Boyertown Area School District

Acceptable Use Policy

Why computers in school?

• The School District provides computer systems to employees, students, and others so that they can work together to achieve the educational purpose and mission of the School District.

• Used for instructional purposes, the use shall be consistent with the curriculum adopted by BASD.

• Does not endorse all content accessed by students.

• Is not responsible for any information lost, damaged, or unavailable when using the network for information via the internet.

• Is not responsible for any charges or fees resulting from access to internet.

Boyertown Network Use

• Access to the School District CIS systems is a privilege, not a right.

• No expectations of privacy• Access can be denied to

unauthorized, inappropriate, or illegal users.

• Report any violations or suspicious activities.

Boyertown Network Use

What activities are prohibited?

• Going to web pages with inappropriate material– Obscene– Sexually explicit– Child Pornographic– Hateful– Illegal– Defamatory– Lewd– Vulgar– Profane– Rude

– Inflammatory– Threatening– Harassing– Discriminatory– Violent– Bullying/cyber-bullying– Terroristic– Advocating destruction of

property

Boyertown May Restrict

•The right to access… Any internet sites Functions Software Servers

Deemed inappropriate

Boyertown

• May authorize Temporary disabling of…

• Internet blocking/filtering

• Software

Safety

• No personal information revealed

• Control of access by users

• Safety and security of users when using forms of direct communication

• Unauthorized disclosure

• Restriction of users

What are acceptable uses?

• Classroom activities• Locating materials to help in learning• Finding information for school related

research• Career development• Communications for educational

purposes• Other uses in support of school work

• Facilitating illegal activity• Commercial or for-profit purpose• Non-work or non-school related work• Product advertisement• Political lobbying• Bullying/Cyber-bullying• Language, actions, and/or statements

that are in violation of law or BASD policies

What activities are prohibited?

• Unauthorized or illegal installation, distribution, reproduction, or use of copyrighted materials

• Accessing, sending, receiving, transferring, viewing, sharing, or downloading obscene or illegal images.

• Material harmful to minors

• Transmission of offensive or objectionable material

What activities are prohibited?

What activities are prohibited?

• Loading or using of unauthorized games, programs, files, or other media.

• Disruption of the work of others• Destruction, modification, abuse or

unauthorized access to network hardware, software, or files

• Disabling or bypassing Internet blocking software

• Communications that are inappropriate or not school related

– Threats– Hate mail– Harassing messages– Discriminatory words– Offensive language– Profanity– Vulgar words– Inflammatory statements

• Instant messaging

What activities are prohibited?

• Using another student’s account

• Sharing passwords

• Accessing a password protected area

• Plagiarism - using another person’s work as if it were your own, without giving them credit

What activities are prohibited?

• Using the Internet or e-mail in any way that would interfere with or disrupt its use by others

– Destroying district computer hardware or software

– Destroying other students files– Implanting viruses– Sending chain mail or broadcast messages– Disabling virus protection software or

procedures– Changing computer settings

What activities are prohibited?

• NO!!! Social networking web sites and chat rooms.–Facebook

–Twitter

What activities are prohibited?

Personal Devices

• Use of personal devices during class time is at the discretion of the teacher with responsibility of the classroom.

• May not use cellular or other data networks to which the user may have access.

• Must comply with districts policies

Personal Devices

• May be confiscated at any time

• May restrict services

• Must be registered before use on network

• NO CAMERAS!!!

• Not liable for lost or damaged items

• Never give out personal information (yours or another person’s)– Full name, age– Address, phone number– School you attend– Social security number

• Don’t post your picture

• Change passwords frequently

Are students safe?

Visit SafeTeens.com for tips, advice and suggestions about online safely!

• Report any threatening or unwelcome messages

• NEVER agree to meet someone you met online

Are students safe?

Is copying OK?

• Respect copyrights • Requesting permission to use

copyrighted materials • Comply with license agreements

• Copyright law does not allow• Making unauthorized copies of

copyrighted material• Distributing copyrighted materials• Illegal installation of copyrighted

software or files• Do not plagiarize works found on

the Internet

Crash Course

In Copyright

What is your responsibility?

• Sign the AUP– To say you have read and you understand the

Acceptable Use Policy– To say you will comply with the Acceptable Use

Policy

• Have your parents sign the AUP– To say they have read and they understand the

Acceptable Use Policy– To say they went over it with you– To say that you will abide by its requirements

What is your responsibility?

• Students must practice proper computer and Internet etiquette

• Students must report actions by others that are not in accordance with the Acceptable Use Policy, such as but not limited to:– Sharing passwords– Using the computer accounts of others– Changing communications with the intent to

deceive– Using the computer to engage in any illegal act– Disabling virus protection software– Receiving any message in violation of this policy– Coming across inappropriate material– Changing computer settings

What if you break the rules?

• Disciplinary action will be tailored to meet the violation

• If an action violates the Student Disciplinary Code it will be handled in accordance with the appropriate provision of the Code

• Network and Internet access could be terminated

• Violations may be reported to the appropriate legal authorities

• Users shall be responsible for damages to equipment, systems, and software

How will the District know?

The District has the right • To monitor, track, and log any network activities

and electronic communications• To examine contents of users’ personal files• To block Internet sights it considers inappropriate• To determine if an activity not appearing in the

AUP is acceptable use• To remove files, email, unlicensed software, and

unauthorized downloads• To monitor and allocate file server space• To remove user accounts• To deny user privileges

District Disclaimers

The District shall not be responsible:• For any information that may be lost• For material that is retrieved by the

Internet (it’s accuracy, quality, content)• Any fees or financial obligations resulting

from use of the system• Damages arising out of the use of the

computer