Children's Internet Protection Act

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was enacted by Congress in 2000 to address concerns about children's access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet. CIPA imposes certain requirements on schools or libraries that receive discounts for Internet access or internal connections through the E-rate program – a program that makes certain communications services and products more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. In early 2001, the FCC issued rules implementing CIPA and provided updates to those rules in 2011.

What CIPA requires

Schools and libraries subject to CIPA may not receive the discounts offered by the E-rate program unless they certify that they have an Internet safety policy that includes technology protection measures. The protection measures must block or filter Internet access to pictures that are: (a) obscene; (b) child pornography; or (c) harmful to minors (for computers that are accessed by minors). 

Schools subject to CIPA have two additional certification requirements: 1) their Internet safety policies must include monitoring the online activities of minors; and 2) as required by the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, they must provide for educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response.

Internet Safety Requirements for All VUSD Teachers and Students

This web site has been organized to provide teachers with lessons and resources that will comply with this legislation. (The minimum number of lessons required per grade level is explained on the grade level pages.)

All school sites are required to develop an Internet Safety Implementation Plan, that identifies the project lead (principal or assistant principal or site specialists), date of teacher training, identifying teachers who will provide instruction, and a timeline for completion of instruction.

The schools must provide the district with evidence of Internet Safety instruction for all grade levels each year. This will be done through an electronic form managed by the projects leads and the site, in which teachers who are responsible for teaching the lessons will complete by the end of September. (The survey results will be sent to the principal and/or designee responsible for the implementation of the Internet Safety plan.)

NOTE: Each school site's Internet Safety implementation plan determines those teachers providing instruction at each grade level.