Internet – Terms and Conditions

1.    Acceptable use  - The purpose of the internet is to support research and education in and among academic institutions in the U. S. by providing access to unique resources and the opportunity for collaborative work. Internet use must be in support of educational endeavors and research consistent with the objectives of the County School System. Transmission of any material in violation of any federal or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene materials, inappropriate adult sites, or material protected by trade use. Use for commercial activities is not acceptable. Use for product advertisement or political lobbying is prohibited.  Attempts to obtain access to restricted sites, servers, files, and databases are prohibited.  Unauthorized access to sites (e.g.. “hacking”) is prohibited.  Use of Internet games, MUDS (Multi User Dungeons), and IRCs (Internet Relay Chats) is not allowed.

• Acceptable Use Policy and Internet Safety Consent Form:

As a parent or legal guardian of,  ______________ , I have read and understand the Acceptable Use Policy and I agree to the following:

(Please initial where appropriate) 

______________    As the parent or legal guardian of the student named above, I grant permission for my son or daughter to access use a school computer or network software provided by the County School Board. 

______________ As the parent or legal guardian of the student named above, I grant permission for my son or daughter to access Internet services provided by the County School Board. 

______________ As a parent or legal guardian of the student named above, I grant permission for my son or daughter’s photo without identifying name or caption to appear on the any district, school, or teacher website connected with the County School Board. 

______________ As a parent or legal guardian of the student named above, I grant permission for my son or daughter’s written/visual school work to be published without identifying name or caption to appear on the any district, school, or teacher website connected with the County School Board. 

______________ As a parent or legal guardian of the student named above, I grant for my son or daughter’s voice to be used in school/class podcasts (audio recordings) without identifying name or caption to appear on the any district, school, or teacher website connected with the County School Board. 

______________ As a parent or legal guardian of the student named above, I grant for my son or daughter’s video images to be used in videos  without identifying name or caption to appear on the any district, school, or teacher website connected with the County School Board. 

_________________As the parent or guardian of this student, I have read the Acceptable Conduct and Use Agreement.  I understand that computer access is provided for educational purposes in keeping with the academic goals of County School System, and that student use for any other purpose is inappropriate.  I recognize it is impossible for County School System to restrict access to all controversial materials, and I will not hold the school/County School System responsible for materials acquired on the school network.  I understand that children's computer activities at home should be supervised as they can affect the academic environment at school. 

I hereby give permission for my child to use computer resources.

Child's Name (Please Print):      _____________________________________________

Child's School:              __________________________________________________ 

Parent phone number:   __________________________________________________

Parent email address : __________________________________________________

Student Signature:         __________________________________________________

Parent (Guardian) Signature: __________________________________________________

Here are our school policies for publishing your child’s work:

•         Students will only be identified by first name and last initial. In most cases, names will not be included with pictures.

•         Students work is copyright protected and will be identified as subject to copyright on the Website or Webpage

To use the internet, you must agree to the following statements.

•     Treat computers gently and take care of them.
•     Do not share personal information online. Don't share passwords with others, online or in person.
•     Work on building a community, try to help and support others. If you don't have something nice to say, you shouldn't say it.
•     Use language, spelling, and grammar appropriate (correct) for school.
•    Go only to online sites you are sent to. Always check before going somewhere that is not on a list of links from your teacher.
•     If you change someone else's work (like on a wiki) make sure it's to improve the work, not to be mean or take revenge.
•     Get educated, get learning, but have fun while you're doing it.

I recognize that breaking any of these rules could lead to any of the following consequences depending on severity and repetition:

•       warning
•       deletion of some or all of your work
•       temporary loss of computer privileges
•       detention or/and suspension
•       permanent loss of internet or blogging privileges

I further recognize that the class website is considered a virtual extension of our classrooms, and therefore all school, district, and US federal Rules and Regulations apply. I am aware that violation of any of these rules may be referred to the School Administration.


Student Signature:  _____________________________________________________


Student Name (print):  ___________________________________________________

Parent Signature:

___________________________________________________                                                                      

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)/Permission to Publish on the Internet
2007-2008
Oak Ridge Elementary, SCUSD

http://westsideleadershipteam.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/AcceptableUsePolicy.doc

Portions adapted from (http://www.woodward.edu/students/policie_agreement.asp)

2.    Privileges - The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in cancellation of those privileges. Students will have access privileges only at school under the supervision of a teacher. The system administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and their decision is final.  There is no appeal process. Also, the system administrators may deny access at any time, as required. An administrator, faculty member or staff member of the County System may request denial, revocation, or suspension of a specific user.

3.    Guidelines for Use - The following guidelines shall be observed when using the Internet service through the school:

• Users shall be polite, courteous and respectful during all sessions on the Internet, including use of e-mail. Users must use appropriate language. 

• Profanity, obscenity or any vulgarity is prohibited.

• Electronic mail (e-mail) and telecommunications are not to be utilized to share confidential information about students and other employees.

• Electronic Mail is NOT private, and inappropriate or illegal messages will be reported to the authorities.

• Illegal activities are strictly prohibited.

• The disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information such as mailing address, phone number, or social security number, etc. is prohibited.       

• Do not use the network in a manner that disrupts the use of the network by other users.

• All communications and information accessible via the Internet should be assumed to be subject to copyright law.

• All passwords are private.  Students will not allow others to use their user name/password, or try to use those of others.

• Students are expected to use email and other means of communications (i.e., blogs, wikis, chat, instant-messaging, discussion boards, etc.) responsibly. 

• Students will not use computers, cell phones, personal digital devices, or the Internet to send or post hate or harassing mail, make discriminatory or degrogatory remarks about others, or engage in bullying, harassment, or other antisocial behaviors either at school or home. 

• Masquerading, spoofing, or pretending to be someone else is forbidden.  This includes, but is not limited to, sending out email, creating accounts, or posting messages or other online content (e.g. text, images, audio or video) in someone else's name as a joke.

• Students will not retrieve, save, or display hate-based, offensive or sexually explicit material using any of the County School System's computer resources or networks.  Students are responsible for not pursuing material that could be considered offensive.  Students are to notify an adult immediately if by accident they encounter materials which violate appropriate use. 

• Students understand that they are representatives for/of the County School System in all of their online activities.  Students understand that what they do on social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook should not reflect negatively on their fellow students, teachers, administrators, or on the County School System.  Students understand that they will be held responsible for how they represent themselves and their school system on the Internet. 

• Students will use County School System technology resources productively and responsibly for school-related purposes.  Students will not use any technology resource in such a way that would disrupt the activities of other users.

• Students will not attempt to bypass security setting or Internet filters, or interfere with the operation of the network by installing illegal software, shareware, or freeware on school system computers.

• Students understand that vandalism is prohibited.  This includes but is not limited to modifying or destroying equipment, programs, files, or settings on any computer or other technology resource.

• Students will respect the intellectual property of other users and information providers.  Students will obey copyright guidelines.  Students will not plagiarize or use others' work without proper citation and permission.

• Students will not use or access files, software, or other resources owned by others without the owner's permission.  Students will only use those school network directories that are designated for student use or for the purpose designated by my teacher.

• Students will follow all guidelines set forth by the County School System and/or their teachers when publishing schoolwork online (e.g. to a website, blog, wiki, discussion board, podcasting or video server).

• Students understand the Internet is a source for information that is both true and false; and that the County School System is not responsible for inaccurate information obtained from the Internet. 

• Students understand County School System administrators will deem what conduct is inappropriate use if such conduct is not specified here.

• Student agree to abide by all Internet safety guideliens that are provided by the County School System and to complete all assignments related to Internet safety.  (Adapted from http://www.woodward.edu/students/policie_agreement.asp) 

4.    The County School System makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the Internet service it provides. The school system is not responsible for any damages suffered by users. This includes the loss of data resulting from delays, nondeliveries, misdeliveries, or service interruptions caused for any reason. Use of information obtained is at the user’s risk. The school system specifically denies responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its Internet service.

5.    Commercial services are available on the Internet. Though prohibited, if a user chooses to access these services, the individual is liable for any and all incurred cost.

6.    Security - Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. If you suspect a security problem on the Internet, you are required to notify the principal or system administrator.  Do not demonstrate the problem to other users. Never use another individual’s account. Attempts to log on to the Internet, as a network administrator will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user(s) identified as a security risk or having a history or problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the Internet.

7.    Vandalism - Vandalism will result in immediate cancellation of privileges, disciplinary action, and may result in school suspension. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy computerized data of another user, on the Internet, or on other networks that are connected to any other network. This includes, but is not limited to, uploading or creation of computer viruses.

8.    Accountability -  Since the Internet opens up the world to unrestricted access, teachers cannot assume the responsibility for monitoring every document to which a student may gain access. Therefore, teachers are not to be held accountable for what the student may access through the Internet beyond instructional directives. All users are fully responsible for their own actions, including legal, financial, or otherwise. All users are responsible for reporting inappropriate materials and location to the teacher in charge immediately.

9.     Enforcement  - Violating any of the guidelines can result in:

• Restricted access to computing.

• Temporary or permanent loss of access to computing facilities and equipment.

• Disciplinary action to include suspension and/or expulsion.

• Disciplinary or legal action including, but not limited to, criminal prosecution under appropriate state and federal laws.  Violations of state law will be reported to proper enforcement authorities.

• County School System’s internal procedures for enforcement of its  policies are independent of possible prosecution under the law.

• Users who damage hardware or software shall be responsible for the replacement cost. 

10.    Procedure for Use -  Faculty and staff will provide supervision of student access to the Internet.  Users will be required to obtain permission from a teacher before using the Internet.  Any computer that provides access to the Internet will have filtering software installed to block or filter access to content that is obscene, pornographic, or harmful to minors on internet-connected computers used by minors.  All students must read and sign the Student Agreement form.  Parents or guardians must sign the Parent Consent form and return it to the school. 

Information taken from https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/ePolicy/policy.aspx?PC=IFBG&Sch=4113&S=4113&RevNo=1.11&C=I&Z=P

11.    Internet Safety -  The Superintendent shall, with respect to any computers belonging to the County School System and having access to the Internet: 

• Insure that a qualifying “technology protection measure,” as that term is defined in section 1703 (b)(1) of the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000, is installed and in continuous operation; and

• Institute, maintain and enforce procedures or guidelines which provide for monitoring the online activities of users and the use of the chosen technology protection measure to prevent access to visual depictions that are (i) obscene, (ii) child pornography, or (iii) “harmful to minors,” as that term is defined in section 1721(c) of the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000.  Despite every effort for supervision and filtering, all users and their parents/guardians are advised that access to the electronic network may include the potential for access to materials inappropriate for school-aged students.  Every user must take responsibility for his or her use of the network and Internet and avoid these sites.

• Personal Safety.  In using the network and Internet, users should not reveal personal information such as home address or telephone number. Users should never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone “met” on the Internet without a parent’s permission.

• Confidentiality of Student Information. Personally identifiable information concerning students may not be disclosed or used in any way on the Internet without the permission of a parent or guardian. Users should never give out private or confidential information about themselves or others on the Internet.   

•  Active Restriction Measures.  The District will utilize filtering software or other technologies to prevent students from accessing visual depictions that are (1) obscene, (2) pornographic, or (3) harmful to minors. The use of anonymous proxies to get around the content filter is strictly prohibited and will be considered a violation of this policy. The school will also monitor the online activities of students, through direct observation and/or technological means.  (www.fpsb.us/AUP-0708.doc). Therefore,  

1. Personal information such as complete names, addresses, telephone numbers and identifiable photos should remain confidential when communicating on the system. Students should never reveal such information without permission from their teacher and parent or guardian. No user may disclose, use, or disseminate personal identification information regarding minors without authorization.
2. Students should never make appointments to meet people in person whom they have contacted on the system without district and parent permission.
3. Students should notify their teacher or other adult whenever they come across information or messages they deem dangerous or inappropriate on the web or when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications (i.e. Instant Message services). http://www.k12.wa.us/K-20/AUPSafety.asp
4. Students must understand that people are not always who they say they are. They should never give out personal information without an adult’s permission, especially if it conveys where they can be found at a particular time. They should understand that predators are always present on the Internet.
   
5. Students should recognize the various forms of cyberbullying and know what steps to take if confronted with that behavior http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Technology/OET/internet-safety-guidelines-resources.pdf and http://teachdigital.pbwiki.com/cyberbullying

The Superintendent shall, with respect to access to the Internet by or through computers, networks or other devices belonging to the County School System, institute, maintain and enforce procedures or guidelines which:

• provide for monitoring the online activities of users to limit, to the extent practicable, access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and the World Wide Web;

• are designed to promote the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, and other forms of direct electronic communications;

• are designed to prevent unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking”, and other unauthorized activities by minors online;

• are designed to prevent the unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors; and

• are designed to restrict minors’ access to materials “harmful to minors,” as that term is defined in section 1721(c) of the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000.
  Information taken from https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/ePolicy/policy.aspx?PC=IFBG&Sch=4113&S=4113&RevNo=1.11&C=I&Z=P

12.     Cyberbullying- The Board of Education strives to provide a safe, positive learning environment for students in the schools. Therefore, it shall  be the policy of the County School District to maintain an educational environment in which bullying and cyberbullying in any form are not tolerated.

         1a.  All forms of bullying and cyberbullying by school district students are hereby prohibited.  Anyone who engages in violation of this Policy shall be subject                 to appropriate discipline.
        1b.   Students who have been bullied or cyberbullied shall promptly report such incidents to any staff member.
        1c.  Complaints of bullying or cyberbullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when a complaint is verified.  Neither reprisals nor                 retaliation shall occur as a result of the submission of a complaint.
        1d.  The County School District shall annually inform students that bullying and cyberbullying of students will not be tolerated. 

        2a.  Cyberbullying includes, but is not limited to, the following misuses of technology:  harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening, or terrorizing another student or                 staff member by way of any technological tool, such as sending or posting inappropriate or derogatory email messages, instant messages, text messages, digital images or                 pictures, or website postings (including blogs) which has the effect of: (1) physically, emotionally, or mentally harming a student; (2) placing a student in reasonable fear of                 physical, emotional, or mental harm; (3)  placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property; or (4) creating an intimidating or hostile environment                 that substantially interferes with a student's educational opportunities. 

        2b.  All forms of bullying are unacceptable and, to the extent that such actions are disruptive of the educational process of the School District, offenders shall be                 subject to appropriate staff intervention, which may result in administrative discipline. The terms "bullying" and "cyberbullying" shall not be interpreted to infringe upon a                 student's right to engage in legally protected speech or conduct.

        3.  Delegation of responsibility

        3a.  Each staff member shall be responsible to maintain an educational environment free of bullying and cyberbullying. 

        3b.  Each student shall be responsible to respect the rights of his/her fellow students and to ensure an atmosphere free from all forms of bullying and cyberbullying.

        3c.  Students shall be encouraged to report bullying or cyberbullying complaints to any staff member.

        3d.  Any staff member who receives a bullying or cyberbullying complaint shall gather information or seek administrative assistance to determine if bullying or cyberbullying                has occurred.  If the behavior is found to meet the definition of bullying or cyberbullying, the building principal must complete the appropriate written documentation.

        3e.  The building principal or his/her designee will inform the parents or guardians of the victim and also the parents or guardians of the accused.

        4.  Complaint Procedure

        4a.  A student shall report a complaint of bullying or cyberbullying, orally or in writing, to a staff member. If a parent initiates a complaint, the appropriate staff member will             follow up with the student.

        4b.  The staff member will either gather the information or seek administrative assistance to determine if the alleged bullying or cyberbullying  conduct occurred.

        4c.  After the information has been gathered, the building principal shall be notified of the complaint.  The building principal will determine the need for further investigation or                     the appropriate intervention, which may result in administrative discipline to ensure that the conduct ceases. If the behavior is found to meet the definition of                 bullying or cyberbullying, the building principal must complete the appropriate written documentation.

        5.  A violation of this policy shall subject the offending student to appropriate disciplinary action, consistent with the student discipline  code, which may include loss of             privileges, detention, community service, making restitution, suspension, expulsion, or notification to the appropriate             authorities (http://www.warwick.k12.pa.us/orgmodule.php?deptid=107&schoolid=0007&mid=248);  http://www.teachersatrisk.com/tag/cyber-bullying

        6.  When using electronic resources students must demonstrate appropriate on-line conduct/manners and refrain from improper/unethical  use of technology, including             computer hacking. Internet use for any purpose which is contrary to the school’s Code of Conduct is strictly  prohibited. This includes all forms of violence, threats and              harassment directed at the students, teachers, staff, or school. This applies to school, work and home Internet use.              (http://www.teachersatrisk.com/tag/cyber-bullying/)

 
13.    Parental Notification and Responsibility -

        a)     As appropriate, the County School System will provide students and parents with guidelines and instructions for student safety while using the Internet.

        b)      The County School System Internet Acceptable Use Policy contains restrictions on accessing inappropriate material and student use generally will be supervised. However,             there is a wide range of material available on the Internet, some of which may or may not fit the  particular values of the students. It is not practically possible for the County             School System to monitor and enforce a wide range of social values in student use of the Internet. Further, the County School System recognizes that parents bear primary             responsibility for transmitting their particular set of family values to their children. The County School System will encourage parents to specify to their child(ren) what material             is  and is not acceptable for their child(ren) to access through the Department system.

        c)      If the County School System provides home Internet access, parents are exclusively responsible for monitoring their own and their child(ren)'s use of the Internet if they             access the system from home.  Filtering may or may not be employed to screen home access to the Internet. Parents should inquire with the school or district.

A) Personal Safety Violations For Students:

        i)    Student users will not post or transmit photographs or personal contact information about themselves or other people without prior written parental consent from the parent               of the student whose information is being posted.  Such consent must be delivered to  the child’s teacher or principal.  Personal contact information includes, but is not                              limited to,  home address, telephone number, schoolname, school address and classroom.  

        ii)      Student users will not agree to meet with someone they have met online without their parent's approval and participation.

        iii)     Student users will promptly disclose to their teacher or other school employee any message they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.         (http://schools.nyc.gov/Administration/Offices/FinanceandAdministration/DIIT/Departments/WebServices/iaup/default.htm#person_saf )

14.    Privacy - Network and Internet access is provided as a tool for your education. The County School System reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review and store at any time and without prior notice any and all usage of the computer network and Internet access and any and all information transmitted or received in connection with such usage.  All such information files shall be and remain the property of the District and no user shall have any expectation of privacy regarding such materials.

•    Student Photos/Student Work. Publishing student pictures and work on websites promotes learning, collaboration and provides an opportunity to share the achievements of students. Images and products of K-12 students may be included on the website without identifying captions or names. Parents/guardians must indicate their written consent to publish their child’s photo or school work on any school related website before the item is published to the web. Please note that under no circumstances will K-12 student photos or work be identified with first and last name on a District website, including the district, school, or teacher website. www.fpsb.us/AUP-0708.doc

Student Acceptance of Terms and Conditions for Computer/Internet Usages

Students must abide by the Terms and Conditions for Internet/ Computer usage, which may include email accounts in some schools.  Any violation of the regulations above is unethical and may constitute a criminal offense. Violations may result in revocations of privileges, school disciplinary action and/or initiation of appropriate legal action. If you have any doubt about whether a contemplated activity is educational, you may consult with the person(s) designated by the school to help you decide. Accordingly, regulations for participation by anyone on the Internet shall include by not be limited to the following:
1.  All users must abide by rules of Network etiquette – Netiquette, including the following:
        •   Be polite. Use appropriate language and graphics. No swearing, vulgarities, suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or threatening language.
        •   Avoid language and/or graphic representations which may be offensive to other users.  Don’t use network or Internet access to make, distribute, or redistribute jokes, stories,             or other material which is based on slurs or stereotypes relating to race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.
        •   Do not assume that a sender of e-mail is giving his or her permission for you to forward or redistribute the message to third parties or to give his/her e-mail address to third parties. This should only be done with permission or when you know that the individual would have no objection.
2. Teachers may allow individual students to use email, electronic chat rooms, instant messaging, social networking sites (i.e., Facebook and MySpace) and other forms of direct electronic communications for educational purposes only and with proper supervision. Proper supervision shall include the teachers having the documentation of the students’ username and password on file and being able to monitor the account. This includes the use of student personal email accounts and personal social networking sites in the school environment. If a student uses his/her personal email account or accesses his/her social networking site on a school computer, the teacher must monitor all communications and have access to the students username and password or such account. In addition, if student personal accounts are access through the County School System network/Internet, the profile for student personal accounts must not contain identifiable information such as last name or address of student.
3. No personal addresses, personal phone numbers, or last names of students will be permitted to be given out on the Internet. No identifiable photographs will be allowed to be published on the Internet without appropriate written consent. Concerning a student, appropriate written consent means a signature by a parent or legal guardian of the student.
4. A student may not attempt to access any Internet resource without the prior consent of the teacher. The Internet is an extension of the classroom and teachers are responsible for and must be aware of where his/her student goes on the Internet. www.fpsb.us/AUP-0708.doc

• Computer use and Internet use should be for academic work only; general surfing or the visitation of inappropriate sites are not permitted.
• Students may not download audio or video files that are not educational or related to an academic assignment.
• Email, chat rooms, and instant messaging are not permitted.
• School Media Center computers are monitored with NetSupport software.  Students who violate the AU policy in the media center may be asked to leave the library and/or be subject to disciplinary action depending on the offense.  Please use media center computers for academic work only so that everyone has access to our technology resources. 

       http://webtech.cherokee.k12.ga.us/creekview-hs/MediaCenter/default.htm

Acceptable Use of New Web Tools
Online communication is critical to our students’ learning of 21st Century Skills and tools such as blogging and podcasting offer an authentic, real-world vehicle for student expression. Again, as educators, our primary responsibility to students is their safety. Hence, expectations for classroom blog, student protected e-mail, podcast projects or other Web interactive use must follow all established Internet safety guidelines.

Student and staff use of district technology, computing and network resources must be in accordance with the educational and operational needs and objectives of the school system.  This includes, but is not limited to, chat areas, instant messaging services, news groups, blogs, podcasts, RSS feeds, wikis, or other communication methods that are explicitly allowed by the internet filtering system shall be permitted when used in conjunction with the curricular, educational or operational needs of staff and students. Many blog and wiki sites are not educationally sound and/or appropriate for use in an educational setting; however many of these sites can be used safely and can enhance instruction.  

The County School System technical support department blocks many blog and wiki internet sites to shield students from profanity, pornography and other potentially harmful content. However, teachers can still request that a blog or wiki site be opened through their school library media specialist. The school library media specialist will then submit a work request to the district technology department. The request will go before a committee and a decision will be made. At times teachers may want to use a blog or wiki for educational and classroom purposes. This is encouraged and teachers can contact tech support, through their school technology representative, and have one set up on a district server.  

Blogging/Podcasting Terms and Conditions:
    •   The use of blogs, podcasts or other web 2.0 tools are considered an extension of your classroom. Therefore, any speech that is considered inappropriate in the classroom is         also inappropriate in all uses of blogs, podcasts, or other web 2.0 tools. This includes but is not limited to profanity; racist, sexist or discriminatory remarks.
    •   Students using blogs, podcasts or other web tools are expected to act safely by keeping ALL personal information out of their posts.
    •   A student should NEVER post personal information on the web (including, but not limited to, last names, personal details including  address or phone numbers or photographs). Do         not, under any circumstances, agree to meet someone you have met over the Internet.
    •   Any personal blog a student creates in class is directly linked to the class blog which is typically linked to the student profile, and therefore must follow these blogging guidelines.

In  addition to following the information above about not sharing too much personal information (in the profile or in any posts/comments made), students need to realize.

that anywhere they use that login it links back to the  class blog. Therefore, anywhere that login is used (posting to a separate personal blog, commenting on someone else's blog, etc.),  the account should be treated the same as a school blog and follow these guidelines. Comments made on blogs should be monitored and - if   they are inappropriate – deleted.
    •   Never link to web sites from your blog or blog comment without reading the entire article to make sure it is appropriate for a school setting.
    •   Students using such tools agree to not share their user name or password with anyone besides their teachers and parents and treat blogspaces as classroom spaces. Speech that         is inappropriate for class is also inappropriate for a blog.
    •   Students who do not abide by these terms and conditions may lose their opportunity to take part in the project and/or be subject to consequences appropriate to misuse. (Franklin Parish School Board)

Internet Filtering

The County School System is using Internet filtering technology to block or filter access to content that is obscene, pornographic, or harmful to minors on internet-connected computers used by minors.  Parents are notified that filtering technology does not block access to all inappropriate sites one hundred percent of the time. Due to the nature of the Internet, it is neither practical nor possible for the Board of Education to enforce compliance with user rules at all times. Accordingly, parents and students must recognize that students will be required to make independent decisions and use good judgment in their use of the Internet. Therefore, parents must participate in the decision whether to allow their children access to the Internet and must communicate their own expectations to their children regarding its use.

Parents/guardians must be provided a copy of the Terms and Conditions for Computer/Internet use.  Internet access is designed for educational purposes and student access will be monitored.  Any conduct by a student that is in conflict with these responsibilities is inappropriate, and such behavior may result in the termination of Internet access and possible disciplinary action. The Board makes no assurance of any kind, whether expressed or implied, regarding any Internet services provided. The school system or individual schools in the system will not be responsible for any damages the student/user suffers. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the student’s own risk. The school system specifically denies any responsibilities for the accuracy of quality of information or software obtained through its services. Further, parents/guardians must agree to compensate the school unit for any expenses or costs it incurs as a result of their child’s violation of the internet/computer usage agreement.

A parent or guardian must give permission for their child to access the Internet for educational purposes.

What Internet Content Does the School System Block?

Examples of Content Blocked by the NPS Internet Filter:

• Sites offering pornographic, sexual, or adult-only content which is inappropriate for minors and violates Children Internet Protection Act
• Open image/photo/video hosts offering content inappropriate for minors
• Sites promoting cheating, illegal drugs & paraphernalia, and other illegal activities
• Hacking/cracking/phreaking sites encourage violation of laws and/or district policies
• Proxy/circumventor/bypass sites which allow viewing of blocked sites
• Web page translation and caching sites which allow viewing of blocked sites
• Sites promoting hate, discrimination, violence, terrorism, bomb-making, and inappropriate use of weapons
• Social networking and open blog sites encourage students to share personal info (which violates district policy), may contain inappropriate images, and probably waste valuable computer time needed by other students for their studies (although wasting time is not sufficient for blocking a site in absence of other issues)

No Internet filtering policy will please everyone. We will continue to do our best to balance the educational needs of our educators and students of all ages with the protection and privacy concerns of our parents, administrators, and regulatory agencies.

Blocking a Web Domain or Web Page

County School System does not have sufficient staff to monitor the Internet for the ever-growing list of inappropriate sites. If you discover a web domain or web page that should be blocked then please send an email to one of the contact person(s) listed at the bottom of this web page which contains:

• Your name
• Your campus or site
• The web domain or web page you believe should be blocked
• The reason(s) why you believe it should be blocked (hint: see Examples above)

Some web sites are unintentionally blocked by generalized filtering rules that make our Internet filter faster and more proactive. If you believe a web page which is currently blocked by the CSS Internet filter should be unblocked then please send an email to one of the contact person(s) listed at the bottom of this web page which contains all of the following information:

• Your name
• Your campus or site
• The web domain or web page you believe should be unblocked
• A statement explaining why you believe unblocking this site...
  1. will not allow inappropriate Internet content into our district,
  2. does not violate the Children's Internet Protection Act, and
  3. will not jeopardize our district funding.

Please note: For security reasons requests to block/unblock web domains or web pages should be submitted from in-district CSS staff email accounts. Questions, comments, or complaints about the Internet filter or filtering policy may be directed to the contact person(s) listed at the bottom of this web page.  Information taken from: http://www.norman.k12.ok.us/002/lib/internet.php#CIPA

Internet Use Faculty Acceptance of Terms and Conditions:

Faculty and staff members must abide by the Terms and Conditions for Internet/Computer usage, including electronic mail (e-mail), as listed in this policy.  Any violation of the regulations listed in this policy may be unethical, a breach of The Code of Ethics for Educators, and may constitute a criminal offense. A violation may result in access privileges being revoked, disciplinary action being taken and/or appropriate legal action being initiated.  Faculty and staff members are responsible for instructing and monitoring students on acceptable use of the Internet and computers.

Web Page Policy 

The availability of Internet access in schools provides an opportunity for students and staff to contribute to the school district’s presence on the World Wide Web.The district’s Web sites provide information to the world about school curriculum,instruction, school-authorized activities, and other general information relating to our schools and our district’s mission. Internet access for the creation of Web pages is provided by the district’s Computer Services staff. Creators of Web pages need to familiarize themselves with and adhere to the following policies and responsibilities. Failure to follow these policies or responsibilities may result in the loss of authoring privileges or other more stringent disciplinary measures.
    • Subject Matter 

        All subject matter on Web pages should relate to curriculum, instruction, school authorized activities, general information that is appropriate and of interest to others, or it should     relate to the school district, or the schools within the district. Therefore, neither staff nor students may publish personal home pages as part of the district Web sites, or home pages     for other individuals or organizations not directly affiliated with the County School System or the Community Access Network. Staff or student work may be published only as it     relates to a class project, course, or other school-related activity.

    • Quality 

        All Web page work must be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Documents may not contain objectionable material or point (link) directly to objectionable material.     Objectionable material is defined as material that does not meet the standards for instructional resources specified in the district’s Selection Policy.  Regarding the question of quality     or propriety of Web page material, appearance, or content, the judgment of the Web Specialist, building or district administrators will prevail.

    • Ownership and Retention 

    All Web pages on the district’s server(s) are property of the school district. Web pages will be deleted when a student graduates or moves, unless prior arrangements have been     made with the Web Specialist.

    • Student Safeguards 

    1. Documents may not include a student’s phone number or address.

    2. Published e-mail addresses are restricted to staff members or to a general group e-mail address where arriving e-mail is forwarded to a staff member.

    3. Decisions on publishing student pictures (video or still) and audio clips are based on the building Web Committee’s judgment. The committee must first check with the school office     or the district’s Public Information Coordinator to determine if the student’s parents/guardians have objected to such publication through the regular Data Privacy restriction     process.

 
Copyright
A copyright is the bundle of exclusive rights granted to the creator of an original work of authorship that has been fixed in a tangible medium.

Several of the images found online are considered to be in the public domain. Though you may not need to ask permission to use them when publishing on the Web for educational purposes, you still must cite these images unless otherwise notified! If you see any copyright notices on the pages, read them for further instructions.
http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/cfimages.html

Rationale                                                                                                                                                 
We at the County School  System understand and value the concept of intellectual property. Therefore, we strive to teach students the ethic of responsibly documenting the ideas of others in all formats. To do so, we believe that we must not only teach the ethics and mechanics of documentation, but we must also hold students accountable for the ethical use of the ideas and words of others.  

Plagiarism, in any form, is unacceptable.

• Intentional plagiarism is an unethical choice; the student knowingly submits someone else's words or ideas as if they were his/her own.
• Indicators of unintentional plagiarism are lack of or imprecision in documentation and/or inattention to format issues.

Internet (use in multimedia projects)

Care should be used in downloading material from Internet sites for use in multimedia presentations. Students should be aware that some copyrighted works have been posted to the Internet without authorization of the copyright holder.

Integrity of the copyrighted work: alterations

Educators and students may make alterations in the portions of the copyrighted works used in an academic multimedia project only if the alterations support specific instructional objectives. All alterations must be noted.

Permission is required:

• For multimedia projects used for non-educational or commercial purposes
• For duplication or distribution of multimedia projects beyond limitations outlined above (posting on the Web, for example)
• When distributing the project over an electronic network

Publishing on the Web

The Fair Use Guidelines do not extend to Web publishing. They end when the creator of the multimedia project loses control of his product's use, such as when it is accessed by others over the Internet. Students may choose to search for images in databases that are within the public domain. A list of such sites is located here. Students should take steps to obtain permission for all copyrighted portions of a Web product, unless it is very clearly noted that these materials are in the public domain and available for free use. Requests for permission should begin while the project is being developed.

Here's a template of a letter you might mail or email requesting permission to use copyrighted work.

http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/guidelines.html

Works of original authorship that are fixed in a tangible medium qualify for copyright protection, including:

• Literature, poetry and other literary works

• Musical compositions, lyrics and sound recording

• Newspaper and Magazine articles

• Plays and musicals

• Dance choreography

• Artistic works: pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works

• Films and television programs

• Architectural plans

• Computer programs

• Website content

• Databases and other compilations and collections

Under the Copyright Act, typically the person who creates a work is the copyright owner and as such is the beneficiary of the exclusive rights of copyright. There are two exceptions to this: (1) where an employee creates a copyrighted work in the course of his/her employment, the owner is that person employer, and (2) where there exists a written agreement between an employer and a contractor specifically to create any of the following works, the copyright in that work will be owned by the employer:

• contributions to a collective work

• parts of a motion picture or other audiovisual work

• translations

• supplementary works (e.g., after-words and forewords to books)

• compilations

• instructional texts

• tests, and answer materials for tests

• atlases

When a work is created by multiple creators the work is jointly owned by those creators unless there is a written agreement that delineates a different ownership structure.
http://www.copyrightalliance.org/content.php?id=12

Use of Personally Owned Devices

Our system offers wireless Internet access for personally owned devices (POD) in our buildings.  The PODNet network operates alongside the already functioning wireless network and allows anyone with a wireless device (laptop, Palm, iPhone--anything with 802.11 a/b/g to access the Internet in our schools. This Internet access will operate Monday through Friday with the same Internet filter that school devices currently use.  The only difference between the two networks is that the school network (which our school district devices use) allows access to our file servers and printers, PODNet provides Internet access only.
 

Each time someone accesses PodNet, they will have to agree to the terms listed below.  If they wish to use PODNet, they must agree to the policies listed below:

• Our school system will not be held liable for any damage that may occur as a result of connecting to the LPS PODNet Wireless Network or any electrical power source.
• Our school system will not be held responsible for any physical damage, loss or theft of the personally-owned device.
• Personally-owned devices will only be connected to the network at designated locations.
• Our school system will not be oligated to supply electrical power access where such access does not already exist.
• The PODNet Wireless Network will provide filtered Internet access and web-based services only.
• Our school system reserves the right to inspect, at any time, any personally-owned device while connected to the PODNet Wirelss Network.  Any other inspection of any personally-owned device is subject to the requirements set forth in the Student Code of Conduct.
• Student use of personally-owned devices in the classroom setting will be at the discretion of the classroom teacher. 
• Persons connecting computers to the PODNet Wireless Network agree to maintain current anti-virus software enabled on their computers.
• Illegal, destructive, harmful or any other inappropriate activities, including, but not limited to computer hacking, cyber-bullying, accessing offensive/obscene materials, engaging in illegal activity are strictly prohibited as set forth in District Policies JS Student Use of the Internet, GBEE Staff Use of District Technology, and EGAEA Electronic Mail and Internet Use.
• The parents and/or guardians of any student bringing personal technology to school agree to be responsible for and to reimburse our school system for any damage that their student may cause arising out of and relating to the use of the PODNet Wireless Network with his/her personally-owned device.(http://arapahoe.littletonpublicschools.net/forStudents/PersonalWirelessDevices/tabid/  3700/Default.aspx)