A critical part of any technology plan is an Internet acceptable use policy (AUP). This document will set forth guidelines for the use of the Internet by students and staff throughout the school district.

Besides setting out guidelines for Internet use, the AUP should also include the following elements:

  • Training and education on Internet use for staff, students, and parents.

  • Internet use agreements signed by staff, students, and parents.

  • An Internet "driver's licence" or other such verification that should be issued to every staff member and student upon completion of required training, and revoked (just like an automobile driver's licence) when the individual has violated the AUP.

  • Supervision for students using Internet.

  • Assignment forms which students would have with them when using Internet at school. The form should indicate the purpose for that student's current use of the Internet. It should also be dated and bear the signature of the teacher who assigned the lesson or project requiring the Internet use.

  • Consideration of some method of Internet filtering that would put the school district in compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). [Refer to the box below]

This is a short synopsis of the basic requirements for compliance with CIPA:

  • The use of a technology protection measure that blocks or filters Internet access

  • Adoption of an Internet Safety Policy

  • Convening, in some cases, at least one public meeting to prepare the Internet safety policy

For more details about CIPA and the actions a school must undertake to comply with it, click on the link above.

Samples

Another sample is available from the Iowa Association of School Boards. This sample has been distributed to schools across the state. If you represent a school in Iowa, and you cannot locate a copy, you may with to contact the IASB for a copy of their "Internet Acceptable Use and School District Web Sites" document. There may be a cost for that document. Contact information is below:

Iowa Association of School Boards
700 Second Avenue, Ste. 100
Des Moines, IA 50309-1731
Phone:  (515) 288-1991 or 1-800-795-4272  Fax:  (515) 243-4992
Web: www.ia-sb.org

Links

How does my school or library comply with the CIPA legislation?

Grant Wood AEA: Internet Filtering - Sources of Information