Charter School Provided Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks
Internet access and interconnected computer systems are available to the Charter School’s students and faculty. Electronic networks, including the internet, are a part of the School’s instructional program in order to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.
In order for the School to be able to continue to make its computer network and internet access available, all users, including students, must take responsibility for the appropriate and lawful use of this access. Students utilizing School-provided internet access are responsible for good behavior online. The same general rules for behavior apply to students’ use of School-provided computer systems. Students must understand that one student’s misuse of the network and internet access may jeopardize the ability of all students to enjoy such access. While the School’s teachers and other staff will make reasonable efforts to supervise use of network and internet access, they must have student cooperation in exercising and promoting responsible use of this access and students must be held responsible and accountable for their own conduct.
Curriculum
In accordance with this policy and the Board’s philosophy to ensure the safety of all students, the Charter School shall provide an appropriate planned instructional component for internet safety which shall be integrated into the School’s regular instructional program. In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act this instruction will include information on the safe use of social networking sites and instant messaging, the characteristics of cyber-bullying, and recommended responses.
The use of the School’s electronic networks shall be consistent with the curriculum adopted by the School, as well as the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities, and developmental levels of the students, and shall comply with the selection criteria for instructional materials and library-media center materials. Staff may, consistent with the School’s educational goals, use the internet throughout the curriculum.
The School’s electronic network is part of the curriculum and is not a public forum for general use.
Acceptable Uses
Acceptable Use: Access to the School’s electronic networks must be:
1. For the purpose of education or research and consistent with the educational objectives of the School; or
2. For legitimate business use.
Unacceptable Uses of Network
The unacceptable uses described in 3270P are considered examples of unacceptable uses and constitute violations of this policy. Additional uses may also be unacceptable.
Internet Safety
Each Charter School computer with internet access shall have a filtering device that blocks access to visual depictions that are obscene, pornographic, harmful, or inappropriate for students, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act and as determined by the Executive Director or designee. The filter may also block other materials students are prohibited from accessing by School policy or procedure. The Executive Director or designee shall enforce the use of such filtering devices.
The School shall require that any vendor, person, or entity providing digital or online library resources to the School for use by students verify they have policies and technology protection measures:
1. Prohibiting and preventing users from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading materials that are deemed to be harmful to minors, as defined by section 18-1514, Idaho Code; and
2. Filtering or blocking access to obscene materials, materials harmful to minors, and materials that depict the sexual exploitation of a minor, as defined in chapter 15, title 18, Idaho Code.
The School will also monitor the online activities of students, through direct observation and/or technological means, to ensure that students are not accessing such depictions or other material that is inappropriate or harmful to minors as defined in section 18-1514 Idaho Code or as defined in 47 USC Section 254.
Filtering should also be used in conjunction with:
1. Educating students on appropriate online behavior;
2. Requiring students review and sign Form 3270F Internet Access Conduct Agreement;
3. Using behavior management practices for which internet access privileges can be earned or lost; and
4. Appropriate supervision, either in person and/or electronically.
The building principal shall monitor student internet access:
Internet filtering software or other technology-based protection systems may be disabled by a supervising teacher or School administrator, as necessary, for purposes of bona fide research or other educational projects being conducted by students age 18 and older.
Student Use of Social Media
Students will be held accountable for the content of the communications that they post on social media websites and are responsible for complying with School policy. Students may not disrupt the learning atmosphere, educational programs, School activities, or the rights of others.
All requirements of this policy apply to use of social media through the School network or equipment or as part of a class assignment.
Internet Access Conduct Agreements
Each student and his or her parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will be required to sign and return to the School at the beginning of each school year the Internet Access Conduct Agreement prior to having access to the School’s computer system and/or internet service.
Warranties/Indemnification
The Charter School makes no warranties of any kind, express or implied, in connection with its provision of access to and use of its computer networks and the internet provided under this policy. The School is not responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged, or unavailable when using the network, or for any information that is retrieved or transmitted via the internet. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, missed deliveries, or service interruptions caused by its negligence or the user’s errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the internet is at the user’s own risk. The School specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services. The School will not be responsible for any unauthorized charges or fees resulting from access to the internet, and any user is fully responsible to the School and shall indemnify and hold the School, its Board Members, administrators, teachers, and staff harmless from any and all loss, costs, claims, or damages resulting from such user’s access to its computer network and the internet, including but not limited to any fees or charges incurred through purchases of goods or services by the user and attorney fees. The user or, if the user is a minor, the user’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s) agrees to cooperate with the School in the event the School initiates an investigation of a user’s use of his or her access to its computer network and the internet.
Violations
If any user violates this policy, the student’s access to the Charter School’s internet system and computers will be denied, if not already provided, or withdrawn and he or she may be subject to additional disciplinary action. The Executive Director or designee will make all decisions regarding whether or not a user has violated this policy and any related rules or regulations and may deny, revoke, or suspend access at any time, with his or her decision being final. Actions which violate local, State, or federal law may be referred to the local law enforcement agency.
If the actions of the individual are also in violation of other School discipline policies, said student shall be subject to additional possible disciplinary action based upon these policies.
Internet Safety Coordinator
The Executive Director shall serve, or appoint someone to serve, as “Internet Safety Coordinator” with responsibility and authority for ensuring compliance with the requirements of federal law, State law, and this policy. The Internet Safety Coordinator shall develop and maintain administrative procedures to enforce the provisions of this policy and coordinate with the appropriate Charter School personnel regarding the internet safety component of the School’s curriculum. The Internet Safety Coordinator shall handle any complaints about the enforcement of this policy or refer them to other appropriate personnel depending on the nature of the complaint.
The Internet Safety Coordinator shall maintain documentation evidencing that instruction by School personnel on internet safety is occurring School wide.
Public Notification
The Internet Safety Coordinator shall inform the public via the main Charter School web page of the School’s procedures regarding enforcement of this policy and make them available for review at the School office.
Submission to State Department of Education
This policy shall be filed with the State Executive Director of Public Instruction every five years after initial submission and subsequent to any edit to this policy thereafter.
Cross References:
2335 Digital Citizenship and Safety Education
3330 Student Discipline
Legal References:
20 U.S.C. § 7131 Internet Safety
20 U.S.C. § 9134(f) State Plans - Internet Safety
I.C. § 33-132 Local School Boards — Internet Use Policy Required
I.C. § 18-1514(6) Children and Vulnerable Adults — Obscene Materials — Definitions — "Harmful to Minors" Defined
I.C. § 33-137 Digital and Online Library Resources for K-12 Students
Policy History
Adopted on: June 14, 2021
Revised on:
Reviewed on: