Table of Contents

Paducah Board of Education – Policy 08.2323

Procedures & Guidelines

Rules

Auditing, Monitoring, and Filtering Procedures. 9

Disciplinary Actions & Other Consequences. 9

Strategies For Encouraging Compliance. 9

Paducah Board of Education – Policy 08.2323
 

Access to Electronic Media

(Acceptable Use Policy)
 

The Board supports the right of students, employees, and community members to have reasonable access to various information formats and believes it is incumbent upon users to utilize this privilege in an appropriate and responsible manner.
 

Safety Procedures and Guidelines

The Superintendent shall develop and implement appropriate procedures to provide guidance for access to electronic media. Guidelines shall address teacher supervision of student computer use, ethical use of electronic media (including, but not limited to, the Internet, e-mail, and other District technological resources), and issues of privacy versus administrative review of electronic files and communications. In addition, guidelines shall prohibit utilization of networks for prohibited or illegal activities, the intentional spreading of embedded messages, or the use of other programs with the potential of damaging or destroying programs or data.

Internet safety measures shall be implemented that effectively address the following:

Controlling access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web;
Safety and security of minors when they are using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
Preventing unauthorized access, including “hacking’ and other unlawful activities by minors online;
Unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and
Restricting minor’s access to materials harmful to them.
The District shall provide reasonable public notice of, and at least one (1) public hearing or meeting to address and communicate, its Internet safety measures.
 

Permission/Agreement Form

A written parental request shall be required prior to the student being granted independent access to electronic media involving District technological resources.

The required permission/agreement form, which shall specify acceptable uses, rules of on-line behavior, access privileges, and penalties for policy/procedural violations, must be signed by the parent or legal guardian of minor students (those under 18 years of age) and also by the student. This document shall be kept on file as a legal, binding document. In order to modify or rescind the agreement, the student's parent/guardian (or the student who is at least 18 years old) must provide the Superintendent with a written request.
 

Employee Use
 

Employees shall use electronic mail only for purposes directly related to work-related activities.

Employees shall not use a code, access a file, or retrieve any stored communication unless they have been given authorization to do so. (Authorization is not required each time the electronic media is accessed in performance of one’s duties.) Each employee is responsible for the security of his/her own password.

Community Use

On recommendation of the Superintendent/designee, the Board shall determine when and which computer equipment, software, and information access systems will be available to the community.

Upon request to the Principal/designee, community members may have access to the Internet and other electronic information sources and programs available through the District’s technology system, provided they attend any required training and abide by the rules of usage established by the Superintendent/designee.

Disregard of Rules

Individuals who refuse to sign required acceptable use documents or who violate District rules governing the use of District technology shall be subject to loss or restriction of the privilege of using equipment, software, information access systems, or other computing and telecommunications technologies.

Responsibility for Damages

Individuals shall reimburse the Board for repair or replacement of District property lost, stolen, damaged, or vandalized while under their care.

Responding to Concerns

School officials shall apply the same criterion of educational suitability used to review other educational resources when questions arise concerning access to specific databases or other electronic media.

Audit of Use

Users with network access shall not utilize District resources to establish electronic mail accounts through third-party providers or any other nonstandard electronic mail system.

The Superintendent/designee shall establish a process to determine whether the District’s education technology is being used for purposes prohibited by law or for accessing sexually explicit materials. The process shall include, but not be limited to:

Utilizing technology that meets requirements of Kentucky Administrative Regulations and that blocks or filters internet access for both minors and adults to certain visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or, with respect to computers with Internet access by minors, harmful to minors;
Maintaining and securing a usage log; and
Monitoring online activities of minors.
References:

KRS 156.675

Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS)

47.U.S.C.§ 254

701 KAR 005:120

Related Policies:

08.1353

08.2322

09.14

The Internet and other information technologies significantly alter the information available to schools by opening classrooms to an array of resources that are global in scope. In the past, instructional and library media materials could usually be screened, prior to use, by committees of educators and community members intent on subjecting all such materials to reasonable selection criteria. Access to the Internet, because it may lead to any publicly available file server in the world, opens classrooms to electronic information resources that have not been screened by educators for use by students of various ages.

Electronic information research skills are now fundamental to the preparation of citizens and future employees during an Age of Information. The Board expects that staff will blend thoughtful use of such information throughout the curriculum and that the staff will provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of such resources.

Students are responsible for their personal good behavior on school electronic information resources just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway. Communications on a network are public in nature. Computer networks and other electronic information resources are provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others. Access to electronic information resources may be provided to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.

Teachers and other staff who utilize electronic information resources will model the same responsible use of those resources that we expect of students. Additionally, teachers, and others whose duties include classroom management and/or student supervision have a responsibility for exercising reasonable supervision of student access to the Internet and other information technologies. Teachers shall not direct or advise students accessing school computing and communications networks to use electronic mail systems other that the Kentucky Education Technology System standard email system, nor shall they use such systems themselves.

Independent student use of the Internet and other information technologies will be permitted upon submission of permission forms and agreement forms by parents of minor students (under 18 years of age) and by students themselves. Access to the Internet will enable students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with people throughout the world. The Board believes that the benefits to students from access to electronic information resources and opportunities for collaboration exceed any disadvantages. Ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the Paducah Public Schools support and respect each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for independent access.

Program & Curriculum Development
To match electronic resources as closely as possible to the approved district curriculum, district personnel will review and evaluate resources in order to offer "home pages" and menus of materials that comply with Board guidelines governing the selection of instructional materials. In this manner, staff will provide developmentally appropriate guidance to students as they make use of telecommunications and electronic information resources to conduct research and other studies related to the district curriculum. All students will be informed by staff of their rights and responsibilities as users of the district network prior to gaining access to that network, either as an individual user or as a member of a class or group.

As much as possible, access to district electronic information resources will be designed in ways that point students to those that have been reviewed and evaluated prior to use. While students may be able to move beyond those resources to others that have not been evaluated by staff, they shall be provided with guidelines and lists of resources particularly suited to the learning objectives. Students may pursue electronic research independent of staff supervision only if they have been granted parental permission and have submitted all required forms. Permission is not transferable and may not be shared.

Age & Grade Level Issues
In the same way that a teacher or library media specialist provides various levels of guidance to students visiting a library, schools may want to structure various levels of Internet access depending upon age, grade level, or student performance. For instance:

·         Very young children should probably not be provided with unsupervised access to the network. At the lower grade levels (grades K to 5), an Internet or e-mail session may be best conducted with small groups and always supervised by a teacher or someone the teacher has designated.

·         Children in middle school (grades 6 to 8) who are familiar with the network and generally demonstrate good conduct might be provided with limited independent access in a location where the session can be monitored.

·         In the upper grades (grades 9 to 12), those students with good standing who have proven their ability to be responsible network users might be provided with independent, unsupervised access for research purposes.

Privacy
District staff have the right to view information stored in any user directory, on the current user screen, or in electronic mail. Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and insure that users are using the system responsibly. Users shall not expect that files stored on district servers or other electronic storage systems will always be private.

Ethical Use
Use of electronic information resources must comply with the rules appropriate for those resources. Transmission of any material in violation of any US or state law or regulation or Board policy is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret. Electronic information resources are to be used only for educational and other work related purposes. Use for product advertisement or political lobbying is not consistent with the purposes of district electronic information resources and is inappropriate. Illegal activities are strictly prohibited.

Misuse of Information Technologies and the Law
Kentucky statutes identify criminal penalties for:

Unlawful Access To A Computer, Class C Felony, Kentucky Criminal Statute, KRS 434.840-434.860: A felony may be committed when an individual goes beyond assigned duties to: knowingly and willingly, directly or indirectly, access, cause to be accessed, or attempt to access a computer system, data stored in a computer, or a network for the purpose of altering, damaging, or destroying data or technology.

Criminal Damage to Property, Class D Felony, Kentucky Criminal Statute, KRS 512.020: A person is guilty of criminal mischief when, having no right to do so or any reasonable ground to believe that they have such a right, they intentionally or unintentionally deface, destroy, or damage any public agency data or technology property (data, computer programs, computer systems, computer networks, computers, etc.).

In simpler terms, these laws prohibit activities such as:

Using technology deliberately to gain access to electronic information resources for which one is not authorized or to evade security procedures.

Deliberately vandalizing systems by altering or destroying data or damaging hardware, software, or network components. Vandalism also includes deliberate attempts to restrict or degrade the access of others to data and technology.

Rules & Regulations
Electronic information resources are provided for staff and students to conduct research and communicate with others in support of the educational goals and objectives of Paducah Public Schools. Access to electronic information resources is given to staff and students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner and who sign a user agreement. Parent permission is required for student access. Access is a privilege - not a right. Access entails responsibility.

All individual users of the district’s electronic information resources are responsible for their behavior and communications over those resources. It is presumed that users will comply with district standards and will honor the agreements they have signed. Beyond ensuring compliance with such standards, the district will not unreasonably monitor or control the communications of individuals utilizing the electronic resources.

The district will be responsible for supervising and monitoring access to the extent outlined in these procedures and in the user agreements and parent permission forms. The district will not be responsible for supervising or continually monitoring every communication and Internet session for every student and staff member beyond the scope of supervision defined in the user agreement.

Within reason, freedom of speech and access to information will be honored. During school, teachers of younger students will guide them toward appropriate materials. Outside of school, families bear the same responsibility for such guidance as they exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially offensive media.

Users (staff and students) are expected to observe and comply with the following rules.

General Technology Rules
·         District computers are the property of the Paducah Public Schools and any information stored on them is the property of the Paducah Public Schools.

·         Users will not engage in any illegal or unethical activity, including copyright infringement, vandalism, harassment, or discrimination, such as; copying licensed software, downloading MP3’s, downloading hacking software, installing malicious code, etc.

·         Users will be financially responsible for any malicious damage or vandalism that they cause. Vandalism is defined as any attempt to harm or destroy the physical computer, to harm or destroy the data stored on any computer system, to deliberately upload or transmit any virus, or to cause any other damage to the Paducah Public Schools network or any file server or other network connected to the KETS Internet backbone.

·         Users will acknowledge in their writing and their research, through footnotes, bibliographies, etc., the authorship and/or publishers of information in electronic form.

·         Users will not alter the setup of any school computers or load programs or services without the express permission of the school and district technology staff and the school principal.

·         District technology resources should not be used for private business or personal gain.

·         Users will not intentionally waste limited technology resources.

·         District staff has the right to access any information stored in any user directory, in any computer email account, or on the current screen.

·         Users will not attempt to access the network with other user accounts or give their account information to another user. Doing so will result in the immediate loss of the user account.

Internet Rules
·         All Internet traffic sites visited and the duration of each visit will be logged.

·         Users will not knowingly download or upload inappropriate graphics or text from the Internet or via email.

·         Accessing audio or video services via the Internet, i.e. Real Audio or Real Video without the permission of the principal and the District Technology Coordinator is strictly prohibited.

·         Users will not access non-educational newsgroups, chat rooms, instant messaging services, interactive Internet games, gambling sites or similar sites.

·         Users will not display images considered to be offensive or inappropriate.

·         Users will not display or transmit information about illegal substances or violent themes.

·         Internet access is a privilege – not a right.

·         Violations of these rules may result in loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal actions.

Electronic Mail Rules
·         The use of school email is for educational purposes only and that the content of mail may be randomly checked. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities may be reported to the authorities.

·         Users will not open, forward, or create chain letters, joke of the day, other mass mailings, or any other form of non-educational email.

·         Users will not access, copy, or transmit another’s messages without permission.

·         All third party email accounts (i.e. Hotmail, Yahoo mail, etc.) are expressly prohibited.

·         Users will not send or attach abusive, pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit messages or pictures.

·         Users will not harass, insult or attack others.

·         Student users shall not reveal their name or any personal information to anyone.

·         Student users shall not establish communications with “strangers” on the network, unless a parent or teacher has coordinated the communication.

·         Users shall not access, copy, or transmit another’s messages without permission.

Auditing, Monitoring, and Filtering Procedures
In compliance with Kentucky SB 230, 701 KAR 5:120, and the Federal Children’s Internet Protection Act, Paducah Public Schools has implemented proxy server software and hardware and Internet content filtering software throughout the district. Proxy server and Internet filtering software will be maintained on a twenty-four hour, seven day a week basis. Logs of Internet activity will be examined periodically to detect access to sexually explicit or other objectionable material. Log maintenance, examination, security, and retention will be the responsibility of each School Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council. Guidelines, recommendations, and technical assistance for log maintenance and auditing procedures will be provided to the Councils by the district’s technology manager. Electronic mail will be monitored periodically to ensure that students, faculty, or staff are not using non-compliant email systems.

Every Internet user, staff or student, will be required to individually log into the Internet content filtering software being used by the district before being able to access the Internet. The Internet content filtering software uses categories of sites to determine which sites will be blocked from access. It will be the responsibility of the SBDM Council at each school to make determinations of which categories of sites are allowed and which are blocked for the user groups in its building.

Because there may be times when, for valid instructional reasons, a class needs access to a group of sites that is blocked, a staff member can request that a category of sites be unblocked for a particular list of users for a particular period of time. The staff member will write or email the building principal requesting unblocking of sites. The request will describe the reason for the request, the time period covered, and the users who will need access. If the building principal approves the request, the Technology department will grant access to the categories requested.

In accordance with Board policy 08.2322, Review of Instructional Materials, any citizen or staff member may request a review of a site that is blocked by the district’s Internet filtering software that the requestor feels should not be blocked or a site that isn't blocked which the requestor feels should be. To request such a review, the requestor should write to the building principal. In line with the board policy, the SBDM Council will address the concerns in any request.

Regardless of the type of product, content filtering software cannot be 100% effective. The determined individual with enough computer savvy can find ways to reach objectionable sites. Although Paducah Public Schools is using filtering software that we believe is effective in preventing access to inappropriate material, we cannot promise that inappropriate access will never occur.

Similar to Internet access, email can be a source of inappropriate material. Currently the district is studying a variety of software products that could be used to filter out inappropriate email. We will also periodically check student email accounts at random to check for inappropriate use of email accounts.

Disciplinary Actions & Other Consequences
Violations of rules and procedures are dealt with according to the procedures detailed in the district’s Code of Conduct. Violation of the rules and procedures discussed above may result in any or all of the following:

·         A loss of access to electronic information resources

·         School and district disciplinary action

·         Legal action

Strategies For Encouraging Compliance
In addition to the board policy, district and school personnel should adopt multiple level strategies for encouraging compliance.

Preparation of Educators
Teachers and others whose duties include classroom management and/or student supervision will be provided with guidance on detecting, deterring, and documenting inappropriate use, on safe-guarding personal privacy, and on dealing with unsolicited online contact as a school safety issue.

Information about the Value of the Network
Providing parents and the community with accurate and timely information about how electronic information resources are being used in the schools to support student achievement is very important. The School Based Decision Making Council is an appropriate entity to lead this education effort in the school community with district guidance and assistance. Parent and community education can be accomplished through technology fairs, community network projects, inviting parents to participate in the classroom, and technology lending libraries that allow parents and students to work together at home.

Familiarity with the Internet and other network services will allow school councils to make more informed judgments about the use of technology throughout the curriculum. Such education efforts will also help parents to make more informed judgments about media stories or second-hand information about potential risks associated with the Internet which might otherwise cause undo concern. Their appreciation of the instructional value of these resources will engage them more pro-actively in guiding appropriate use at home and working with the school to ensure that access continues to be available. District technology staff is available to conduct information sessions for staff and parents.

Downloading to a Local Server and Using Bookmarks
One of the most successful and resource-efficient ways to use the Internet in a classroom is to select and download material to a local device before the class begins. This not only allows the teacher to scan and select the best material from a variety of sources, but also ensures that the materials are available when needed. Downloading does involve pre-screening of material but does not preclude the teacher from leading an on-line search during the same session.

Teachers and students can also set "bookmarks" on the Internet tagged to pre-selected sites. This enables a teacher to lead on-line sessions but provides student with parameters outside which they should not venture.

Deterrents
To manage the student who is determined or occasionally tempted to violate acceptable use policies, certain deterrents can be put in place:

·         The amount of time during which individuals have unmonitored access to the network should be minimized. For students, this means that long, individual sessions in a lab setting may not be advisable. Classroom group work generally discourages inappropriate use.

·         Certain network management software packages allow the systems administrator to view or intervene and "take over" a user's screen. These packages are designed for problem diagnosis, to troubleshoot network problems, and to support help desk activities. Although they are not designed to scan network activity for inappropriate use, the district may decide to use them for that purpose on an occasional basis. Regardless, if the user is informed that such scanning is feasible that fact alone may deter inappropriate use.

·         With implementation of proxy and filtering services, schools should familiarize parents, students, faculty, and staff with the information contained in proxy logs. The fact that these logs contain detailed information about each Internet access, which can be traced to the individual user, usually serves as a powerful deterrent.