The purpose of this policy is to provide a safe environment for students through the use of technology protection measures (i.e., filtering software) to enhance education in the district.
The internet is an ever-expanding resource that adds large quantities of content on a daily basis. However, some of the content is inappropriate for student use and may even be harmful to students’ health, safety and welfare. Therefore, the district has determined that it will establish this policy to limit student access to certain undesirable topics, including but not limited to, information and images that are obscene, constitute child pornography or are otherwise harmful to minors. Since it is not feasible for the district to continually monitor the content of the internet, the district will employ technology protection measures in the form of internet filtering software in an attempt to block access to these types of harmful and inappropriate materials.
The district’s implementation of internet filtering software does not guarantee that students will be prevented from accessing materials that may be considered inappropriate and/or harmful. However, it is a meaningful effort on the part of the district to prevent students from accessing inappropriate and/or harmful materials on the internet. The district makes no guarantee that the filtering software will be available at all times or that the filtering software will block all inappropriate and/or harmful material.
If there is an accessible Uniform Resource Locator [URL] that may be inappropriate, students, staff, and parents may request a review by designated district personnel regarding blocking the URL. Upon review, the technology coordinator or other appropriate personnel will make a determination about blocking access to that site. If there is an educationally valuable URL that is blocked, students, staff, and parents may request a review by designated district personnel regarding un-blocking the URL. The technology coordinator or other appropriate personnel will review the request and make a determination about unblocking the site.
Staff members may request that the internet filtering software be disabled for bona fide research or other lawful purposes. Such a request may be submitted to, and will be reviewed by, the technology coordinator or other appropriate personnel before the internet filtering software is disabled.
Approved: September 29, 2015
Revised/Reviewed: February 27, 2023
Modifying Technology Protection Measures Forms
Add URL to Blocked Status Form
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: ________________
Position: _____________________________
URL http://______________________________________________________________ ____
Primary focus of the web site: ____________________________________________________
What material is deemed objectionable: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed by: ____________________________ Date Reviewed: ________________
Action taken: __________________________________________________________________
Remove URL from Blocked Status Form
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: ________________
Position: _____________________________
URL http://____________________________________ _______________________________
Primary focus of the web site: ____________________________________________________
Academic value of material being sought: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed by: ____________________________ Date Reviewed:_________________
Action taken: __________________________________________________________________
Disabling Internet Filtering Software for Bona Fide Research and/or Other Lawful Purpose Form
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted:_________________
Position:____________ ________________
Reason individual requires full access to internet with no filtering: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Academic value of material being sought: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I, _____________________, accept the responsibility of full, non-filtered, access to the internet for bona fide research or other lawful purposes. I understand that I am the only one authorized for full access and will not allow others to use this access for any reason. Once I am completed with this research, I will notify the administration so the filters can be re-enabled.
_________________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________
Printed Name
_________________________________________
Date
Reviewed by: _____________________________ Date Reviewed: ________________
Action taken: __________________________________________________________________
Approved: September 29, 2015
Revised/Reviewed: February 27, 2023