Technology Use

Policy: 2022P
 

K-20 Network Acceptable Use Guidelines/Internet Safety Requirements


These procedures are written to support the Electronic Resources Policy of the board of directors and to promote positive and effective digital citizenship among students and staff. Digital citizenship includes the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior related to current technology use. Successful, technologically-fluent digital citizens recognize and value the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world. They cultivate and manage their digital identity and reputation, and are aware of the permanence of their actions in the digital world. Expectations for student and staff behavior online are no different from face-to-face interactions.

 

Use of Personal Electronic Devices


In accordance with all district policies and procedures, students and staff may use personal electronic devices (e.g. laptops, mobile devices and e-readers) to further the educational and research mission of the district. School staff will retain the final authority in deciding when and how students may use personal electronic devices on school grounds and during the school day. Absent a specific and articulated need (e.g. assistive technology), students do not have an absolute right to possess or use personal electronic devices at school.

 

Connection of personal electronic devices (wired or wireless), including portable devices with network capabilities, to the district network is granted through the employee or student district account. Connection of any personal electronic device is subject to all procedures in this document.

 

Laptop/ Mobile Device Security Guidelines

 

Laptops or mobile devices present their own unique set of security concerns due to their portability. It is the responsibility of the user that has been assigned to this device that they take all necessary precautions to ensure within reason the physical security of these devices and the protection of the confidential and/or sensitive information that is often stored on them. In addition to the security measures appropriate for desk-top workstations, the following guidelines must be followed to allow for the protection of portable computing devices.

 

Physical security:

  • Unless necessary, do not leave laptop or portable devices unattended.
  • Never leave your laptop/electronic devices in a vehicle or unsecured, unsupervised room.
  • Store laptop and electronic equipment in a bag or briefcase.
  • Consider having technology install/ enable tracking software to help recover lost or stolen devices.
  • Record and keep the serial number or other unique identifier that may help identify recovered lost or stolen devices.

Information security:

  • Every reasonable attempt will be made to ensure the protection of student data by an authorized staff member.
  • Only store sensitive data directly on your device which is absolutely necessary and only for the period of time you are traveling, or when you must access it away from the main worksite.
  • Ensure you have a power-on password enabled to prevent unauthorized use of the device.
  • Ensure you have an updated firewall program enabled to prevent unauthorized access to your device from other network nodes.
  • If your laptop or portable device frequently must contain confidential and/or sensitive information, ensure that the users login and or files are password protected. Then the data cannot be accessed by anyone who does not have the correct password.
  • Regularly back up all files that reside on your laptop/portable computer/ mobile device to a secure server location or to other media (e.g. thumb drive) stored in a secure district location. Sensitive student information should not be housed, stored or backed up on any personal devices nor stored off premise from any district authorized location.
  • When student information is extracted and downloaded from a district informational system, this should only be done on a district owned device that is on a secured network.
  • Student data should not be accessed, viewed, extracted or downloaded on any public wireless network.
  • When a laptop or electronic device is stolen, contact your supervisor and file a police report immediately with the local municipality. Your supervisor should contact the district office Risk Manager to notify of the loss.

 

Network


The district network includes wired and wireless devices and peripheral equipment, files and storage, e-mail and Internet content (blogs, websites, collaboration software, social networking sites, wikis, etc.). The district reserves the right to prioritize the use of, and access to, the network.

 

All use of the network must support education and research and be consistent with the mission of the district.


Acceptable network use by district students and staff include:

  1. Creation of files, digital projects, videos, web pages, and podcasts using network resources in support of education and research;
  2. Participation in District approved blogs, wikis, bulletin boards, social networking sites and groups (that are monitored by staff), and the creation of content for podcasts, e-mail, and webpages that support education and research;
  3. With parental permission, the online publication of original educational material, curriculum-related materials, and student work housed within a password protected environment. Sources outside the classroom or school must be cited appropriately;
  4. Staff use of the network for incidental personal use in accordance with all district policies and procedures; or
  5. Streaming Data: For our intended purposes, “Streaming or Data Streaming” refers to utilizing files from a remote location via the network, such as an audio or video file, without permanently transferring the file to the local device. Only multimedia files that explicitly state for use in an educational setting in their “Terms of Use and licensing agreements can be played over the network using a local district device. Specific audio and video files from sites such as (but not limited to) YouTube and Pandora can be utilized through streaming without permanently downloading the file to the viewing device. Staff utilizing this content should prescreen the streaming files for appropriate content before utilizing the resource with students

Audio streaming services: Free streaming audio services such as, but not limited to, iTunes, Pandora, and Spotify free “radio station” streaming services can be utilized within an instructional setting. Free streaming content may be streamed for instructional purposes if not captured digitally nor copied. The user must adhere to all licensing agreements of the music publishing company and the streaming host. Paid or subscription based content from these and other hosting services may not be used. Paid or subscription based content are subject to very strict licensing agreements and how they may be used in a public and educational setting (service bureau). Actual paid streamed content may have separate licensing and terms of use different than that of the hosting service provider. Licensing user agreements take precedence over specific provisions as outlined per Section 110(1) of the Title 17 of the United States Code. Staff utilizing this content should prescreen the streaming files for appropriate content before utilizing the resource with students.

 

Video streaming services: Free streaming video services such as, but not limited to, YouTube, iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon streaming services can be utilized within an instructional setting for instructional purposes. Staff utilizing this free resource should prescreen the streaming files for appropriate content before utilizing the resource with students.  Free streaming content may be streamed if not captured digitally nor copied. The user must adhere to all licensing agreements of the production company and the streaming host. Paid or subscription based content from these and other hosting services may not be used. Paid or subscription based content are subject to very strict licensing agreements and how they may be used in a public and educational setting (service bureau). Actual paid streamed content may have separate licensing and terms of use different than that of the hosting service provider. Licensing user agreements take precedence over specific provisions as outlined per Section 110(1) of the Title 17 of the United States Code. Staff utilizing this content should prescreen the streaming files for appropriate content before utilizing the resource with students.

 

Unacceptable network use by district students and staff includes but is not limited to:

  1. Personal gain, commercial solicitation, and compensation of any kind;
  2. Actions that result in liability or cost incurred by the district;
  3. Downloading, installing and use of games, audio files, video files, games, or other applications (including shareware or freeware) without permission or approval from the Network Services Administrator; For our intended purposes, “Downloading” refers to the act of transferring a file from another computer, storage device, or remote location and storing it on a local computer. Often, downloaded items can contain other files that track viewing and purchasing habits of the user outside the intended use of the product and shares this information back to a variety of marketing and business sources. This is most often found in “free “downloads. “Free” items are often supported through the sale of information about the user’s viewing, downloading and purchasing habits to marketing or business entities.

Items, such as PDFs, may be downloaded from approved sources such as approved software CDs, approved subscription based websites, and other approved curriculum or content resource websites. A list of approved sites and applications will be available on the MPS Portal under Technology. This list is constantly being updated. If the site or application does not appear on the list, a staff member may put in a tech ticket citing the name of the site or software, URL, or where additional information can be found about the resource in question. Software and sites will be evaluated by a subset of the Instructional Technology Steering Committee for its instructional and content value. Technology will review the requested source for its specifications to run on targeted devices and its potential risks posed to the network. If approved, the software or resource will be loaded onto the identified device by Technology. 

  1. Support for or opposition to ballot measures, candidates, and any other political activity;
  2. Hacking, cracking, vandalizing, the introduction of malware, including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, time bombs, and changes to hardware, software, and monitoring tools;
  3. Unauthorized access to other district computers, networks, and information systems;
  4. Action constituting harassment, intimidation or bullying, including cyberbullying, hate mail, defamation, discriminatory jokes, and remarks. This may also include the manufacture, distribution, or possession of inappropriate digital images;
  5. Information posted, sent, or stored online that could endanger others (e.g., bomb construction, drug manufacturing);
  6. Accessing, uploading, downloading, storage and distribution of obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit material
  7. Attaching unauthorized devices to the district network. Any such device will be confiscated and additional disciplinary action may be taken; or
  8. Any unlawful use of the district network, including but not limited to stalking, blackmail, violation of copyright laws, and fraud.
  9. Streaming paid or subscription based audio and video content from sites such as but not limited to, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and Pandora.  This includes streaming personal playlists from cloud based services.
  10. Utilizing “Smart Speakers” in the classroom such as, but not limited to, Google Home, Apple HomePod and Amazon Echo.

 

The district will not be responsible for any damages suffered by any user, including but not limited to, loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by his/her own negligence or any other errors or omissions. The district will not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations resulting from the use of, or access to, the district’s computer network or the Internet.

 

Internet Safety


Personal Information and Inappropriate Content:

  1. Students and staff should not reveal personal information, including a home address and phone number on websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, social networking sites, wikis, e-mail, or as content on any other electronic medium;
  2. Students and staff should not reveal personal information about another individual on any electronic medium without first obtaining permission;
  3. No student pictures or names can be published on any public class, school or district website unless the appropriate permission has been obtained according to district policy
  4. If students encounter dangerous or inappropriate information or messages, they should notify the appropriate school authority; and
  5. Students should be aware of the persistence of their digital information, including images and social media activity, which may remain on the Internet indefinitely.

 

Filtering and Monitoring


Filtering software is used to block or filter access to visual depictions that are obscene and all child pornography in accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Other objectionable material could be filtered. The determination of what constitutes “other objectionable” material is a local decision and will be determined by the Instructional Technology Steering Committee (ITSC).

  1. Filtering software is not 100 percent effective. While filters make it more difficult for objectionable material to be received or accessed, filters are not a solution in themselves. Every user must take responsibility for his/her use of the network and Internet and avoid objectionable sites;
  2. Any attempts to defeat or bypass the district’s Internet filter or conceal Internet activity are prohibited (e.g., proxies, https, special ports, modifications to district browser settings, and any other techniques designed to evade filtering or enable the publication of inappropriate content);
  3. E-mail inconsistent with the educational and research mission of the district will be considered SPAM and blocked from entering district e-mail boxes;
  4. The district will provide appropriate adult supervision of Internet use. The first line of defense in controlling access by minors to inappropriate material on the Internet is deliberate and consistent monitoring of student access to district devices;
  5. Staff members who supervise students, control electronic equipment, or have occasion to observe student use of said equipment online, must make a reasonable effort to monitor the use of this equipment to assure that student use conforms to the mission and goals of the district
  6. Staff must make a reasonable effort to become familiar with the Internet and to monitor, instruct, and assist effectively;
  7. The district may monitor student use of the district network, including when accessed on students’ personal electronic devices and devices provided by the district, such as laptops, netbooks, and tablets; and
  8. The district will provide a procedure for students and staff members to request access to internet websites blocked by the district's filtering software for academic learning and instructional purposes. Requests will be made through the Teaching and Learning Department’s CIMC request for approval process. The procedure will indicate a timeframe for a designated school official to respond to the request. The requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) will be considered in evaluation of the request. The district will provide an appeal process for requests that are denied.

Internet Safety Instruction


All students will be educated about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response:

  1. Age appropriate materials will be made available for use across grade levels; and
  2. Training on online safety issues and materials implementation will be made available for administration, staff, and families.

Use of Social Media and Web-based Tools

 

Online communication is critical to students’ learning 21st-century-skills. Social media, web-based or Internet tools such as learning management systems (LMS),blogs, wikis, social networks, podcasts, email or other Internet tools offer an authentic, real-world vehicle for student expression. Examples of social media include, but are not limited to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn and Flickr. The District’s primary responsibility to students is their safety. The District holds staff and students, using these tools to the same responsible use, terms of agreement, standards and expectations and must follow all established Internet safety guidelines. When these tools are used by staff or students with District resources, while on district property or while acting as a representative of the District, the District reserves the right to monitor appropriate behavior and adherence to instructional guidelines. Anything deemed to be inappropriate will be subject to deletion. The District may also take other disciplinary actions as appropriate.

 

The District will provide secondary students and limited elementary grade levels with free email and file storage service for school related, educational purposes only. These students will be offered email and file storage accounts managed by the District using an Internet-based service. These accounts are offered to students to provide consistent and reliable communication with their respective teachers and staff members. Use of these accounts is subject to the same conditions and restrictions applicable to use of the District’s network. Any references to email or electronic resources in this policy shall incorporate Google Apps for Education email accounts.

 

The District maintains the right to withdraw account access should there be reason to believe that the account has been misused or that the individual has violated the District’s policies or the responsible use guidelines. Violation of district policy or these guidelines by staff, students and/or guests may result in disciplinary action as well as revocation of network and computer access privileges.

 

Social Media for Personal Use by Staff

 

Communication with Students:

 

In order to maintain a professional and appropriate relationship with students, district employees should not communicate with individual students who are currently enrolled in district schools on personal social media sites. Additionally, district employees should not communicate with students via social media tools in a manner that is not readily visible and accessible to the students’ parents/guardians and the employee’s supervisor. This provision is subject to the following exceptions: (a) staff communication with their own family members and (b) if an emergency situation requires such communication, in which case the District employee should notify his/her supervisor of the contact as soon as possible.

 

Guidance Regarding Personal Social Media Sites

 

District employees should exercise caution and common sense when using personal social media sites:

  1. Employees are prohibited from inappropriate online socializing with students or from engaging in any conduct on social networking Web sites that violates the law, district policies, or other generally recognized professional standards. Employees whose conduct violates this policy may face discipline or termination, consistent with the District’s policies, responsible use agreement and collective bargaining agreements, as applicable;
  2. District employees are encouraged to use appropriate privacy settings to control access to their personal social media sites although there are limitations to privacy settings. Private communication published on the Internet can easily become public; social media sites can change their current default privacy settings and other functions. As a result, employees have an individualized responsibility to understand the rules of the social media site being utilized;
  3. District employees should not “tag” photos of other district employees, district volunteers, district contractors or district vendors without the prior permission of the individuals being tagged;
  4. Personal social media use, including off-hours use, has the potential to result in disruption at school and/or the workplace, and can be in violation of district policies and federal and/or state law;
  5. The posting or disclosure of personally identifiable student information or confidential information via personal social media sites, in violation of these guidelines is prohibited; and
  6. District employees should not use the District’s logo in any postings or post district material on any personal social media sites without the written permission of a district administrator.

Copyright


Downloading, copying, duplicating, and distributing software, music, sound files, movies, images, or other copyrighted materials without the specific written permission of the copyright owner is generally prohibited. However, the duplication and distribution of materials for educational purposes is permitted when such duplication and distribution falls within the Fair Use Doctrine of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, USC) and content is cited appropriately. The Fair Use Doctrine does not usurp licensing agreements set forth by the production companies.

 

Licensing

 

Terms of use and user agreements must be strictly adhered to for any product that has a licensing agreement and is used for any purpose within the school district. Staff must check that appropriate licensing has been purchased or licensing agreements between the district and the production companies are in place before using these resources.

 

Ownership of Work


All work completed by employees as part of their employment will be considered property of the district. The District will own any and all rights to such work including any and all derivative works, unless there is a written agreement to the contrary.

All work completed by students as part of the regular instructional program is owned by the student as soon as it is created, unless such work is created while the student is acting as an employee of the school system or unless such work has been paid for under a written agreement with the school system. If under an agreement with the district, the work will be considered the property of the district. Staff members must obtain a student’s permission prior to distributing his/her work to parties outside the school.

 

Network Security and Privacy


Passwords are the first level of security for a user account. System logins and accounts are to be used only by the authorized owner of the account for authorized district purposes. Students and staff are responsible for all activity on their account and must not share their account password.

 

The following procedures are designed to safeguard network user accounts:

  1. Change passwords according to district policy;
  2. Do not use another user’s account;
  3. Do not insert passwords into e-mail or other communications;
  4. If you write down your user account password, keep it in a secure location;
  5. Do not store passwords in a file without encryption;
  6. Do not use the “remember password” feature of Internet browsers; and
  7. Lock the screen or log off if leaving the computer.

Student Data is Confidential


District staff must maintain the confidentiality of student data in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

 

No Expectation of Privacy


The district provides the network system, e-mail, and Internet access as a tool for education and research in support of the district’s mission. The district reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review, and store, without prior notice, information about the content and usage of:

  1. The district network, including when accessed on students’ personal electronic devices and on devices provided by the district, such as laptops, netbooks, and tablets;
  2. User files and disk space utilization;
  3. User applications and bandwidth utilization;
  4. User document files, folders and electronic communications;
  5. E-mail;
  6. Internet access; and
  7. Any and all information transmitted or received in connection with network and e-mail use.

No student or staff user should have any expectation of privacy when using the district’s network. The district reserves the right to disclose any electronic messages to law enforcement officials or third parties as appropriate. All documents are subject to the public records disclosure laws of the State of Washington.

 

Educational Applications, Digital Resources and Programs

 

District staff may request students to download or sign up for website accounts, applications or programs on the students’ personal electronic devices. Such applications and programs are designed to help facilitate lectures, student assessment, communication, and teacher-student feedback, among other things.

Prior to requesting students to download or sign up for educational applications or programs, staff will submit the resource for approval through CIMC and review “terms of use,” “terms of service,” and/or “privacy policy” of each application or program to ensure that it will not compromise students’ personally identifiable information, safety, and privacy. Staff will submit a CIMC request for approval form through Learning and Teaching. Their request will include information of intended use of any educational application, digital resource or program toTeaching and Learning, including the anticipated purpose of such application or program. Specific expectations of use will be reviewed with students.

 

Students’ parents/guardians will be notified of potential use or resources in the fall of every school year. Parents are required to either provide permission or deny access to the list of published resources before a student will be provided access.

 

Archive and Backup


Backup is made of all district e-mail correspondence for purposes of public disclosure and disaster recovery. Barring power outage or intermittent technical issues, staff and student files are backed up on district servers regularly. Refer to the district retention policy for specific records retention requirements.

 

Disciplinary Action


All users of the district’s electronic resources are required to comply with the district’s policy and procedures (and agree to abide by the provisions set forth in the district's user agreement). Violation of any of the conditions of use explained in the (district’s user agreement), Electronic Resources policy, or in these procedures could be cause for disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion from school and suspension or revocation of network and computer access privileges.

 

Accessibility of Electronic Resources

Federal law prohibits people, on the basis of disability (such as seeing and hearing impairments), from being excluded from participation in, being denied the benefits of, or otherwise being subjected to discrimination by the district. To ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to district programs, activities, and services, the content and functionality of websites associated with the district should be accessible.  Such websites may include, but are not limited to, the district’s homepage, teacher websites, district-operated social media pages, and online class lectures.

 

District staff with authority to create or modify website content or functionality associated with the district will take reasonable measures to ensure that such content or functionality is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Any such staff member with questions about how to comply with this requirement should consult with the Director of Communications.

 

Adoption Date:  032618

Monroe School District
Classification: Priority
Revised Dates: