7540.03 - STUDENT NETWORK AND INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE AND SAFETY

Advances in telecommunications and other related technologies have fundamentally altered the ways in which information is accessed, communicated, and transferred in our society. Such changes are driving the need for educators to adapt their means and methods of instruction, and the way they approach student learning, to harness and utilize the vast, diverse, and unique resources available on the Internet. The Board of Education is pleased to provide Internet services to its students. The County’s Internet system has a limited educational purpose. The County’s Internet system has not been established as a public access service or a public forum. The Board has the right to place restrictions on its use to assure that use of the County’s Internet system is in accord with its limited educational purpose. Student use of the County’s computers, network and Internet services ("Network") will be governed by this policy and the related administrative guidelines, and the Student Code of Conduct and the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) policies. The use of the Internet as part of an educational program is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate or unauthorized use of safety violations may result in revocation or suspension of that privilege.

The Board encourages students to utilize the Internet in order to promote educational excellence in our schools by providing them with the opportunity to develop the resource sharing, innovation, and communication skills and tools that are essential to both life and work. The instructional use of the Internet will be guided by the Board's policy on instructional materials.

The Internet is a global information and communication network that provides an incredible opportunity to bring previously unimaginable education and information resources to our students. The Internet connects computers and users in the County with computers and users worldwide. Through the Internet, students and staff can access up-to-date, highly relevant information that will enhance their learning and the education process. Further, the Internet provides students and staff with the opportunity to communicate with other people from throughout the world. Access to such an incredible quantity of information and resources brings with it, however, certain unique challenges.

First, and foremost, the Board may not be able to technologically limit access to services through the Board's Internet connection to only those that have been authorized for the purpose of instruction, study and research related to the curriculum. Unlike in the past when educators and community members had the opportunity to review and screen materials to assess their appropriateness for supporting and enriching the curriculum according to adopted guidelines and reasonable selection criteria (taking into account the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities, and developmental levels of the students who would be exposed to them), access to the Internet, because it serves as a gateway to any publicly available file server in the world, will open classrooms and students to electronic information resources which have not been screened by educators for use by students of various ages.

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and WVNET operate the Statewide infrastructure to provide Internet access for all Pre-K-12 public schools. In accordance with State purchasing guidelines, filtering will be installed at the State level at the two (2) points of presence (POPs) for Internet access. This will provide filtering for all public schools in a cost effective manner and with efficient management.

The system utilized by the Board will organize technical protection measures to guard against (e.g., filter or block) access to visual displays/depictions that are obscene, child pornography, and materials that are harmful to minors, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act. At the discretion of the Board and/or the Superintendent, the filters may be configured to protect against access to other material considered inappropriate for students to access. The Technology Protection Measure may not be intentionally disabled at any time that students may be using the Network, if such disabling will cease to protect against access to materials that are prohibited under the Children’s Internet Protection Act. The Superintendent or Technology Coordinator may temporarily or permanently unblock access to sites containing appropriate material, if access to such sites has been inappropriately blocked. The determination of whether material is appropriate or inappropriate shall be based on the content of the material and the intended use of the material, not on the protection actions of the filter(s).

The system utilized by the Board will organize technical protection measures to guard against access to child pornography and other material that is obscene, objectionable, inappropriate and/or harmful to minors. Nevertheless, parents/guardians are advised that a determined user may be able to gain access to services on the Internet that the Board has not authorized for educational purposes. In fact, it is impossible to guarantee students will not gain access through the Internet to information and communications that they and/or their parents/guardians may find inappropriate, offensive, objectionable or controversial. Parents/Guardians assume risks by consenting to allow their child to participate in the use of the Internet.

The Superintendent is directed to prepare guidelines that address students' safety and security while using e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging and other forms of direct electronic communications, and prohibit disclosure of personal identification information of minors and unauthorized access (e.g., "hacking") and other unlawful activities by minors online.

Building principals are responsible for providing training so that Internet users under their supervision are knowledgeable about this policy and its accompanying guidelines. The Board expects that staff members will provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of the Internet. All Internet users (and their parents if they are minors) are required to sign a written agreement to abide by the terms and conditions of this policy and its accompanying guidelines.

Transmission of any material in violation of any U.S. or State law or regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted material, threatening, abusive, or obscene materials, or material protected by trade secrets. Use for commercial activities by for-profit institutions is generally not acceptable. Use for product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited. Illegal activities and privacy and safety violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) are strictly prohibited.

Students and staff members are responsible for good behavior on the Board's computers/network and the Internet just as they are in classrooms, school hallways, and other school premises and school sponsored events. Communications on the Internet are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communication apply, including the Student Code of Conduct. The Board does not sanction any use of the Internet that is not authorized by or conducted strictly in compliance with this policy and its accompanying guidelines. Users who disregard this policy and its accompanying guidelines may have their use privileges suspended or revoked, and disciplinary action taken against them. Users granted access to the Internet through the Board's computers, and their guardians, assume personal responsibility and liability, possibly both civil and criminal, for uses of the Internet not authorized by this Board policy and its accompanying guidelines. All student use of Internet-related applications must be authorized by the educator.

Specific examples of unauthorized use include, but are not limited to:

	A.	executing non-educational gaming;
	B.	creating, storing, sending, or viewing pornographic material;
	C.	downloading, uploading and/or executing viruses;
	D.	using e-mail user Ids other than one's own ID;
	E.	misrepresenting an individual's identity or source of communication or data;
	F.	illegally accessing or attempting to access another person's data or personal system files;
	G.	corrupting, destroying, deleting, or manipulating system data with malicious intent;
	H.	requesting that inappropriate material be transferred;
	I.	violating safety and/or security measures when using e-mail chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
	J.	"hacking" or any other unlawful online activities;
	K.	disclosing, using, or disseminating personal information regarding minors.

Based upon the acceptable use and safety guidelines outlined in WVBE Policy 2460, the WVDE and the WVNET system administrators will determine what appropriate use is, and their decision is final. Also, the system administrator and/or local teachers may deny user access at any time. Additionally, the State of West Virginia may pursue legal action to recover damage as result of inappropriate use or safety violations of the network.

The Board designates the Superintendent and Technology Coordinator as the administrators responsible for initiating, implementing, and enforcing this policy and its accompanying guidelines as they apply to students’ use of the Network.

West Virginia State Board of Education Policy 2460 – Safety and Acceptable Use of
the Internet by Students and Educators

H.R. 4577, P.L. 106-554, Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000
47 U.S.C. 254(h), (1), Communications Act of 1934, as amended
20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., Part F, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
as amended
18 U.S.C. 1460
18 U.S.C. 2246
18 U.S.C. 2256