5000a Series

5032 - Student Internet and Computer Use

Students are expected to use computers and the Internet as an educational resource. The following procedures and guidelines govern the use of computers and the Internet at ESU 4 programs.

  1. Student Expectations in the Use of the Internet
    1. Acceptable Use
      1. Students may use the internet to conduct research assigned by teachers.
      2. Students may use the Internet to conduct research for classroom projects.
      3. Students may use the Internet to gain access to information about current events.
      4. Students may use the Internet to conduct research for education-related activities.
      5. Students may use the Internet for appropriate educational purposes.
    2. Unacceptable Use
      1. Students shall not use service unit computers to gain access to material that is obscene, pornographic, harmful to minors, or otherwise inappropriate for educational uses.
      2. Students shall not engage in any illegal or inappropriate activities on service unit computers, including the downloading and copying of copyrighted material.
      3. Students shall not use electronic mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, or other forms of direct electronic communications on service unit computers.
      4. Students shall not use service unit computers to participate in on-line auctions, on-line gaming or mp3 sharing systems including, but not limited to Aimster or Freenet and the like.
      5. Students shall not disclose personal information, such as their names, resident school district, addresses, or telephone numbers outside the service unit network.
      6. Students shall not use service unit computers for commercial advertising or political advocacy of any kind without the express written permission of the service unit's network administrator.
      7. Students shall not publish web pages that purport to represent the service unit, it's programs or the work of students in service unit programs without the express written permission of the network administrator.
      8. Students shall not erase, rename or make unusable anyone else's computer files, programs, or disks.
      9. Students shall not share their passwords with fellow students, volunteers or any other individuals, and shall not use, or try to discover, another user's password.
      10. Students shall not copy, change or transfer any software or documentation provided by the service unit, teachers or another student without permission from the network administrator.
      11. Students shall not write, produce, generate, copy, propagate or attempt to introduce any computer code designed to self-replicate, damage, or otherwise hinder the performance of any computer's memory, file system, or software. Such software is often called, but is not limited to, a bug, virus, worm, or Trojan Horse.
      12. Students shall not configure or troubleshoot computers, networks, printers or other associated equipment, except as directed by a teacher or the network administrator.
      13. Students shall not take home technology equipment (hardware or software) without permission of the program or network administrator.
      14. Students shall not forge electronic mail messages or web pages.
  2. Enforcement
    1. Methods of Enforcement
      1. The service unit monitors all Internet communications, Internet usage and patterns of Internet usage. Students have no right of privacy to any Internet communications or other electronic files. The computer system is owned by the service unit. As with any service unit property, any electronic files on the system are subject to search and inspection at any time.
      2. The service unit uses a technology protection measure that blocks access to some Internet sites that are not in accordance with the policy of the service unit. Standard use of the Internet utilizes a proxy server-based filter that screens for non-curriculum related pages.
      3. Due to the nature of filtering technology, the filter may at times filter pages that are appropriate for student research. The network administrator may override the technology protection measure for the student to access a site with legitimate educational value that is wrongly blocked.
      4. Program staff will monitor students' use of the Internet through direct supervision and by monitoring Internet use history to ensure enforcement of the policy.
    2. Consequences for Violation of the Policy
      1. Access to the service unit's computer system and to the Internet is a privilege, not a right. Any violation of the service unit's policy and rules may result in:
        1. Loss of computer privileges;
        2. Report of the student's misconduct to his/her resident school district
        3. Cancellation of the contract pursuant to which the student attends the ESU 4 program; and
      2. Students who use service unit computer systems without permission and for non-educational purposes may be guilty of a criminal violation and will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Adopted on: June 8, 2009
Revised on: _________________________
Reviewed on: January 9, 2012