FILE: IFBGA
Cf: JCDAG
STUDENT COMPUTER ACCESS AND USE
INTERNET SAFETY
The Internet is a vast, global computer network that provides access to major universities, governmental agencies, other school systems, and commercial providers of data banks. The DeSoto Parish School Board shall establish appropriate guidelines for exploring and using Internet resources within the school district to enhance learning and teaching activities. Acceptable use of these resources shall be consistent with the philosophy, goals and objectives of the School Board.
Age and grade appropriate classroom instruction shall be provided regarding Internet and cell phone safety. Such instruction shall include appropriate online behavior, interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response, as well as areas of concern as authorized in state and federal law.
In addition, the School Board, in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies, shall develop and distribute age and grade appropriate information to each student regarding Internet and cell phone safety and online content that is a threat to school safety. The information shall include the following:
Instruction on how to detect potential threats to school safety exhibited online, including posting on any social media platform.
Visual examples of possible threats.
The process for reporting potential threats, which shall be in accordance with the procedures referenced in policy EBBB, School and Student Safety.
Such information shall be either distributed to or explained to students and school personnel at the beginning of each school year and shall be posted on an easily accessible page of the School Board’s website and the website of each school.
If information reported to a school is deemed a potential threat to school safety, the school shall present the written form and any further evidence to local law enforcement.
Internet access is now available to enhance innovative education for students through access to unique resources and collaborations. Furthermore, teachers will improve learning and teaching through research, teacher training, collaboration, and dissemination of successful educational practices, methods, and materials.
In its continued efforts to comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act, the School Board shall adopt and enforce a policy of Internet safety that incorporates the use of computer-related technology or the use of Internet service provider technology designed to block or filter Internet access for minors and adults to certain visual depictions, including without limitation those that are obscene, child pornographic, or harmful to minors, including without limitation sites that are excessively, violent, pervasively vulgar, or sexually harassing. Sites which contain information on the manufacturing of bombs or other incendiary devices shall also be prohibited. Only authorized persons may disable for an adult user the blocking or filtering mechanism in order to enable Internet access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes, which shall include online services for legitimate scientific or educational purposes approved by the School Board, or access to online services of a newspaper with a daily circulation of at least 1,000.
In addition to filtering requirements, the School Board shall maintain regulations which:
Prohibit access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web;
Address the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications, such as "Instant Messaging";
Prohibit unauthorized access, including what is now known as "hacking", and other unlawful on-line activities by minors online;
Prohibit unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and
Institute measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to minors.
Guidelines are provided so that Internet users are aware of the responsibilities they are about to assume. Responsibilities include efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of network resources. All users, including students, employees, or any other users of School Board computers, hardware, and School Board network shall abide by all policies of the School Board and any applicable administrative regulations and procedures.
The student and parent or guardians shall sign an Acceptable Use of Computers and Internet Agreement, which shall be required before any student will be allowed to use school system computers. The student and parent/guardians signatures shall be legally binding on all parties and shall indicate they have read the terms and conditions carefully and understand their significance.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Acceptable Use - The purpose of the Internet is to support research and education in and among academic institutions in the United States by providing access to unique resources and opportunities for collaborative work. Transmission of any material in violation of any U.S., state, local or School Board regulations shall be prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade institutions. Use for product advertisement, political lobbying, or illegal activities shall be strictly prohibited. Subscriptions to listservers, bulletin boards, and on-line services must be pre-approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
Privileges - The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use shall result in a cancellation of those privileges and may result in disciplinary or legal action by the administration, faculty, staff, or District Technology Committee.
Security - Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. Any suspected security problem on the Internet shall be reported to the building technology coordinator or the principal. The problem shall not be demonstrated to other users. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other computer systems shall be denied access to the Internet.
Vandalism - Vandalism shall result in cancellation of privileges and or other disciplinary actions. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy hardware or software data of the school system, another user, the Internet Service Provider, or other networks that are connected to Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses. No software, programs, or files may be installed or downloaded by any user without the prior permission of the building technology coordinator, who must scan for appropriateness and viruses.
Consequences of Misuse - School principals may suspend from school any student who accesses, sends, receives, or configures electronically any profane or language or pictures or violates any regulations for computer use, or any rules contained in the Acceptable Use Agreement.
RESPONSIBLE USE
The Internet user shall be held responsible for his/her actions and activities. Unacceptable uses of the network shall result in appropriate disciplinary action, including school suspension or revoking of these privileges. Regulations for participation by anyone on the Internet shall include but not be limited to the following:
In general, any student use of networks and telecommunications resources must be for educational purposes and conform to school system rules of behavior.
Student use of e-mail, chat rooms, net meeting rooms, and other forms for direct electronic communication including instant messaging systems is prohibited unless authorized and directly supervised by a teacher. School system rules prohibiting indecent, vulgar, lewd, slanderous, abusive, threatening, sexually harassing, or terrorizing language apply to all forms of electronic communications.
Students shall not post any e-mail or other messages or materials on school or district networks or the Internet that are indecent, vulgar, lewd, slanderous, abusive, threatening, sexually harassing, or terrorizing.
Students shall not post personal information about themselves, (last name, addresses, or telephone numbers) or any other person.
Students shall not abuse or waste network resources through frivolous and non-educational use or send chain letters or annoying or unnecessary letters to large numbers of people.
Students shall use the Internet search engines and/or other Internet tools only under the direction and supervision of teachers.
Students shall not access over the Internet visual depictions that are obscene, pornographic, or harmful to minors.
Students shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access, including so-called "hacking" or otherwise compromise any computer or network security or engage in any illegal activities on the Internet, including willfully introducing a computer virus, worm, or other harmful program to the network.
Students shall observe copyright law and fair use guidelines. Students shall not plagiarize or otherwise use copyrighted material without permission. Students shall properly cite the source of information accessed over the Internet.
Students shall not make any purchase on the Internet while using school equipment or Internet service.
Students who may inadvertently access a site that is pornographic, obscene, or harmful to minors shall immediately disconnect from the site and inform the teacher.
Degrading or disrupting equipment or system performance shall not be permitted.
Invading the privacy of individuals, sending of hate mail, harassing, or making discriminatory remarks or other antisocial behavior shall be prohibited.
Using an account owned by another user shall be prohibited.
Posting anonymous messages shall not be permitted.
Perusing or otherwise accessing information on manufacturing bombs or other incendiary devices shall be forbidden.
Downloading information without permission of the Technology Coordinator shall be prohibited.
Accessing or creating exposure in any way to pictures, graphics, or other visual depictions that taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to the prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion shall be prohibited.
Accessing or creating exposure in any way to pictures, graphics, or other visual depictions that describe or represent in an offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals shall be prohibited.
Accessing or creating exposure in any way to pictures, graphics, or other visual depictions that taken as a whole lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors shall be prohibited.
If a student has questions about whether a specific activity is permitted, he or she should ask a teacher or administrator. If a student accidentally accesses inappropriate material, he or she should back out of that information at once.
No one shall be permitted to use the Internet unless a completed Acceptable Use of Computers and Internet Agreement has been submitted to the Superintendent or designee.
| Approved: May, 2004 | Revised: January 8, 2013 |
| Revised: March, 2009 | Revised: December 6, 2018 |
Ref: 20 USC 7131 (Internet Safety)
47 USC 254 (Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA))
47 CFR 54.520 (Children's Internet Protection Act Certifications for Schools and Libraries)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:100.7, 17:280, 17:410
Board minutes, 3-3-09, 1-8-13, 12-6-18
DeSoto Parish School Board