Technology Plan and Policy
Faulkton Area Schools District 24-4
Student Acceptable Use Policy
Faulkton Area School District is providing students access to the district’s electronic network. This network includes Internet access, computer services, videoconferencing, computer equipment and related equipment for educational purposes. The purpose of this network is to assist in preparing students for success in life and work in the 21st century by providing them with electronic access to a wide range of information and the ability to communicate with people throughout the world. This document contains the rules and procedures for students’ acceptable use of the Faulkton Area School District electronic network.
The Faulkton Area School District electronic network has been established for a limited educational purpose. The term "educational purpose" includes classroom activities, career development, and limited high-quality self-discovery activities.
The Faulkton Area School District electronic network has not been established as a public access service or a public forum. Faulkton Area School District has the right to place reasonable restrictions on material that is accessed or posted throughout the network.
Parent/guardian permission is required for all students under the age of 18. Access is a privilege — not a right.
It is presumed that students will honor this agreement they and their parent/guardian have signed. The district is not responsible for the actions of students who violate them beyond the clarification of standards outlined in this policy.
The district reserves the right to monitor all activity on this electronic network. Students will indemnify the district for any damage that is caused by students' inappropriate use of the network.
Students are expected to follow the same rules, good manners and common sense guidelines that are used with other daily school activities as well as the law in the use of the Faulkton Area School District electronic network.
General Unacceptable Behavior
While utilizing any portion of the Faulkton Area School District electronic network or with the use of the Districts tablet at home, unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following:
Students will not post information that, if acted upon, could cause damage or danger of disruption.
Students will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.
Students will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person. If a student is told by a person to stop sending messages, they must stop.
Students will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.
Students will not use criminal speech or speech in the course of committing a crime such as threats to the president, instructions on breaking into computer networks, child pornography, pornography, drug dealing, purchase of alcohol, gang activities, threats to an individual, etc.
Students will not use speech that is inappropriate in an educational setting or violates district rules.
Students will not abuse network resources such as sending chain letters or "spamming.
Students will not display, access or send offensive messages or pictures.
Students will not use the Faulkton Area School District electronic network for commercial purposes. Students will not offer, provide, or purchase products or services through this network.
· Students will not use the Faulkton Area School District electronic network for political lobbying. Students may use the system to communicate with elected representatives and to express their opinions on political issues.
· Students will not attempt to access non-instructional district systems, such as student information systems or business systems.
· Students will not use of any wired or wireless network (including third party internet service providers) with equipment brought from home. Example: The use of an IPod or home computer on the network or accessing the internet from any device not owned by the district.
Students will not use district equipment, network, or credentials to threaten employees, or cause a disruption to the educational program.
· Students will not use the district equipment, network, or credentials to send or post electronic messages that are abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to another’s reputation, or illegal.
The K12 email system is monitored by Administration; all emails sent through the k12 system are subject to review by Administration at any time.
E-mail for students in the elementary and middle school grades will be provided through a teacher for classroom activities.
High school students may be provided with e-mail accounts with the approval of the building level administrator for specific educational projects or activities.
Students will not establish or access Web-based e-mail accounts on commercial services through the district network unless such accounts have been approved for use by the individual school.
Students will not repost a message that was sent to them privately without the permission of the person who sent them the message.
· Students will not post private information about another person.
World Wide Web
Elementary School Level - Access to information for students on the Web will generally be limited to prescreened sites that are closely supervised by the teacher.
· Middle and High School Level - Access to information for students on the Web will generally be provided through prescreened sites and in a manner prescribed by their school.
Message Board/Blog Groups
· The district will provide access to selected newsgroups that relate to subjects appropriate for educational use. Messages posted locally that are in violation of this policy will be removed. The district reserves the right to immediately terminate an account of a student who misuses the message boards or Usenet groups.
Websites
Elementary and Middle School Level - Group pictures without identification of individual students are permitted. Student work may be posted with either student first name only or other school-developed identifier (such as an alias or number).
High School Level - Students may be identified by their full name with parental approval. Group or individual pictures of students with student identification are permitted with parental approval. Parents may elect to have their child assigned to the elementary/middle school level of use.
Material placed on student Web pages are expected to meet academic standards of proper spelling, grammar and accuracy of information.
Material (graphics, text, sound, etc.) that is the ownership of someone other than the student may not be used on Web sites unless formal permission has been obtained.
· All student Web pages should have a link back to the home page of the classroom, school or district, as appropriate.
Personal Safety
Students will not share personal contact information about themselves or other people. Personal contact information includes address, telephone, school address, or work address. Faulkton Area
Elementary and middle school students will not disclose their full name or any other personal contact information for any purpose.
High school students will not disclose personal contact information, except to education institutes for educational purposes, companies or other entities for career development purposes, or without specific building administrative approval.
Students will not agree to meet with someone they have met online.
· Students will promptly disclose to a teacher or other school employee any message received that is inappropriate or makes the student feel uncomfortable
System Security
Students are responsible for their individual accounts and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use them. Under no conditions should students provide their password to another person.
Students must immediately notify a teacher or the system administrator if they have identified a possible security problem. Students should not go looking for security problems, because this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.
Students will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Faulkton Area School District electronic network. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's folders, work, or files. These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing".
· Students will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are illegal.
· Users will not attempt to access Web sites blocked by district policy, including the use of proxy services, software, or Web sites.
· Users will not use sniffing or remote access technology to monitor the network or other user’s activity.
Software and Files
Software is available to students to be used as an educational resource. No student may install, upload or download software without permission from the district technology department.
A student's account may be limited or terminated if a student intentionally misuses software on any district-owned equipment.
· Files stored on the network are treated in the same manner as other school storage areas, such as lockers. Routine maintenance and monitoring of the Faulkton Area School District electronic network may lead to discovery that a student has violated this policy or the law. Students should not expect that files stored on district servers are private.
Technology Hardware
· Hardware and peripherals are provided as tools for student use for educational purposes. Students are not permitted to relocate hardware (except for portable devices), install peripherals or modify settings to equipment without the consent of the district technology department.
Vandalism
· Any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data, the network, other network components connected to the network backbone, hardware or software will result in cancellation of network privileges. Disciplinary measures in compliance with the district's discipline code and policies will be enforced.
Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
Students will not plagiarize works found on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were the students’.
District policies on copyright will govern the use of material accessed and used through the district system.
· Copyrighted material will not be placed on any system without the author's permission. Permission may be specified in the document, on the system or must be obtained directly from the author.
Videoconference
Videoconferencing is a way that students can communicate with other students, speakers, museums, etc. from other parts of the country and the world. With videoconferencing equipment, students can see, hear, and speak with other students, speakers, museum personnel, etc. in real time.
Videoconference sessions may be videotaped by district personnel or by a participating school involved in the exchange in order to share the experience within our or their building or district.
· Students' voices, physical presence, and participation in the videoconference are transmitted to participating sites during each session. Rules and procedures relative to acceptable use and behavior by students apply during all videoconference sessions.
Student Rights
Students' right to free speech applies to communication on the Internet. The Faulkton Area School District electronic network is considered a limited forum, similar to a school newspaper, and therefore the district may restrict a student's speech for valid educational
reasons. The district will not restrict a student's speech on the basis of a disagreement with the opinions that are being expressed.
· An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that a student has violated this policy or the law. The investigation will be reasonable and related to the suspected violation.
Due Process
The district will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through the district network.
In the event there is an allegation that a student has violated the district acceptable use regulation and policy, the student will be provided with a written notice of the alleged violation. An opportunity will be provided to present an explanation before a neutral administrator (or student will be provided with notice and an opportunity to be heard in the manner set forth in the disciplinary code).
Disciplinary actions will be tailored to meet specific concerns related to the violation and to assist the student in gaining the self-discipline necessary to behave appropriately on an electronic network. Violations of the acceptable use regulation and policy may result in a loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal action.
· If the violation also involves a violation of other provisions of other school rules, it will be handled in a manner described in the school rules. Additional restrictions may be placed on a student's use of his/her network account.
Limitation of Liability
The district makes no guarantee that the functions or the services provided by or through the district network will be error-free or without defect. The district will not be responsible for any damage suffered, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service.
· The district is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the network. The district will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the network.
Violations of this Acceptable Use Policy
Violations of this policy may result in loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal action. Students' violation of this policy shall be subject to the consequences as indicated within this policy as well as other appropriate discipline, which includes but is not limited to:
§ Use of district network only under direct supervision
§ Suspension of network privileges
§ Revocation of network privileges
§ Suspension of computer privileges
§ Suspension from school
§ Expulsion from school and/or
§ Legal action and prosecution by the authorities
The particular consequences for violations of this policy shall be determined by the school administrators. The superintendent or designee and the board shall determine when school expulsion and/or legal action or actions by the authorities are the appropriate course of action.
Laptop Policy
The purpose of the Laptops Program is to prepare students for their future, a world of digital technology and information. Increasingly, excellence in education requires that technology is seamlessly integrated throughout the curriculum. Increasing access to technology is essential for the future, and the current learning tool for these twenty-first century students is the laptop computer. The individual use of laptops empowers students to learn, reach their full potential and prepares them for post-secondary training and the workplace. Learning with laptops integrates technology into the curriculum anytime, anyplace. These policies apply to all laptops, including any other device considered by the Principal to come under this policy. Teachers may set additional requirements for computer use in their classroom.
A. LAPTOP ASSIGNMENT
Laptops will be distributed each fall during student registration. Parents & students MUST sign and return the laptop Computer Protection Plan and Student Pledge documents BEFORE the laptop will be issued to the student. Laptops will be collected at the end of each school year for maintenance, cleaning and software upgrade. Students will retain their original laptop for each year they are enrolled in the district.
1. Laptop Identification
Student laptops will be labeled in the manner specified by the school. Laptops can be identified in the following ways:
• Record of serial number or written label on the laptop and/or
• Individual User account name and password.
B. LAPTOP CARE
Students are responsible for the general care of the laptop issued to them by the district. Laptops that are broken or fail to work properly must be taken to the Technology Coordinator for repair or maintenance.
1. General Precautions
• No food or drink is allowed next to a laptop at any time.
Cords and removable storage devices must be inserted carefully into the laptop.
• Students should never carry their laptops with the screen open, unless directed to do so by a teacher.
• Laptops must remain free of any writing, drawing, stickers, or labels that are not the property of the district.
• The cord and battery must be either connected to the laptop or in the carrying bag at all times.
2. Carrying laptops
The protective cases provided with laptops have sufficient padding to protect
the laptop from normal treatment and provide a suitable means for carrying the computer within the school. These guidelines should be followed during daily use:
• Laptops should always be within the protective case when carried.
• Some carrying cases can hold other objects (such as folders and workbooks), but these must be kept to a minimum to avoid placing too much pressure and weight on the laptop screen.
• The laptop must be turned off or in suspend mode before placing it in the carrying case.
3. Screen Care
The laptop screens can be damaged if subjected to rough treatment. The screens are particularly sensitive to damage from excessive pressure on the screen.
• Do not lean on the top of the laptop when it is closed.
• Do not place anything on the laptop that could put pressure on the screen.
• Do not write on the screen with anything.
• Do not place anything on the keyboard before closing the lid (e.g. pens, pencils, or disks).
C. LAPTOP USE AT SCHOOL
Laptops are intended for daily use at school. In addition to teacher expectations for laptop use, school messages, announcements, calendars and schedules will be accessed using the laptop computer. Students will be responsible to bring their laptop to all classes, unless specifically notified by their teacher, the Principal or the Technology Coordinator.
1. Laptops Left at Home: If a student leaves their laptop at home, they must immediately phone parents to bring them to school. In some situations, a loaner laptop, if available, may be provided to the student for the school day. Repeat violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action as defined in the student handbook.
2. Laptop Undergoing Repair: Loaner laptops may be issued to students when they leave their laptops for repair with the Technology Coordinator.
3. Charging the Laptop’s Battery: Laptops MUST be brought to school each day in a fully charged condition. Students need to charge their laptops each evening. Repeat violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action. In cases where use of the laptop has caused batteries to become discharged, students may be able to connect their computers to a power outlet in class or borrow a battery from the Technology Coordinator. Loaned batteries must be returned to the Technology Coordinator by 8:40 am the next school day.
4. Screensavers & Wallpapers:
• Inappropriate media may not be used as a screensaver or wallpaper.
• Presence of guns, weapons, pornographic materials, inappropriate language,
alcohol, drug, and gang related symbols or pictures may result in disciplinary
actions.
• Passwords on screensavers are not to be used.
5. Sound: Sound must be muted at all times unless permission is obtained from the teacher for instructional purposes. Headphones may be used during study halls only or by special permission of the classroom teacher. However, this privilege may be
revoked if abused.
6. Printing: Students may use printers in classrooms, the library, and computer labs for school related assignments as assigned by their teacher.
7. Additional Software: No additional software may be added to the laptops without the permission of the Technology Coordinator. Students are responsible for maintaining the integrity of software required for facilitating academic activities.
• Any additional software must be appropriate for the school environment and
may not infringe on the productivity of the classroom setting.
• Violent games and computer images containing obscene or pornographic
material are banned.
8. Inspection: Students may be selected at random to provide their laptop for inspection by teachers, administration or the Technology Coordinator. Laptops will be monitored and scanned
9. Storing the Laptop: When students are not monitoring laptops, they should be stored in their lockers. Nothing should be placed on top of the laptop, when stored in the locker. Students are encouraged to take their laptops home every day after school, regardless of whether or not they are needed. Laptops should not be stored in a student’s vehicle. Extreme heat or cold could cause problems with the laptop.
10. Laptops Left in Unsupervised Areas: Under no circumstances should laptops be left in unsupervised areas. Unsupervised areas include the school grounds and campus, the cafeteria, computer lab, hallways, locker rooms, library and unlocked classrooms. Any computer left in these areas is in danger of being stolen. Unsupervised laptops will be confiscated by staff and taken to the Principals’ Office or the Technology Coordinator. Disciplinary action may be taken for leaving your laptop in an unsupervised location.
D. REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE LAPTOP COMPUTER
1. School District Protection:
School District Protection is available for students and parents to cover laptop replacement in the event of theft, loss, or accidental damage by fire. The protection cost is $25.00 annually for each laptop with a maximum cost of $50.00 per family and includes a $200.00 additional charge for each claim.
Students or parents may wish to carry their own personal insurance to protect the laptop in cases of theft, loss, or accidental damage by fire. Please consult with your insurance agent for details about your personal coverage of the laptop computer.
1. Claims:
All insurance claims must be reported to the Technology Coordinator. Students or parents MUST file a police or fire report and bring a copy of the report to the principal’s office before a laptop can be repaired or replaced with School District Protection.
Fraudulent reporting of theft, loss, or accidental damage by fire will be turned over to the police and insurance company for prosecution. A student making a false
report will also be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the student handbook.
The District will work with the Faulk County Sheriff to alert pawnshops and police departments in the area to be aware of loss of this District-owned equipment.
E. Collaboration with Adult Literacy:
Collaboration with adult literacy service providers is to assist a community in devising methods of increasing access to technology resources to serve the learning
needs of both students and adults.
• The Distance Learning room is available for the students and community to use
to take education classes and workshops through universities and other specialty
groups.
• Technology related classes may be offered in the evenings for adults. A small
fee will be charged for these classes to cover the cost of the instructor and
supplies that may be used for the class. A minimum number of students must be
signed up for the class to be offered.
F. Evaluation:
The District’s Technology Plan will be evaluated using the following criterion as guiding principles:
1. To what level of competency have our students in grades K-12 progressed in the use of technology as those standards are related to the DOE Standards for technology literate students within one year, three years and five years of the technology plan?
2. To what level of competency have our teachers in grades K-12 progressed in the use of technology as those standards are related to the DOE Standards and Performance Indicators for technology literate teachers within one year, three years and five years of the technology plan?
3. To what level of competency have our administrators progressed in the use of technology as those standards are related to the DOE Standards for technology literate administrators within one year, three years and five years of the technology plan?
4. What specific staff development programs have been instituted based upon yearly surveys of staff training needs?
5. What specific advances in technology has the District Board of Education budgeted and provided for staff, student and patron use?
6. What specific impact has technology had on student achievement and performance as measured by the stated components of DOE required standardized assessments?
7. What specific changes in policy and/or goals and objectives have been undertaken as a result of the District’s five-year Technology Plan?
8. To what extent has technology affected teaching and learning as determined by staff, student, parent and patron surveys conducted as part of the District’s membership in the NCA/CASI school improvement process?
9. The technology committee will meet quarterly to see if the technology plan is on track or if changes need to be made and addendums added.
10. Students will be surveyed as to what they feel their technology skills are at on a yearly basis. Parents will be surveyed by our school improvement team as to their feelings on technology at Faulkton School and the effects on their children.
11. Teachers will be surveyed as to their level of technology skills on a yearly basis.
12. Patrons would fill out an evaluation as to their beliefs in technology and the future needs at Faulkton School.