervision are knowledgeable about this policy and its accompanying guidelines. The Board expects that staff members will provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of Corporation Technology Resources. Such training shall include, but not be limited to, education concerning appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social media and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response. Users of Corporation Technology Resources (and their parents if they are minors) are required to sign a written agreement to abide by the terms and conditions of this policy and its accompanying guidelines.

Students are responsible for good behavior when using Corporation Technology Resources - i.e., behavior comparable to that expected of students when they are in classrooms, in school hallways, on other school premises and at school sponsored events. Communications on Education Technology are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communication apply. The Corporation does not approve any use of its Technology Resources that is not authorized by or conducted strictly in compliance with this policy and its accompanying guidelines.

Students may use Corporation Technology Resources to access or use social media only if it is done for educational purposes in accordance with their teacher’s approved plan for such use.

Users who disregard this policy and its accompanying guidelines may have their use privileges suspended or revoked, and disciplinary action taken against them. Users are personally responsible and liable both civilly and criminally, for uses of Technology Resources that are not authorized by this Policy and its accompanying guidelines.

The Board designates the Superintendent and Director of Technology as the administrator(s) responsible for initiating, implementing, and enforcing this Policy and its accompanying guidelines as they apply to students' use of Corporation Technology Resources.

P.L. 106-554 (2000), Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000
47 U.S.C. 254(h), (1), Communications Act of 1934, as amended (2003)
18 U.S.C. 1460
18 U.S.C. 2246
18 U.S.C. 2256
20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq., Part F, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (2003)
20 U.S.C. 6777, 9134 (2003)
47 C.F.R. 54.500 - 54.523

Revised 10/23/12
Revised 5/15/18