IFBG Policy Redline

                                                                        Board Policy Manual
                                                                DeKalb County School District

Board Policy IFBG: Internet Acceptable Use                                 Status: DRAFT

Original Adopted Date: 01/01/1900 | Last Revised Date: 07/11/2011 | Last
Reviewed Date: 05/03/2026


REDLINE VERSION
 I.   Purpose

The DeKalb County School District (“DCSD” or “District”) provides
technologies, networks, and Internet access to support the educational
mission of the District and to enhance the curriculum and learning
opportunities for students and District employees. These technology
resources may be used only in support of education and research and
consistent with the educational objectives of the District.

All guidelines set forth in this policy and any relevant regulations or rules
are applicable to all telecommunication services and equipment provided
by the District, including, but not limited to, the following:

   1. Computer workstations and notebook computers;


   2. Smart phones, tablets, e-readers, and other mobile devices;


   3. Internet services;


   4. Telephone services; and


   5. Cellular telephone services.

Acceptable use agreements must be signed by all users of District
technologies or networks.

 I.   INTERNET SAFETY


A. The Superintendent shall, with respect to any computer or other
internet access, to support the district’s educational mission and enhance
teaching, learning, and operational efficiency. The district is committed
to safeguarding its students, employees, partners, and technology
connecting to the District network and having access to the Internet:
 infrastructure.
Ensure that a qualifying “Employees and students uncertain about
appropriate technology use must seek clarification from their supervisor,
teacher, or school administrator.

 II.   Definitions

         A. Student Data: Personally identifiable information, including
            names, addresses, identification numbers, contact
            information, or other data protected by law.
         B. Users: Any individual who accesses or uses district
            technology or digital infrastructure.

III.   General Use

         A. District technology resources will only be used for
            educational, research, and official district purposes consistent
            with the district’s mission and goals.
         B. All users must sign an Acceptable Use Agreement
            acknowledging understanding of this policy and its
            accompanying regulations.
         C. Parent/guardian access and complaint procedures are
            outlined in Regulation IFBG-R(1).

IV.    Internet Safety

The Superintendent or designee will:
             1. Implement and maintain technology protection
                 measure,” as that term measures to block or filter
                 internet content that is defined in section 1703(b)(1) of
                 the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000 (“CIPA”),
                 is installed and in continuous operation;
         A. Ensure thatobscene, pornographic, or harmful to minors are
            educated about, as required by law and Board Policy JCDAG.
  2.B.     Provide instruction on appropriate online behavior,
     including interacting with other individuals on social
     networking websites and in, chat roomsroom interaction, and
     about cyber bullying awareness and response, as required
     bycyberbullying prevention, consistent with CIPA and as set
     forth in Board Policy JCDAG; and.
        3. Implement, maintain, and enforce procedures or
           guidelines that provide for monitoring of the online
           activities of users and of the use of “technology
           protection measures” to prevent access to visual
           depictions that are (i) “obscene,” (ii) “child pornography,”
           or (iii) “harmful to minors,” as those terms are defined in
           section 1721(c) of CIPA.


B. The Superintendent shall, with respect to access to the Internet
   by or through computers, networks or other devices belonging
  to the District network, implement, maintain and enforce
  procedures or guidelines that


        1. Provide for monitoring the online activities of users to
           limit, to the extent reasonably feasible, access by minors
           to inappropriate matter on the Internet;
        2. Are designed to promote the safety and security of
           minors when using electronic mail, social media, and
           other forms of direct electronic communications;
        3. Are designed to prevent unauthorized access, including
           so-called “hacking,” and other unauthorized activities by
           minors online;
        4. Are designed to prevent the unauthorized disclosure,
           use, and dissemination of personal identification
           information regarding minors;
               5. Are designed to restrict minors’ access to materials
                  “harmful to minors,” as that term is defined in section
                  1721(c) of CIPA; and
               6. Establish consequences for students and employees
                  who willfully violate acceptable-use procedures.


II.   EMPLOYEE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

      District employees are to utilize the District’s technologies,
      networks, and Internet services only for District-related purposes
      and performance of job duties. Incidental personal use of District
      technologies, meaning use by an individual employee for occasional
      personal communications, is permitted only if such use does not
      interfere with the employee’s job duties and performance, with
      District operations, or with other District users. Employees are
      reminded that such incidental personal use must comply with this
      policy and all other applicable policies, regulations, procedures, and
      rules. Each employee is responsible for his or her actions and
      activities involving District technologies, networks, and Internet
      services, and for his or her computer files, passwords, and
      accounts. Examples of prohibited unacceptable uses include, but
      are not limited to, the following:


        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 for Management
     Information Systems or the Office of Internal Affairs.

        C. The District retains control, custody, and supervision of all
           technologies, networks, and Internet services owned or
           leased by the District. The District reserves the rightDevelop
           and enforce regulations to monitor all technology and
           Internet activity by all system users. network use, prevent
           unauthorized access, and ensure data security.
        D. Implement technical and administrative safeguards to protect
           the integrity of district networks and user data.
        E. Educate students, employees, and contractors on emergent
           technologies, ethical use, and information security risks.
        F. Establish disciplinary consequences for violations of this
           policy and supporting regulations.

V.   Employee Use of Technology

        A. Employees will use district technology resources primarily for
           job-related duties.
        B. Limited incidental personal use is permitted only if it does not
           interfere with job performance, district operations, or legal
           and ethical obligations.
        C. Employees are responsible for the proper use, security, and
           confidentiality of their accounts, passwords, and files.
        D. All suspected security breaches or misuse will be reported
           immediately to the Chief Information Officer and the Director
           for Information and Network Security.
        E. The district retains ownership, control, and supervisory rights
           over all technology resources and may monitor usage at any
           time. Users have no expectation of privacy in their use of
           school technologies or networksdistrict technology, including
           e-mail messagesemail and stored files.
        F. Employees are expected to use appropriatemust exercise
           sound judgment when using technology and caution in
           communications concerning students and employees to
           ensure thatthe confidentiality of student and staff personally
           identifiable information remains confidential.
        G. Teachers, staff members, and volunteers who utilize school
           technology for instructional purposes with students have a
           duty of care to supervise such use. Teachers, staff, and
           volunteers are expected to be familiar with the District’s
           policies and rules concerning student computer and Internet
           use and to enforce them. When, in the course of their duties,
           employees and volunteers become aware ofsupervising
           student technology use will ensure compliance with this
           policy and promptly report violations, they are expected to
           stop the activity and inform the building to the principal or
           other appropriate administrator.
        H. Employees shallmay be held financially responsible for any
           losses, costs, or damages incurred by the District related to
           violations of resulting from misuse.

VI.   Student Use of Technology

        A. Students will use district technology resources for
           educational and school-related purposes in accordance with
           this policy and other rules or regulations, whether on or off
           campus and during or outside of instructional hours.
        B. The District assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized
           charges made by employeesStudents may not use technology
           to engage in conduct that violates the Student Code of
           Conduct, including but not limited to credit card charges,
            subscriptions, long distance telephone charges,
            equipmentplagiarism, cheating, harassment, or bullying.
         C. Students must comply with all provisions of this policy and
            line costs, or for any illegalrelated regulations.
         D. Student use of its computerssocial media, whether on district
            or other technologiespersonal devices, must comply with this
            policy and Regulation IFBG-R(2).

VII.   Authority and Responsibility

The superintendent or designee will:
       A. Develop administrative regulations to implement this policy.
       B. Ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of district
          technology use and internet safety measures.
       C. Provide regular training for staff and students on responsible
          technology use and emerging risks.