The Governing Board 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.
(cf. 0440 - District Technology Plan)
(cf. 1113 - District and School Web Sites)
(cf. 4040 - Employee Use of Technology)
(cf. 5131 - Conduct)
(cf. 6163.1 - Library Media Centers)
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.
(cf. 5125.2 - Withholding Grades, Diploma or Transcripts)
(cf. 5144 - Discipline)
(cf. 5144.1 - Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)
(cf. 5144.2 - Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process: Students with Disabilities)
(cf. 5145.12 - Search and Seizure)
The Superintendent or designee shall provide age-appropriate instruction regarding the district's acceptable use agreement, including instruction on the safe use of social networking sites and other Internet services including, but not limited to, the dangers of posting personal information online, misrepresentation by online predators, and how to report inappropriate or offensive content or threats.
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
The Superintendent or designee, with input from students and appropriate staff, shall regularly review this policy, the accompanying administrative regulation, and other relevant procedures 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)
The Board desires to protect students from access to inappropriate matter on the Internet. The Superintendent or designee shall implement rules and procedures designed to restrict students' access to harmful or inappropriate matter on the Internet. He/she 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.
Student use of district computers to access social networking sites is prohibited. To the extent possible, the Superintendent or designee shall block access to such sites on district computers with Internet access.
Before using the district's technological resources, each student and his/her parent/guardian shall sign and return an Acceptable Use Agreement specifying user obligations and responsibilities. In that agreement, the student and his/her parent/guardian shall agree to not hold the district or any district staff responsible for the failure of any technology protection measures, violations of copyright restrictions, or users' mistakes or negligence. They shall also agree to indemnify and hold harmless the district and district personnel for any damages or costs incurred.
(cf. 6162.6 - Use of Copyrighted Materials)
Staff shall supervise students while they are using online services and may ask teacher aides, student aides, and volunteers to assist in this supervision.
Legal Reference:
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
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
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 47
54.520 Internet safety policy and technology protection measures, E-rate discounts
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Cyberbullying: Policy Considerations for Boards, Governance and Policy Services Policy Brief, July 2007
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
K-12 Network Technology Planning Guide: Building the Future, 1995
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAM ADVISORIES
1223.94 Acceptable Use of Electronic Information Resources
MY SPACE.COM PUBLICATIONS
The Official School Administrator's Guide to Understanding MySpace and Resolving Social Networking Issues
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
American Library Association: http://www.ala.org
California Coalition for Children's Internet Safety: http://www.cybersafety.ca.gov
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use: http://csriu.org and http://cyberbully.org
Federal Communications Commission: http://www.fcc.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Web Wise Kids: http://www.webwisekids.org
Policy GILROY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: January 8, 2009 Gilroy, California