Board Policy Manual
DeKalb County School District
Board Policy IFBG: Internet Acceptable Use Status: ADOPTED
Original Adopted Date: 01/01/1900 | Last Revised Date: 07/11/2011 | Last Reviewed Date: 07/11/2011
The DeKalb County School District provides technologies, networks,
The DeKalb County School District provides technologies, networks, and Internet access to support the educational
and
missionInternet
of the Districtaccess to support
and to enhance the curriculumthe educational
and learning opportunities mission
for studentsof andthe District
District
and to enhance the curriculum and learning opportunities for
employees. These technology resources may be used only in support of education and research and consistent with
the educational objectives of the District.
students and
All guidelines set forth District
in this policyemployees. Theseortechnology
and any relevant regulations rules are applicableresources may be
to all telecommunication
used only
services and in support
equipment provided byofthe District
ducation and
including, research
but not limited to, theand consistent with
following:
the1. educational
Computer
1. Computer
workstations objectives
workstations
and notebook
and notebook
of the District. All guidelines set forth in
computers;
computers;
Smart
2. phones, tablets, e-readers,
this policy and any relevant regulations or rules are applicable to all
and
2. other
Smart phones,mobile
telecommunication
Internet
3. devices;
tablets, -readers, and other
services and mobile devices;
equipment provided by the District
including,
services;
3. but not limited to, the following:
Internet services;
Telephone
4.
services;
4. and and
Telephonetelephone
Cellular
5. services;
services.
5. Cellular telephone services.
Acceptable use agreements must be signed by all users of District technologies or
Acceptable use agreements must be signed by all users of District technologies or networks.
networks.
I. INTERNET SAFETY
I. INTERNET SAFETY
The Superintendent shall, with respect to any computer or other technology connecting to the
A.
A. The Superintendent
network
District andshall, with respect to any computer or other technology connecting to the District
having
network and having access to the Internet:
access to the Internet:
Ensure that a qualifying “technology protection measure,” as that term is defined in
1.
1. Ensure
1703(b)(1)
section that a qualifying
of the“technology
Children’s protection measure,” Protection
Internet as that term is defined
Actinof section
2000
1703(b)(1) of the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000 (“CIPA”), is installed and in continuous
(“CIPA”),
operation; is installed and in continuous operation; 2. Ensure
that minors are educated about appropriate online behavior,
2. Ensureindividuals
other that minors are educated
on socialabout appropriate
networking online behavior,
websites includingand
interacting
in with
including interacting
other individuals with
on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and about cyber bullying
chat rooms,
awareness and about
and response, as requiredcyber
by CIPA bullying
and as set forthawareness and and
in Board Policy JCDAG;
response, as required by CIPA and as set forth in Board
online3. Implement,
activities maintain,
ofand and
usersenforceandprocedures
of the or guidelines
use ofthat provide for monitoring of the
“technology
Policy JCDAG;
online activities of users and3.of Implement,
the use of “technology maintain, and enforce
protection measures” to prevent access to
protection
procedures
visual measures”
depictionsor to
guidelines
that are (i) prevent that
“obscene,” (ii) access
“childprovide to
pornography,” visual
for monitoringdepictions
or (iii) “harmful of asthat
to minors,” those
are the
(i)terms are
“obscene,”
defined in (ii)
section“child pornography,” or (iii) “harmful to
1721(c) of CIPA.
minors,”
B. The as those
Superintendent shall, terms
with respectaretoto defined
access in section
to District
the Internet by or through1721(c) ofnetworks
computers, CIPA.or
other
B.other devices
Thedevices
Superintendent belonging shall, the
with respect network,
to and
access to the or
belonging to the District network, implement, maintain enforce procedures
implement,
guidelines that
Internet maintain and
by or through computers, networks or enforce procedures or
guidelines
Provide
1. that the online activities of users to limit, to the extent reasonably
for monitoring
1. Provide for
access
feasible, bymonitoring
minors thetoonline activities of users tomatter
inappropriate limit, to the on
extent reasonably
the feasible,
Internet;
access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet;
2. Are designed to promote the safety and security of
minors
2. Are
media, when
designed
and using
to promote
other the electronic
safety
forms and
of security mail,
directof social
minors when using electronic mail, social
electronic
media, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
communications; 3. Are designed to prevent
unauthorized
3. Are designed to preventaccess, including
unauthorized
activities by access,
minors so-called
including “hacking,”
so-called 4.
online; “hacking,”
Are and other
unauthorized activities by minors online;
and otherto prevent the unauthorized disclosure, use,
designed
and
4. Are dissemination
designed to prevent
identification theof
information personal
unauthorized disclosure, use,minors;
regarding and dissemination
5. Are of personal
designed
identification information regarding minors;
to restrict minors’ access to materials “harmful to minors,”
asAre
5. that term
designed
section to is defined
restrict minors’
1721(c) in to materials “harmful to minors,” as that term is defined in
access
section 1721(c) of CIPA; and
of CIPA; and
suspended; or
such
6. Establish consequences for students and employees who willfully violate acceptable-use
access has been denied, revoked or
Using
15. District websites;
unauthorized
attempt to access procedures.
technologies, networks, or Internet services after
professional conduct; 14. Any
generally accepted rules of network etiquette and/or
personnel; 13. Any passwords
providing personal communications that are in violation of
to non-District
II. EMPLOYEE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Misuse
12.
technology;of computer passwords or accounts, including
misuse or damage to District
securityofeatures; 11. Any
breach
of the District technologies, networks, and Internet services or
permission has been granted; 10. Any malicious use or disruption
prior
to school users or outside parties for any purpose, unless
District employees are to utilize the District’s technologies, networks, and Internet services only for District-
individual’s
may
that containpersonal
immediate
attachments
activities
Information
viruses; 9.
supervisor;
(executable
acceptable
areSystems;
views
8. should
as those
Sending
6. Any
or of
facilitating
communication
files) from
Openingseek
the District
unknown that
and further
forwarding
mass
sources
guidance
or any
e-mails
and/or an
represents
school
from their
any e-mail
Department of Management
related purposes and performance of job duties. Incidental personal use of District technologies, meaning use
purposes. Employees
loading
students, or their families for non-District or non-school related
unit
whose
software
or intent
that could
or
is to be
who are uncertain as to whether particular
applications
misinterpreted
communicate
without
withas
permission
such; 7.
District
of the
Downloading or
employees,
by an individual employee for occasional personal communications, is permitted only if such use does not
knowingly provide District e-mail addresses to outside parties
purpose, whether for-profit or non-profit. No employee shall
organization; or to raise funds for any non-District sponsored
interfere with the employee’s job duties and performance, with District operations, or with other District
solicit membership in or support of any non-District sponsored
views of an individual or non-District sponsored organization; to
parties
mediumtowith solicit,
other proselytize,
District users advocate, or communicate the
or outside
users. Employees are reminded that such incidental personal use must comply with this policy and all other
uses
Any
5.
advertising
passwords, and accounts. Examples of prohibited unacceptable
Any
4.
with
include,
use
use
networks,
as aor
for
students
and
but are for
forum
Internet
not limited
communicating
solicitation purposes;
private
or financial
minors;
to, the by
gain or or
following:
e-mail or other
commercial
services, and for his or her computer files,
sexually suggestive;
3.
Any
for
applicable policies, regulations, procedures, and rules. Each employee is responsible for his or her actions and
hisinappropriate
or her
materials
regulations,
behavior, or
comply
thatactions
are and
procedures,
communications
obscene,
violations of
this policy and all
with discriminatory,
activities
and
involving District
pornographic,
rules. Each
copyright employee
laws; 2. Any use
technologies,
sexually explicit,
is involving
or
responsible
harassing, or other applicable
threatening policies,
communications and
activities involving District technologies, networks, and Internet services, and for his or her computer files,
example,
Employees
Any
1. use that is are reminded
illegal or in that
violation of suchof Education
other Board incidental
performance, with District operations, or with other District users.
use does not interfere with the employee’s job duties and
personal
policies, use must
including, for
passwords, and accounts. Examples of prohibited unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the
occasional personal communications, is permitted only if such
technologies, meaning use by an individual employee for
and performance of job duties. Incidental personal use of District
following:
networks, and Internet services only for District- related purposes
District employees are to utilize the District’s technologies,
TECHNOLOGY
EMPLOYEE USE OF
procedures. II.
acceptable-use
Establish consequences for students and employees who willfully violate
6.
1. Any use that is illegal or in violation of other Board of Education policies, including, for example,
harassing, discriminatory, or threatening communications and behavior, or violations of copyright laws;
2. Any use involving materials that are obscene, pornographic, sexually explicit, or sexually suggestive;
3. Any inappropriate communications with students or minors;
4. Any use for private financial gain or for commercial advertising or solicitation purposes;
5. Any use as a forum for communicating by e-mail or other medium with other District users or outside
parties to solicit, proselytize, advocate, or communicate the views of an individual or non-District
sponsored organization; to solicit membership in or support of any non-District sponsored organization;
or to raise funds for any non-District sponsored purpose, whether for-profit or non-profit. No employee
shall knowingly provide District e-mail addresses to outside parties whose intent is to communicate with
District employees, students, or their families for non-District or non-school related purposes.
Employees who are uncertain as to whether particular activities are acceptable should seek further
guidance from their immediate supervisor;
6. Any communication that represents an individual’s personal views as those of the District or any school
unit or that could be misinterpreted as such;
7. Downloading or loading software or applications without permission of the Department of Management
Information Systems;
8. Opening and forwarding any e-mail attachments (executable files) from unknown sources and/or that
may contain viruses;
9. Sending or facilitating mass e-mails to school users or outside parties for any purpose, unless prior
permission has been granted;
10. Any malicious use or disruption of the District technologies, networks, and Internet services or breach of
security features;
11. Any misuse or damage to District technology;
12. Misuse of computer passwords or accounts, including providing personal passwords to non-District
personnel;
13. Any communications that are in violation of generally accepted rules of network etiquette and/or
professional conduct;
14. Any attempt to access unauthorized websites;
15. Using District technologies, networks, or Internet services after such access has been denied, revoked or
suspended; or
16. Any attempt to modify, delete, erase, or otherwise conceal any information stored on District
technologies or networks that violates this policy.
District employees should report all known breaches of technology use or security to the Executive Director
technologies.
for Management Information Systems or the Office of Internal Affairs.
line costs, or for any illegal use of its computers or other
subscriptions, long distance telephone charges, equipment and
employees, including but not limited to credit card charges,
The District retains control, custody, and supervision of all technologies, networks, and Internet services
assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges made by
violations of this policy and other rules or regulations. The District
losses, costs, or damages incurred by the District related to
owned or leased by the District. The District reserves the right to monitor all technology and Internet activity
appropriate administrator. Employees shall be responsible for any
to stop the activity and inform the building principal or other
by all system users. Users have no expectation of privacy in their use of school technologies or networks,
volunteers become aware of student violations, they are expected
them. When, in the course of their duties, employees and
concerning student computer and Internet use and to enforce
including e-mail messages and stored files.
expected to be familiar with the District’s policies and rules
care to supervise such use. Teachers, staff, and volunteers are
technology for instructional purposes with students have a duty of
Employees are expected to use appropriate judgment and caution in communications concerning students and
Teachers, staff members, and volunteers who utilize school
that personally identifiable information remains confidential.
communications concerning students and employees to ensure
employees to ensure that personally identifiable information remains confidential.
are expected to use appropriate judgment and caution in
networks, including e-mail messages and stored files. Employees
no expectation of privacy in their use of school technologies or
Teachers, staff members, and volunteers who utilize school technology for instructional purposes with
technology and Internet activity by all system users. Users have
the District. The District reserves the right to monitor all
technologies, networks, and Internet services owned or leased by
students have a duty of care to supervise such use. Teachers, staff, and volunteers are expected to be familiar
The District retains control, custody, and supervision of all
Management Information Systems or the Office of Internal Affairs.
technology use or security to the Executive Director for
with the District’s policies and rules concerning student computer and Internet use and to enforce them.
District employees should report all known breaches of
policy.
anytechnologies
informationor networks that violates this
stored on District
16.
Any attempt to modify, delete, erase, or otherwise conceal
When, in the course of their duties, employees and volunteers become aware of student violations, they are
expected to stop the activity and inform the building principal or other appropriate administrator.
Employees shall be responsible for any losses, costs, or damages incurred by the District related to violations
of this policy and other rules or regulations.
The District assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges made by employees, including but not
limited to credit card charges, subscriptions, long distance telephone charges, equipment and line costs, or for
any illegal use of its computers or other technologies.