Internet Acceptable Use Policy

The Internet is a unique opportunity to enhance instructional methods, appeal to different learning styles,

and meet the educational goals of the board. Through the Internet, users can observe events as they

occur around the world, interact with others on a variety of subjects, and acquire access to current and

in-depth information.

As the Internet is made available in the schools, the use of the Internet should be integrated into the

educational program. The Internet should be used in teaching the North Carolina Standard Course of

Study and in meeting the educational goals of the board. The curriculum committee should provide

suggestions for using the Internet in the curriculum guides as provided in board policy ICFA, Curriculum

Guides and Course Outlines. Teachers are encouraged to further incorporate the use of the Internet

into their lesson plans.

The superintendent shall ensure that school district computers with Internet access comply with federal

requirements regarding filtering software and Internet safety policies. The superintendent shall develop

any regulations necessary to meet such requirements and will submit any certifications necessary to meet

the requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act.

The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right. Any users of the Internet, including staff and students,

must comply with the following requirements.

* The Internet is provided for school-related purposes only. No right of privacy exists in any

communication on the Internet. The school district may monitor all communication and intercept

e-mail messages as a part of ensuring compliance with board policy and applicable laws and

regulations. The school district shall monitor all online activities of minors who access the Internet via

a school-owned computer.

* Students must meet all standards of expected student behavior and comply with all board policies

and school standards and rules. Violations of policy will result in disciplinary action as referred to in

JCDA Behavior Code.

* Employees must comply with all relevant board policies in using the Internet.

* No user of the Internet, including a person sending or receiving electronic communications, may

engage in creating, intentionally accessing or transmitting images, documents or other material that is

obscene, defamatory, pornographic, harassing or considered to be harmful to minors.

* All applicable laws and board policies apply, including those relating to copyrights/trademarks,

confidential information and public records. Any use that violates state or federal laws is strictly

prohibited.

* When using email, discussion forums or other forms of electronic communication, students must

not reveal personally identifiable, private or confidential information, such as home address or

telephone number, of themselves or fellow students. In addition, school personnel shall not disclose

on the Internet or on school district web sites/pages any personally identifiable information

concerning students (including name, address or pictures) without the permission of a

parent/guardian or an eligible student, except as otherwise permitted by the Family Educational

Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or board policy JR, Student Records.

* Users of the school computer system or Internet access are prohibited from engaging in

unauthorized or unlawful activities such as "hacking" or using the computer network to gain or

attempt to gain unauthorized or unlawful access to other computers or computer systems.

* If a user can identify a security problem on the Internet or the school computer system, he/she

must immediately notify a system administrator. Users shall not demonstrate the problem to other

users. Any user identified as a security risk shall be denied access.

* Users are prohibited from using another individual's computer account without prior written

permission from the individual.

* Teachers will make reasonable efforts to supervise a student's use of the Internet during

instructional time.

* Use of the Internet for commercial gain or profit is not allowed from an educational site.

* Views may be expressed as representing the view of the school district or part of the school

district only with prior approval by the superintendent or his or her designee.

All students registered in the Duplin County Public School System will automatically be given access to

the Internet. Parents have the option of denying their child's access to the Internet. To exercise this

option, the Parental Request to Deny Access Form must be completed and returned to the child's

school.

The board is aware that there is information on the Internet that is not related to the educational

program. The board also is aware that there is information and opportunities to communicate on

subjects that are not suitable for school-age children and that many parents would find objectionable.

The school district will take reasonable precautions to prevent students from having access to

inappropriate materials, such as violence, nudity, obscenity or graphic language which does not serve a

legitimate pedagogical purpose. The school district will install or will ensure that its Internet service

provider installs a technology protection measure that blocks or filters Internet access to audio or visual

depictions that are obscene, that are considered child pornography or that are harmful to minors.

School official may disable such filters for an adult who uses a school-owned computer for bona fide

research or other lawful educational purpose. The school district shall not seek to limit access to the

Internet for the purpose of restricting access to political ideas or social perspectives if the action is not

rated simply by a school district official's disapproval of the ideas involved. However, the user is

ultimately responsible for his or her activity on the Internet.

Legal Reference: U.S. Const. amend. I; 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq.; Electronic Communications Privacy

Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2522; Children's Internet Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. §254(h)(5); Family

Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g; G.S. 115C-391, -325(e)