[ Introduction |
Components | Samples |
Templates | Filtering |
Ethics |
Safety ]
INTRODUCTION
Virginia K-12 educators and students use instructional resources via LAN, WAN, the Internet, and other electronic devices. Administrators, teachers, library media specialists, and students must monitor the use of technologies for grade-level and content appropriateness, ethics, and safety.
Schools and divisions are required to establish guidelines for appropriate technology use. These guidelines generally are called acceptable use policies (AUP). By definition, an AUP is a written agreement signed by students, their parents/caregivers, and their teachers. It outlines the terms and conditions for using technology-based devices maintained by schools and personal technology-based devices used during school hours on school property.
To assist schools and divisions with developing an AUP, the Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology maintains links to related resources. These links include AUP samples and information about specific AUP components, such as Internet filtering, cyberethics, and cybersafety.
Legislation approved by the 2006 General Assembly and signed by Governor Kaine requires that each division’s AUP include an Internet safety component. In response to this legislation, the Office of Educational Technology developed Guidelines and Resources for Internet Safety in Schools to help divisions address Internet safety.
The links below are not exhaustive but represent the wide sampling of sources available to educators. Every effort has been made to validate each URL referenced; however, information on the Internet does appear, disappear, and change over time. If you discover that a URL has changed, please send a message to WebMaster@doe.virginia.gov. If you have comments or suggestions about content, please contact the Office of Educational Technology at 804-225-2855.
NOTE: External sites are not endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.
COMPONENTS
An AUP must address (1) access to and transmission of data and information within the K-12 environment and (2) any technology-based device in the school or personal device brought into the school. It must include the following components:
- Description of the instructional philosophies and strategies to be supported by Internet access in schools
- Statement on the educational uses and advantages of the Internet in a school or division
- Statement that the AUP complies with state and federal telecommunication codes, laws, and regulations
- Statement regarding the need to comply with fair-use laws and other copyright regulations while accessing and utilizing the Internet and other network materials and resources
- Disclaimer absolving the school division, under specific circumstances, from responsibility
- List of the roles and responsibilities of division personnel, community stakeholders, parents, and students for using the Internet and other electronic-based resources
- Description of the safety measures currently in place and those measures planned for emerging technologies not currently deployed in the system
- Description of the methods by which the division ensures data and network security
- Description of prohibited forms of technology-based applications and hardware use by employees and students in addition to details of associated penalties (including clear definitions of acceptable online behavior and access privileges—reflecting any circumstances unique to a specific school or division)
- Description of the procedures to address breaches of Internet and intranet security and safety, including legal actions to be taken
- Description of the ongoing professional development opportunities for each stakeholder group and associated needs assessments and evaluations
- Description of the community outreach activities and associated needs assessments and evaluations
- Description of the procedures for evaluating and revising the AUP
- Signature form for teachers, parents, and students indicating their intentions to abide by the AUP
AUP COMPONENTS
Model Acceptable Use Policy
Cybercrime.gov
Getting Started on the Internet: Developing an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Education World
Who's Got Mail: Policy advice on staff and student e-mail
Electronic School, article by Kathleen Vail
Acceptable Use Policies
iSAFE
Acceptable Use Policies
Northwest Educational Technology Consortium
Blogging Policies and Resources Wiki
Bud the Teacher, wiki by Bud Hunt
Professional Development Initiatives
Lesson Plans: Understand Your Acceptable Use Policy
CyberSmart!
Web Awareness for Teachers: Acceptable Use Policies for Internet Use
Media Awareness Network
SAMPLES
In preparing your AUP, it is helpful to review those from other schools or divisions. They can be used as templates; however, modify them to fit your particular needs. The following links offer various examples of AUP.
Virginia Policies
Virginia School Divisions
Virginia Department of Education
Policies from Other States
Acceptable Use Policy
Indiana Department of Education
Acceptable Use Policy Guidelines and State Requirements for Student and Staff Access to Electronic Information Resources
Kentucky Department of Education
Massachusetts Online Network for Education (MassONE): Acceptable Use Policy and Guidelines
Massachusetts Department of Education
Sample Internet Usage Policy
Oklahoma State Department of Education
Links: Acceptable Use Policies
ESC Region 2 ( Texas)
Developing an Acceptable Use Policy
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
TEMPLATES
Signature, consent, or release forms and agreements are vital to successful AUP implementation. These forms require signatures from teachers, parents, and students, indicating their intentions to abide by the AUP.
Sample Acceptable Use Agreements and Policies
National Center for Education Statistics
Acceptable Use Policy—Permission Forms
Project Interconnect
Internet Use Policies
Davis School District ( Utah)
Student agreement for Somerset Hills School District Internet Access Account
Somerset Hills School District ( New Jersey)
Student Acceptable Use Policy Consent Form
Monroe Township Public Schools ( New Jersey)
FILTERING
Various laws mandate Internet filtering on school and library computers. Legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly required state schools to implement filtering in public schools by July 1, 2001.
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), passed by Congress in December 2000, applies to all schools and libraries that receive E-rate discounts for Internet access and internal connections. On April 5, 2001, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued regulations for schools and libraries receiving non-telecommunications E-rate discounts.
The following links provide additional information about filtering options:
2007 Internet Filter Report
TopTenREVIEWS
Meeting CIPA Requirements with Technology
American Library Association, article by Richard W. Boss
Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse: School District Options for Providing Access to Appropriate Internet Content
CoSN; note that this site is longer updated
ETHICS
Cyberethics and The Big6™: Responsible Use in Action
Big6.com
Play It Cyber Safe: Types of Cybercrime
Business Software Alliance
Welcome to CSRIU
Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use (home page)
Copyright with Cyberbee
Cyberbee (The Virtual University Professional Development Partnership, Columbus Education Association and Otterbein College)
CyberSmart! Manners
CyberSmart Education Company
Copyright
Orange County (CA) Department of Education, Schools Legal Service
Netiquette Home Page
Albion.com, featuring Virginia Shea’s book Netiquette
Copyright
U.S. Copyright Office
Cyberethics
U.S. Department of Justice, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section
Welcome to the Digital Primer
University of Maryland
Cyberethics, Cybersecurity and Cybersafety
Cyberethics, Cybersecurity and Cybersafety (C3™) Institute ( University of Maryland, Educational Technology Outreach)
Crash Course in Copyright
Georgia K. Harper ( University of Texas)
Web Resources for CyberEthics
Virginia Career and Technical Education Resource Center
For Use with Students
Cyber Tree House
Business Software Alliance
Copyright Kids
Copyright Society of the U.S.A.
The INTERNET: Know Before You Go Into Cyberspace!
U.S. Department of Justice
SAFETY
Computer Technology Standards of Learning For Virginia's Public Schools
Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Education
Guidelines and Resource for Internet Safety in Schools
Virginia Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology