K-12 Internet Use policy

• Critiquing Acceptable Use Policies
• Creating Board Policies for Student Use of the Internet
• Internet Home

Sample K12 Acceptable Use Policies:

• Skokie School District 68
• Web Publishing Forms
• Yahooligans Teacher Guide
• Kim Kommando
• Education World - Developing an Acceptable Use Policy
• Miller City New Cleveland School District - Technology policy

Social Media Policies:

• Social Media Policy Database Referenced by the world's largest brands and agencies.
• Australian Public Service Commission's protocols for online media participation
• British Government Twitter policy guide (PDF)
• City of Hampton Information Technology Policy: Social Media Policy (PDF)
• City of Seattle Blogging Policy
• Circular 2008/8: Interim protocols for online media participation
• CivilService - Code for Online Participation (UK)
• Facebook Comments Policy
• Government Policy: Why government and nonprofit organizations should set up Social Media Profiles
• GSA Social Media Policy (PDF)
• New Zealand State Services Commission: The Guide to Online Participation
• New Zealand State Services Commission: Principles for Interaction with Social Media]
• State of Delaware Social Media Policy (PDF)
• U.S. Air Force (Public Affairs Officer's Guide)
• US Air Force Social Media Policy (with flow chart)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Jacksonville District: Social Media User Guidelines (PDF)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Blogging at EPA for Greenversations
• US Navy - Web 2.0 - Utilizing New Web Tools
• Wake County, N.C., Web 2.0 Guidelines

Nonprofits, academia & community

• American Red Cross Online Communications Guidelines
• Bread for the World's Social Media Policy
• B'nai B'rith Youth Organization
• DePaul University
• Harvard Law School - Terms & Policy
  

Issues:

• K12 Copyright
• Keeping it Legal: Questions Arising out of Web Site Management
• Copyright & Fair Use Site
• Your School Web Page and Free Speech

EXAMPLE OF WEBSITE / INTERNET CONSENT FORM

We are sending you this Parental/Guardian Consent Form to both inform you and to request permission for your child's photo/image and personally identifiable information to be published on the district and/or school's web site.

As you are aware, there are potential dangers associated with the posting of personally identifiable information on a web site since global access to the Internet does not allow us to control who may access such information. These dangers have always existed; however, we as schools do want to celebrate your child and his/her work. The law requires that we ask for your permission to use information about your child.

Pursuant to law, we will not release any personally identifiable information without prior written consent from you as parent or guardian. Personally identifiable information includes student names, photo or image, residential addresses, e-mail address, phone numbers and locations and times of class trips.

If you, as the parent or guardian, wish to rescind this agreement, you may do so at any time in writing by sending a letter to the principal of your child's school and such rescission will take effect upon receipt by the school.

Check one of the following choices:

I/We GRANT permission for a photo/image that includes this student without any other personal identifiers to be published on the school and/or district's public Internet site.

I/We GRANT permission for this student's photo/image and name to be published on the school and/or district's public Internet site.

I/We GRANT permission for this student's photo/image and all other personal identifiers listed above to be published on the school and/or district's public Internet site.

I/We DO NOT GRANT permission for photo/image that includes this student to be published on the school and or district's public Internet site.

Student's Name: (please print) ________________________________________________________________

Student's School: __________________________________________________________Grade: ____________

Print Name of Parent/Guardian: (print) ___________________________________________________________

Signature of Parent/Guardian: (sign) _____________________________________________________________

Relation to Student: ___________________________________________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________

EXAMPLE of a Responsible Use Policy

Technology and Network Access

The [ - ] School District provides students with access to computer equipment, software, and network services. These tools support learning, collaboration, and educational research related to the district curriculum. All technology and network usage must be consistent with these purposes, the Responsible Use Policy, and all provisions of law governing the actions of the user.

The Internet, however, is not designed exclusively for the use of children. While its use in district schools will be subject to supervision, it is possible that students may occasionally access inappropriate material either deliberately or by accident. District guidelines for Internet use prohibit access to material that is inappropriate in the school environment. We encourage parents to have a discussion with their children about values and responsible behavior while using the Internet. Parents wishing their child to not access online resources must contact their respective building principal.

Responsible Use

Students are expected to use district technology equipment, software, and network services for projects assigned by their classroom teachers. The following are some guidelines concerning the use of district technology and network services.

Students may (with teacher supervision):

1. Use student software to create projects to fulfill classroom assignments.
2. Use the Internet to access or search for information to fulfill classroom assignments.
3. Practice netiquette and online safety measures.
4. Save class assignments on a disk or on a computer or server.
5. Delete their own files.
6. Use an email account provided by [ - ] Schools for special projects. Parent permission will be sought in advance of any such projects.

Students MAY NOT:

1. Use district technology equipment, software, and network services without teacher supervision.
2. Access inappropriate material or share information about inappropriate material with other students.
3. Access personal email accounts (hotmail, yahoo, wcnet, etc.), chat rooms or forums over the district network.
4. Send or receive material that may be hurtful to another person or detrimental to the operation of a computer, software, or network.
5. Send or post personal information about themselves or others.
6. Tamper with, assemble, disassemble, connect or disconnect technology or network equipment.
7. Install, download, copy, or delete software.
8. Create or change configurations.
9. Attempt to access, modify, copy or delete files created by another user.
10. Attempt to access or use others' accounts or passwords.
11. Share a network account or password with another person or leave an open file unattended or unsupervised.
12. Plagiarize or break copyright laws (example: unauthorized copying of software).
13. Use district technology or network services for personal, entertainment, political, or commercial purposes.
14. Deliberately waste computer resources.
15. Install, copy, or knowingly infect a computer with a virus.

Note:

Other examples of inappropriate technology and network behavior will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students acting under the direction of the District Technology Coordinator or Building Technology Representatives may be exempt from some of the items listed.

Consequences of Irresponsible Use

Consequences for individuals violating the Responsible Use Policy vary depending on the nature and seriousness of the violation. Consequences might include disciplinary action, loss of technology access, and/or involvement of law enforcement agencies.

Warranties / Indemnification

• The [ - ] School District makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, in connection with its provision of access to and use of its computer networks and the Internet provided under this Policy.

• The [ - ] School District will not be responsible for any claims, losses, damages or costs (including attorney's fees) of any kind suffered, directly or indirectly, by any user or his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) arising out of the use of the electronic network.

• The user takes full responsibility for his/her use.

• The parent(s) or guardian(s) agree to indemnify and hold the [ - ] School District, its employees, harmless from any and all loss, costs or damages resulting from the use authorized under this agreement, including but not limited to any fees or charges incurred through purchases of goods or services by the user over the electronic network.

• The user and the user's parent(s) or guardian(s) agree to cooperate with the District in the event of the District's initiating an investigation of a user's misuse of his/her access to the computer network and the Internet, whether that use is on a District computer or on another computer outside the School District's network.

Authorization for Use of Computer Resources within the [ - ] School District

As a user of the [ - ] Schools computer network, I hereby agree to comply with the above stated rules, communicating over the network in a reliable fashion while honoring all relevant laws and restrictions.

Student Name (Print):______________________________________

Password (Print):_________________________

Student Signature:___________________________ Grade:_______ Birthdate:_______

As the parent or legal guardian of the minor student signing above:

• I grant permission for my son or daughter to access networked computer services such as electronic mail and the Internet.

• I understand that individuals and families may be held liable for violations.

• I understand that some materials on the internet may be objectionable, but I accept responsibility for guidance of Internet use, setting and conveying standards for my son or daughter to follow when selecting, sharing or exploring information and media.

Parent Name (Print):______________________________________

Parent Signature:______________________________________ Date:_____________

Mailing Address:______________________________________

City:____________________________________

Home Telephone: _________________________