Appendix D: Security, Privacy and Protection Guidelines

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Appendix D: Security, Privacy and Protection Guidelines

E-mail and the Internet

School District 4J is continuing to expand the use of Internet services on our electronic network (4JNet). The Internet is a global network that provides access to a wide range of information from throughout the world and allows students to communicate with people worldwide. 4J's purpose in providing Internet services is to assist in preparing students for success in the 21st Century. Our network was made possible when Eugene voters funded our 1992 bond request to provide computers in classrooms, libraries s, and labs.

It is possible that students may find material on the Internet that parents consider objectionable. District 4J's Guidelines for Accessing 4JNet prohibit access to material that is inappropriate in the school environment. Although student use of the Internet while at school will be supervised by staff, we cannot guarantee that students will not gain access to inappropriate materials. We encourage parents to have a discussion with their children about values and how they should guide student activities while using the Internet.

Secondary students may also have access to the district e-mail system, with parental permission, at school and through a dial-up modem from home. Parents are responsible for monitoring children's activities when they access the system from home. Parents must specifically authorize their child's individual e-mail account by returning the 4JNet Student Account Agreement signed by both parent and child to the child's school. Please note that inappropriate use of e-mail will not be tolerated and students risk losing their accounts. Access to the World Wide Web is not available via 4JNet from a home dialup connection; only e-mail is available to home users.

The 4J Internet Guidelines Committee has the responsibility to recommend the policies, procedures, and guidelines for Internet use in the district. The committee has developed Internet Privacy Protections and Considerations for Students which presents the district's position regarding our obligation to protect student safety and to balance this with the need for open communications when using the Internet. Generally, we believe that students should not be easily identifiable from material they publish on the Internet and under no circumstances will we post any information for students whose parents have returned a form forbidding the release of directory information without the consent of the parents.

4JNet Services

1. The World Wide Web provides an incredible amount of good, useful information in the form of text, graphics, photographs, video, and sound. The Web is used in the classroom to extend teaching and learning, as well as being a valuable re search tool. There are real advantages to being able to access such valuable resources on the Internet.

2. E-Mail allows students to communicate with people throughout the world. In addition to using e-mail to communicate with individuals, secondary students will also be able to subscribe to listservs, an Internet-based program for group communication to which participants must subscribe. Students use listservs to engage in group discussions related to educational projects.

Individual E-Mail Accounts: Secondary students may be provided with individual e-mail accounts with written parental or guardian agreement. A signed 4JNet Student Account Agreement must be returned to the school indicating that the student and parent agree to follow 4J's Guidelines for Accessing 4JNet. These agreements are available either at the school or from Computing and Information Services at the Education Center (6 87-3329).

Classroom Accounts: Elementary students may be granted e-mail access through a classroom account requested by a teacher. Elementary students may be provided with an individual account under special circumstances at the request of their teacher and with the approval of a parent as described above. A signed 4JNet Student Account Agreement will be required for an elementary student to have an individual e-mail account.

These procedures are being followed as Internet resources are being integrated into the classroom:

We are providing all staff with information about the Internet and its uses and possible misuses so that they can discuss these issues with students. Staff inservice about use of the network also includes information about teaching students how to use the Internet appropriately.

We have established clear rules and set boundaries for students. Each school has copies of 4J's Guidelines for Accessing 4JNet and Netiquette (network etiquette).

We are helping teachers to learn about the appropriate use of the Internet and advising them about how to use this technology with students to extend teaching and learning. Each school may schedule information meetings, which include a live demonstration on the Internet and the opportunity for parents to explore the Internet on their own. Parents may contact their child's school principal or teachers to learn more about how this educational resource is being used at the school.

Guidelines for Accessing 4JNet

The Eugene School District's Electronic Network

4JNet is to be used in a responsible, efficient, ethical and legal manner and in accordance with the mission of School District 4J. Users must agree to these guidelines prior to using 4JNet, including receiving a district E-mail account. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may likely result in the suspension or revocation of the privilege of network access.

1. The following individuals are authorized to use 4JNet:

All 4J employees and school board members may be issued an individual E-mail account.

Secondary students, with the written consent of their parent or guardian, may be issued an individual E-mail account.

Elementary students have access to 4JNet only under their teacher's direct supervision using a classroom account. Individual elementary students are not generally issued E-mail accounts.
Exception: Identified elementary students may be is sued an individual E-mail account with the written consent of a sponsoring educator and their parent.

Others who request Guest Accounts from Computing and Information Services (CIS) may be issued E-mail accounts based on their need and the availability of space.

2. The use of 4JNet is intended to extend learning and teaching. Network users are encouraged to develop uses which meet their individual learning and teaching needs and to take advantage of the network's many useful functions, including World Wide Web, electronic mail, newsgroups, listservs, bulletin boards, and access to Gopher, Telnet and FTP resources.

3. The following uses of 4JNet are unacceptable and may result in suspension or revocation of network privileges:

Violation of School Board Policy, District Administrative Rules, or any provision in the district Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

The use of profanity, obscenity or other language that may be offensive to another user.

Reposting of personal communications without the author's prior consent.

Copying commercial software or other material in violation of federal copyright laws.

Use of the network for financial gain, commercial activity, or illegal activity.

Accessing another person's individual account without prior consent or accessing a restricted account without the prior consent of the responsible administrator or teacher.

4. 4JNet will limit the newsgroups that are available to elementary and secondary students so that they will only have access to those newsgroups that are appropriate to their instructional level and age.

5. Users must avoid spreading computer viruses, and all downloaded files must be virus-checked. Deliberate attempts to degrade or disrupt system performance are a violation of law.

6. Teachers are expected to provide guidance and supervision of students who use 4JNet in the following ways:

Teachers and other supervising adults should discuss the appropriate use of 4JNet and Internet with their students, monitor their use, and intervene if the resource is not being used appropriately.

Computers that allow access to Internet should be placed in areas supervised by adults.

7. Students should report any inappropriate material they access to a teacher, other staff persons, or their parents. Students are not to share inappropriate materials or their sources with other students.

8. The person in whose name an account is issued is responsible at all times for its proper use. Passwords should never be shared with another person and should be changed frequently.

4J Student Internet Privacy Guidelines:Internet Privacy Protections and Considerations for Students

The school district has an obligation to protect student safety and to balance this with the need for open communications when using the Internet. There are documented instances of students being inappropriately identified via the Internet and thereby becoming subjected to unhealthy situations or unwelcome communications.

The purposes of these guidelines are:

1) To inform school staff of the possible dangers of allowing students to publish identifying information on the Internet;

2) To recognize that there are potential advantages of allowing students to publish identifying information on the Internet; and

3) To provide to schools a recommended set of Guidelines governing how student-identifying information should be allowed in publishing on the Internet.

For Elementary and Middle School Students

It is clear that there are significant risks, as well as significant advantages, involved with allowing students to be identified on the Internet. Therefore students should not be easily identifiable from materials they might publish on the Internet. No directory information should be posted on the web for students whose parents have returned the form asking that such information not be released.
Guidelines:

Only first names be used in published student work

Pictures that are a part of student publishing should not include identifying information

Under no circumstances should a student's home address or phone number be included.

If replies to published student work are appropriate, the sponsoring teacher's address should be the email address displayed, not the student's.

In special circumstances with parent-signed release, identifying information can be added.

For High School Students

While the five bulleted guidelines above apply to K-12, there are circumstances where it might be appropriate for these older students to provide identifying information along with work published on the Internet. The 4J Internet Guidelines Committee recognizes that high school student publications on the Internet may allow more identifying information where it is considered appropriate by both the student and the supervising staff member. One example might be college entrance or employment opportunities that would be enhanced by viewing a student's work on the Internet.

Guidelines: To make this determination the submitting high school student and the supervising staff member must carefully weigh the potential for risk against the perceived advantage of posting this identifying information. Students are required to seek guidance and approval from school staff and are encouraged to involve parents in instances where there is uncertainty before posting identifying information.

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