Bakersfield City School District
Acceptable Use Policy
{this is excerpted from the Educational
Technology Plan March 1998 of BCSD}
Policy of the Board ofEducation
The Board encourages the instructional use of computers, videotapes, interactive videodisks, distance learning, cable television and other technologies. The Board perceives that these technologies:
· help teachers meet a wide range of learning styles,
· enable teachers to move from whole-class instruction to a mixture of small-group and individualized instruction,
· help students develop reasoning and problem-solving abilities, and
· will be a part of students’ everyday lives.
The district’s educational software shall be carefully
selected and evaluated so as to meet the teachers’ and students’ needs
and conform with district policy and regulations.
Education Code: 51870-51884, 51865
Management Resources: CDE Publications
The California Master Plan For Educational Technology,
April 1992
Adopted July 9, 1996
Staff shall strictly observe copyright laws related to computers and educational technology. A designated employee shall ensure that software is used and duplicated in accordance with software licensing agreements. Public domain software may be duplicated and exchanged with other schools or staff. No illegal copies of copyrighted software shall be accepted or used in the district
The following guidelines shall be considered when evaluating educational software:
2. Instructions are clear and complete, and the program operates as specified in the instructions.
3. Program objectives mime to course objectives and me explicitly stated or readily apparent to the learner.
4. Responses to learners awe helpful and encouraging.
5. Users can easily and independently operate the program.
6. The pace of the program can be controlled by the teacher or learner, unless pacing is an essential element of the instructional strategy.
7. Unanticipated learner input does not disrupt program operations.
8. Screens are well-formatted, with appropriate use of sound and graphics.
9. Support materials include:
b) Procedures for installing the software,
c) Provisions for the replacement of defective software, and
d) Descriptions of the program’s content and objectives, usage in various instructional settings, suggested related classroom activities.
Policy of the Board ofEducation
The Board recognizes that technology provides ways to access the most current and extensive sources of information. Technology also enables students to practice skills and to develop reasoning and problem-solving abilities. In addition, electronic resources foster workplace skills that may be transferable to new technologies. Every effort shall be made to provide equal access to technology throughout the district’s schools and classes.
On-line Services
To discourage access to adult content on on-line electronic services and preclude other misuses of the system, the Superintendent or designee shall establish age/grade-level qualifications and shall ensure that students receive training in user obligations and responsibilities.
Before using on-line services, the student and parent/guardian shall sign the district’s user contract indicating that the student understands and agrees to abide by specified user obligations and responsibilities. Staff shall closely supervise students while using on-line services.
The Superintendent or designee shall establish administrative
regulations governing use of the district's on-line services, and shall
ensure that users have no expectation of privacy and understand that district
staff may monitor or examine all system activities to ensure proper use
of the system. Students and/or staff who fail to abide by these regulations
shall be subject to disciplinary action, revocation of the user account,
and legal action as appropriate.
Education Code: 51006, 51007, 60011,60013,60017.1 60044
Penal Code: 632
United States Code, Tide 20, 6801-7005
Management Resources: CDE Publications
K- 12 Network Technology Planning Guide: Building the Future, 1994
CDE Program Advisories: 1223.94
Adopted July 9, 1996
The principal or designee shall oversee the maintenance of each school’s technological resources and may establish guidelines and limits on their use. He/she shall ensure that all students using these resources receive training in their proper use as well as copies of related district policies and regulations.
On-line Services: User Obligations and Responsibilities
Students are authorized to use the district’s on-line services in accordance with user obligations and responsibilities specified below.
2. The system shall be used only for purposes related to education. Commercial, political and/or personal use of the district’s system is strictly prohibited. The district reserves the right to monitor any on-line communications for improper use.
3. Users shall not use the system to encourage the use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco, nor shall they promote unethical practices or any activity prohibited by law or district policy.
4. Users shall not transmit material that is threatening, obscene, disruptive or sexually explicit, or that could be construed as harassment or disparagement of others based on their race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or political beliefs.
5. Copyrighted material may not be placed on the system without the author's permission. Users may download copyrighted materials for their own use only.
6. Vandalism will result in the cancellation of user privileges. Vandalism includes uploading, downloading or creating computer viruses and/or any malicious attempt to harm or destroy district equipment & materials or the data of any other user.
7. Users shall not read other users’ mail or files. They shall not attempt to interfere with other users’ ability to send or receive electronic mail, nor shall they attempt to read, delete, copy, modify or forge other users’ mail.
8. Users are expected to keep messages brief and use appropriate language.
9. Users shall report any security problem or misuse of the network to the teacher or principal.
SCHOOL/STUDENT-USER CONTRACT
Ethical Use Agreement for Technology Equipment and Resources
Agreement In exchange for the use of the Bakersfield City School District computer networks or systems, either at school or away from school, I understand and agree to the following:
Students, please read this document carefully. When signed by you, it becomes a legally binding contract. We must have your signature and that of your parent/guardian before we can provide you with an access account.
Listed below are the provisions of this contract If any user violates these provisions, access to the information service may be denied and you may be subject to disciplinary action.
Terms and Conditions of This Contract
As a representative of this school, I will accept personal responsibility for reporting any misuse of the network to the principal. Misuse can come in many forms, but ft is commonly viewed as any messages sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues.
2. Acceptable Use
The use of my assigned account must be in support of education and research and with die educational goals and objectives of the Bakersfield City School District. I am personally responsible for this provision at all times when using the electronic information service.
b. Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or other state organizations is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secrets.
c. Use of commercial activities by for-profit institutions is generally not acceptable.
d. Use of product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited.
e. Access to on-line services that provide information considered to be pornographic or immoral is also prohibited.
The use of the information system is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. Each person who receives an account will participate in a discussion with a Bakersfield City School District faculty member as to proper behavior and use of the network. The Principal will decide what is appropriate use and his/her decision is final. The principal may close an account at any time if necessary. The administration, staff, or faculty of Bakersfield City School District may request the District deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts.
4. Netiquette (Network Etiquette)
You are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules
of network etiquette. These rules include, but are not limited to, the
following:
b. USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE. Remember that you are a representative of our school and district on a non-private system. You may be alone with your computer, but what you say and do can be viewed globally! Never swear, use vulgarities, or any other inappropriate language. illegal activities of any kind are strictly forbidden.
c. PRIVACY. Do not reveal home addresses or personal phone numbers.
d. ELECTRONIC MAIL. Electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. Everyone on the system has access to all mail. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities must be reported to the authorities.
e. DISRUPTIONS. Do not use the network in any way
that would disrupt use of the network by others.
The use of Bakersfield City School District computers should be for the purpose of (in order of priority):
2. communication
3. general information
6. Services
The Bakersfield City School District makes no warranties
of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing.
The Bakersfield City School District will not be responsible for any damages
you suffer while on this system. These damages include loss of data as
a result of delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions
caused by the system or your errors or omissions. Use of any information
obtained via the information system is at your own risk. The Bakersfield
City School District specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy
of information obtained trough its services.
Security on any computer system is a high priority because that nit so many users. 11 you identify a security problem, notify the teacher at once. Never demonstrate the problem to other users. Never use another individual’s account without written permission from that person.
8. Ethical Use
Plagiarism of ideas or information will be grounds for
disciplinary action. Theft or piracy of software and/or vandalism will
result in cancellation of privileges. Vandalism is defined as any malicious
attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or any other agencies or
networks that nit connected
to the system. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation
of computer viruses. Any vandalism will result in the loss of computer
services, disciplinary action, and legal referral.
I understand and will abide by the provisions and conditions
of this contract. I understand that any violations of the above provisions
may result in disciplinary action, the revoking of my user account and
appropriate legal action. I also agree to report any misuse of die information
system to the appropriate Bakersfield City School District administrator.
Misuse can come in ninny forms, but can be viewed as any messages sent
or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal
solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues
described above. All the rules of conduct described in the District publication
entitled "Guide for Parents and Students" apply when you are on the network.