Keeping Kids Safe Online
Garden County Schools Internet Policy
February 27, 2007
Although most students, teachers, and patrons don’t realize it, public schools are required by law to have and enforce computer/Internet agreements for students and faculty alike. The Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.) is the government entity that establishes and monitors these regulations—rules which ensure that minors are safe in the school’s digital environment. The Neighborhood Internet Protection Act and Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), passed by Congress in 1999 and 2000 respectively, impose certain types of requirements on schools or libraries that receive funding support for Internet access or internal connections from the “E-rate” program – a program that makes technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. Between 70% and 80% of this district’s telecommunication and Internet access costs are funded every year through E-rate. Our current user agreements, signed by students, parents, and faculty, include provisions provided by these two acts.
- Schools must certify that they have safety policies and procedures in place before they are eligible to receive E-rate funding.
- An Internet safety policy must include technology protection measures to block or filter Internet access on all computers accessed by minors to pictures and material that:
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- (a) are obscene,
- (b) are child pornography,
- (c) are harmful to minors.
- Schools are required to adopt and enforce a policy to monitor computer/online activities of minors.
- Schools are also required to adopt and implement a policy that addresses:
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- (a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet,
- (b) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications,
- (c) unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors online,
- (d) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors,
- (e) restricting minors’ access to materials harmful to them.
Kids today are digital natives, becoming more and more “connected” to the world wide web and the Ethernet. IPods, MP3 players, cell phones, personal laptops, downloaded music, flash drives, CD’s, and other wireless devices have opened up whole new worlds – and concerns – for schools. How can we assure parents (and the F.C.C.) that no offensive or harmful material is entering our school environment without banning – or scanning - these devices? User policies must incorporate all the F.C.C. provisions, but allow enough flexibility to address new issues as they arise. We welcome parental input as we continue to deal with these complex questions.
Complete
copies of our current student and employee user agreements may be
found
under the Technology link of our school web site.
