6141.323(a)
Instruction
Internet Acceptable Use:
Filtering
Access to Electronic Networks
Electronic networks, including the Internet, are a part of the District’s instructional program in order to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop an administrative regulation containing an implementation plan for this policy. The implementation plan shall include, but not be limited to, integration of the Internet in the curriculum, staff training, software filters and safety issues.
The District is not responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged or unavailable when using the network or for any information that is retrieved or transmitted via the Internet. In addition, the District will not be responsible for any unauthorized charges or fees resulting from access to the Internet.
Curriculum
The use of the District’s electronic networks shall:
1. be consistent with the curriculum adopted by the Board of Education as well as the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities and developmental levels of the students, and
2. comply with the selection criteria for instructional materials and library-media center materials.
Staff members may, consistent with the Superintendent’s regulations and implementation plan, use the Internet throughout the curriculum.
The District’s electronic network is part of the curriculum and is not a public forum for general use.
All use of the District’s electronic network must be:
1. in support of education and/or research and be in furtherance of the Board of Education’s goals, or
2. for a legitimate school business purpose.
Use is a privilege,
not a right. Students and staff members have no expectation of privacy in any
material that is stored, transmitted or received via the District’s electronic
network or computers. General rules for behavior and communications apply when
using electronic networks as contained in Board policy #6141.321, “Acceptable
Use of the Internet.” Electronic
communications and downloaded material, including files deleted from a user’s
account but not erased, may be monitored or read by school officials.
6141.323(b)
Instruction
Internet Acceptable Use:
Filtering
Internet Safety
Each district computer with Internet access shall have a filtering device that blocks entry to visual depictions that are obscene, pornographic or harmful or inappropriate for students, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act and as determined by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall enforce the use of such filtering devices. An administrator, supervisor, or other authorized person may disable the filtering device for bona fide research or other lawful purpose, provided the person receives prior permission from the Superintendent or his/her designee.
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall include measures in this policy’s implementation plan and administrative regulation to address the following:
1. Limiting student access to inappropriate matter as well as restricting access to harmful materials;
2. Student safety and security when using electronic communications;
3. Limiting unauthorized access, including “hacking” and other unlawful activities; and
4. Limiting unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal identification information.
Authorization for Electronic
Network Access
Each student and his/her parent or guardian must sign the District’s authorization form prior to being granted unsupervised use of the network. Staff members must also sign the form as a condition of use.
All users of the District’s computers and means of Internet access shall maintain the confidentiality of student records. Reasonable measures to protect against unreasonable access shall be taken before confidential student information is placed onto the network.
The failure of any student or staff member to follow the terms of the
authorization form, or this policy, will result in the loss of privileges,
disciplinary action, and/or appropriate legal action.
(cf. 6141.321 - Acceptable Use of the Internet)
(cf. 6141.322 - Web Sites/Pages)
6141.323(c)
Instruction
Internet Acceptable Use:
Filtering
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
1‑19(b)(11) Access to public records. Exempt records.
10‑15b Access of parent or guardians to student's records.
10‑209 Records not to be public.
11-8a Retention, destruction and transfer of documents
11-8b Transfer or disposal of public records. State Library Board to adopt regulations.
46b‑56 (e) Access to Records of Minors.
Connecticut Public Records Administration Schedule V ‑ Disposition of Education Records (Revised 1983).
Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (section 438 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended, added by section 513 of PL 93‑568, codified at 20 U.S.C. 1232g.).
Dept. of Education. 34 CFR. Part 99 (May 9, 1980 45 FR 30802) regs. implementing FERPA enacted as part of 438 of General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g)‑parent and student privacy and other rights with respect to educational records, as amended 11/21/96.
Public Law 106-554 Fiscal 2001 Appropriations Law containing the “Children’s Internet Protection Act”
Public Law 94-553, The Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. 101 et. seq.
Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997)
Ginsberg v. New York, 390 U.S. 629, at 642, n.10 (1968)
Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 868 (1988)
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 620, 267 (1988)
Policy adopted: September 14, 2004 EAST HADDAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Moodus, Connecticut