BP 6163.4 - STUDENT USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Instruction > Board Policy 6163.4 - Student Use of Technology

The Board of Trustees intends that technological resources provided by the district be used in a safe, responsible, and proper manner in support of the instructional program and for the advancement of student learning.

The Superintendent or designee shall notify students and parents/guardians about authorized uses of district computers, user obligations and responsibilities, and consequences for unauthorized use and/or unlawful activities in accordance with district regulations and the district's Acceptable Use Agreement.

Before a student is authorized to use the district's technological resources, the student and his/her parent/guardian shall sign and return the Acceptable Use Agreement specifying user obligations and responsibilities. In that agreement, the student and his/her parent/guardian shall agree not to hold the district or any district staff responsible for the failure of any technology protection measures, violations of copyright restrictions, or user mistakes or negligence. They shall also agree to indemnify and hold harmless the district and district personnel for any damages or costs incurred.

The Superintendent or designee shall regularly review and update this policy, the accompanying administrative regulation, and other relevant procedures to enhance the safety and security of students using the district's technological resources and to help ensure that the district adapts to changing technologies and circumstances.

Use of District Computers for Online Services/Internet Access

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that all district computers with Internet access have a technology protection measure that blocks or filters Internet access to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors and that the operation of such measures is enforced. (20 USC 6777, 47 USC 254)

To reinforce these measures, the Superintendent or designee shall implement rules and procedures designed to restrict students' access to harmful or inappropriate matter on the Internet and to ensure that students do not engage in unauthorized or unlawful online activities. Staff shall supervise students while they are using online services and may have teacher aides, student aides, and volunteers assist in this supervision.

The Superintendent or designee also shall establish regulations to address the safety and security of students and student information when using email, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communication.

The Superintendent or designee shall provide age-appropriate instruction regarding safe and appropriate behavior on social networking sites, chat rooms, and other Internet services. Such instruction shall include, but not be limited to, the dangers of posting personal information online, misrepresentation by online predators, how to report inappropriate or offensive content or threats, behaviors that constitute cyberbullying, and how to respond when subjected to cyberbullying.

EDUCATION CODE
51006 Computer education and resources
51007 Programs to strengthen technological skills
51870-51874 Education technology
60044 Prohibited instructional materials 

PENAL CODE
313 Harmful matter
502 Computer crimes, remedies
632 Eavesdropping on or recording confidential communications
653.2 Electronic communication devices, threats to safety

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 15
6501-6506 Children's Online Privacy Protection Act 

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
6751-6777 Enhancing Education Through Technology Act, Title II, Part D, especially:
6777 Internet safety

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 47
254 Universal service discounts (E-rate)

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 16
312.1-312.12 Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 47
54.520 Internet safety policy and technology protection measures, E-rate discounts

 

Adopted: March 21, 2013
Evergreen School District, San Jose, California

 

AR 6163.4 - STUDENT USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Instruction > Administrative Regulation 6163.4 - Student Use of Technology

The principal or designee shall oversee the maintenance of each school's technological resources and may establish guidelines and limits on their use. All instructional staff shall receive a copy of this administrative regulation, the accompanying Board policy, and the district's Acceptable Use Agreement describing expectations for appropriate use of the system and shall also be provided with information about the role of staff in supervising student use of technological resources. All students using these resources shall receive instruction in their proper and appropriate use.

Teachers, administrators, and/or library media specialists shall prescreen technological resources and online sites that will be used for instructional purposes to ensure that they are appropriate for the intended purpose and the age of the students.

Online/Internet Services: User Obligations and Responsibilities

Students are authorized to use district equipment to access the Internet or other online services in accordance with Board policy, the user obligations and responsibilities specified below, and the district's Acceptable Use Agreement.

1. The student in whose name an online services account is issued is responsible for its proper use at all times. Students shall keep personal account numbers and passwords private and shall only use the account to which they have been assigned.

2. Students shall use the district's system safely, responsibly, and primarily for educational purposes.

3. Students shall not access, post, submit, publish, or display harmful or inappropriate matter that is threatening, obscene, disruptive, or sexually explicit, or that could be construed as harassment or disparagement of others based on their race/ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or political beliefs.

   Harmful matter includes matter, taken as a whole, which to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest and is matter which depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct and which lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. (Penal Code 313)

4. Unless otherwise instructed by school personnel, students shall not disclose, use, or disseminate personal identification information about themselves or others when using email, chat rooms, or other forms of direct electronic communication. Students also shall be cautioned not to disclose such information by other means to individuals contacted through the Internet without the permission of their parents/guardians.

   Personal information includes the student's name, address, telephone number, Social Security number, or other personally identifiable information.

5. Students shall not use the system to encourage the use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, nor shall they promote unethical practices or any activity prohibited by law, Board policy, or administrative regulations.

6. Students shall not use the system to engage in commercial or other for-profit activities.

7. Students shall not use the system to threaten, intimidate, harass, or ridicule other students or staff.

8. Copyrighted material shall be posted online only in accordance with applicable copyright laws. Any materials utilized for research projects should be given proper credit as with any other printed source of information.

9. Students shall not intentionally upload, download, or create computer viruses and/or maliciously attempt to harm or destroy district equipment or materials or manipulate the data of any other user, including so-called "hacking."

10. Students shall not attempt to interfere with other users' ability to send or receive email, nor shall they attempt to read, delete, copy, modify, or use another individual's identity.

11. Students shall report any security problem or misuse of the services to the teacher or principal.

The district reserves the right to monitor use of the district's systems for improper use without advance notice or consent. Students shall be informed that computer files and electronic communications, including email, are not private and may be accessed by the district for the purpose of ensuring proper use.

Whenever a student is found to have violated Board policy, administrative regulation, or the district's Acceptable Use Agreement, the principal or designee may cancel or limit a student's user privileges or increase supervision of the student's use of the district's technological resources, as appropriate. Inappropriate use also may result in disciplinary action and/or legal action in accordance with law and Board policy.

Cyberbullying - Includes the posting of harassing messages, direct threats, social cruelty, or other harmful text or images on the Internet, social networking sites, or other digital technologies, as well as breaking into another person's account and assuming that person's identity in order to damage that person's reputation or friendships.

Filtering - District has the right, to the extent required by law, to place reasonable restrictions on the material accessed or posted through the system.

Media Publishing - All published media must follow district guidelines and is subject to review.

Plagiarism - Students will not plagiarize works. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were their own.

Copyright Infringement - Students will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when a work, software, music, video, etc. that is protected by a copyright is inappropriately reproduced. Students should ask their teacher and request permission from the copyright owner if they are unsure whether or not they can use a work.

Services - The district makes no guarantee that the functions of the services provided by or through the district system will be error-free or without defect. The district will not be responsible for any damage suffered, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruption of service.

Consequences - The use of technology in district is a privilege, not a right. In addition to any criminal and civil penalties, students are also subject to school discipline for technology-related offenses.

 

Board approved: September 12, 2013
Regulation approved: March 21, 2013
Evergreen School District, San Jose, California