| K-20 Network Acceptable Use Policy - Sample School Board Policy on Network Use
This DRAFT sample policy was developed by representatives of the Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC), Educational School Districts (ESDs), and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) serving as members of the WSIPC Information Resources Steering Committee (WIRSC), in partnership with the Washington State School Director's Association (WSSDA). It is intended to serve as a starting place for local school boards in Washington State to develop their own policies on network use. It is not required that local boards adopt any of the language contained in this document, but it is hoped that this may be useful to them as they examine the issues involved.
2314 - INSTRUCTION
Electronic Information System (Networks)
The Board of Directors recognizes that the district is implementing an electronic
communications system (network) that will allow unprecedented opportunities for students,
staff and patrons to communicate, learn, access and publish information. The Board
believes that the resources available through this network and the skills that students
will develop in using it are of significant value in the learning process and student
success in the future. These new opportunities also pose many new challenges including, but not limited to, access for all students, age level appropriateness of material,
security, and cost of maintaining ever more elaborate systems. The district will
endeavor to ensure that these concerns are appropriately addressed, but cannot insure
that problems will not arise.
By creating this network, the Board intends only to provide a means for educational
activities and does not intend to create a first amendment forum for free expression
purposes. The district dedicates the property comprising the network, and grants
access to it by users, only for the educational activities authorized under this policy
and procedures and under the specific limitations contained therein.
The Board directs the Superintendent to provide training and procedures that encourage
the widest possible access to electronic information systems and networks by students,
staff and patrons while establishing reasonable controls for the lawful, efficient and appropriate use and management of the system.
Cross References: Board Policy
2311 Selection & Adoption of Instructional Materials
2312 Copyright Compliance
3300 Corrective Actions or Punishment
5255 Disciplinary Action and Discharge
2314P - INSTRUCTION
Electronic Information System (Networks)
Acceptable Use Guidelines
Network
1. All use of the system must be in support of education and research and consistent
with the mission of the district. District reserves the right to prioritize use and
access to the system.
2. Any use of the system must be in conformity to state and federal law network provider
policies and licenses and district policy. Use of the system for commercial solicitation
is prohibited. Use of the system for charitable purposes must be approved in advance by the superintendent or designee.
3. The system constitutes public facilities and may not be used to support or oppose
political candidates or ballot measures.
4. No use of the system shall serve to disrupt the operation of the system by others;
system components including hardware or software shall not be destroyed, modified
or abused in any way.
5. Malicious use of the system to develop programs that harass other users or gain
unauthorized access to any computer or computing system and/or damage the components
of a computer or computing system is prohibited.
6. Users are responsible for the appropriateness and content of material they transmit
or publish on the system. Hate mail, harassment, discriminatory remarks, or other
antisocial behaviors are expressly prohibited.
7. Use of the system to access, store or distribute obscene or pornographic material
is prohibited.
8. Subscriptions to mailing lists, bulletin boards, chat groups and commercial on-line
services and other information services must be pre-approved by the superintendent
or designee.
Security
9. System accounts are to be used only by the authorized owner of the account for
the authorized purpose. Users may not share their account number or password with
another person or leave an open file or session unattended or unsupervised. Account
owners are ultimately responsible for all activity under their account.
10 . Users shall not seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other
data, or passwords belonging to other users, or misrepresent other users on the system,
or attempt to gain unauthorized access to the system.
11. Communications may not be encrypted so as to avoid security review .
12. Users should change passwords regularly and avoid easily guessed passwords.
Personal Security
13. Personal information such as addresses and telephone numbers should remain confidential
when communicating on the system. Students should never reveal such information without
permission from their teacher or other adult.
14. Students should never make appointments to meet people in person that they have
contacted on the system without district and parent permission.
15. Students should notify their teacher or other adult whenever they come across
information or messages that are dangerous, inappropriate or make them feel uncomfortable.
Copyright
16. The unauthorized installation, use, storage or distribution of copyrighted software
or materials on district computers is prohibited.
General Use
17. Diligent effort must be made to conserve system resources. For example, users
should frequently delete E-mail and unused files.
18. No person shall have access to the system without having received appropriate
training, a signed Individual User Release Form must be on file with the district.
Students under the age of 18 must have the approval of a parent or guardian.
19. Nothing in these regulations is intended to preclude the supervised use of the
system while under the direction of a teacher or other approved user acting in conformity
with district policy and procedure.
From time to time, the district will make a determination on whether specific uses
of the system are consistent with the regulations stated above. Under prescribed
circumstances non-student or staff use may be permitted, provided such individuals
demonstrate that their use furthers the purpose and goals of the district. For security and
administrative purposes the district reserves the right for authorized personnel
to review system use and file content. The district reserves the right to remove
a user account on the system to prevent further unauthorized activity. The district's wide-area
network provider (WEdNet) reserves the right to disconnect the district to prevent
further unauthorized activity.
Violation of any of the conditions of use may be cause for disciplinary action.
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Dear Parents:
Your child has the opportunity to receive an electronic network account or access,
and needs your permission to do so. Among other advantages, your child will be able
to communicate with other schools, colleges, organizations and individuals around
the world through Internet and other electronic information systems and networks. Internet
is a system which links smaller computer networks, creating a large and diverse network.
Internet allows your child, through electronic mail (e-mail) and other means to reach out to many other people to share information, learn concepts and research subjects.
These are significant learning opportunities to prepare your child for the future.
With this educational opportunity also comes responsibility. It is important that
you and your child read the enclosed informed consent form, school district procedures
and other material, and discuss it together. When your child is given an account
and password to use on the computer, it is extremely important that the rules are followed.
Inappropriate use will result in the loss of the privilege to use this educational
tool, and other disciplinary action if appropriate. Parents, remember that you are
legally responsible for your child's actions.
Please stress to your child the importance of using only his or her account password,
and of keeping it a secret from other students. Your child should never let anyone
else use his/her password to access the network. Your child is responsible for any
activity that happens in his/her account.
We have established procedures and rules regulating the materials that students may
search for on the network, but please be aware that there is unacceptable and controversial
material and communications on the Internet that your child could access. It is not possible for us to always provide direct supervision of all students. We cannot
filter material posted on network-connected computers all over the world; we encourage
you to consider the potential of your child being exposed to inappropriate material
in your decision of whether or not to sign the informed consent form.
If you have any questions please contact me at [telephone number]. Please return signed
informed consent forms to us as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Electronic Information System (Networks)
Individual User Access Informed Consent Form
In consideration for the privilege of using the network and in consideration for having
access to the public networks, I hereby release ____ School District, Washington
School Information Processing Cooperative, and other intermediary providers, if any,
and operators, and any institutions with which they are affiliated from any and all
claims and damages of any nature arising from my, or my child's use, or inability
to use, the WEdNet including, without limitation, the type of damages identified
in the _____ School District's Acceptable Use Guidelines. Further, my child and I agree to abide
by the District's Policy and Procedures for Electronic Information Systems, which
we have reviewed and understand.
Signature of User
Printed Name of User
Address
City/State/ZIP
Phone
Date Signed
Signature of Parent/Guardian*
(required if user is under age 18)
Printed Name of Parent/Guardian
Address
City/State/ZIP
Phone
Date Signed
* Students over eighteen do not need a parent's signature
School retains white copy and sends yellow copy to:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY/DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE
Account Number:
Approved by:
Date:
11/1995
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