Boyertown Area School
District
Acceptable Use Policy
Why computers in school?
• The School District provides computer
systems to employees, students, and
others so that they can work together to
achieve the educational purpose and
mission of the School District.
• Used for instructional purposes, the use
shall be consistent with the curriculum
adopted by BASD.
Boyertown Network Use
• Does not endorse all content
accessed by students.
• Is not responsible for any information
lost, damaged, or unavailable when
using the network for information via
the internet.
• Is not responsible for any charges or
fees resulting from access to internet.
Boyertown Network Use
• Access to the School District CIS
systems is a privilege, not a right.
• No expectations of privacy
• Access can be denied to
unauthorized, inappropriate, or illegal
users.
• Report any violations or suspicious
activities.
What activities are prohibited?
• Going to web pages with inappropriate material
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Obscene
Sexually explicit
Child Pornographic
Hateful
Illegal
Defamatory
Lewd
Vulgar
Profane
Rude
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Inflammatory
Threatening
Harassing
Discriminatory
Violent
Bullying/cyber-bullying
Terroristic
Advocating destruction of
property
Boyertown May Restrict
• The right to access…
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Any internet sites
Functions
Software
Servers
Deemed inappropriate
Boyertown
• May authorize Temporary disabling
of…
• Internet blocking/filtering
• Software
Safety
• No personal information revealed
• Control of access by users
• Safety and security of users when using
forms of direct communication
• Unauthorized disclosure
• Restriction of users
What are acceptable uses?
• Classroom activities
• Locating materials to help in learning
• Finding information for school related
research
• Career development
• Communications for educational
purposes
• Other uses in support of school work
What activities are prohibited?
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Facilitating illegal activity
Commercial or for-profit purpose
Non-work or non-school related work
Product advertisement
Political lobbying
Bullying/Cyber-bullying
Language, actions, and/or
statements that are in violation of law
or BASD policies
What activities are prohibited?
• Unauthorized or illegal installation,
distribution, reproduction, or use of
copyrighted materials
• Accessing, sending, receiving,
transferring, viewing, sharing, or
downloading obscene or illegal images.
• Material harmful to minors
• Transmission of offensive or
objectionable material
What activities are prohibited?
• Loading or using of unauthorized
games, programs, files, or other media.
• Disruption of the work of others
• Destruction, modification, abuse or
unauthorized access to network
hardware, software, or files
• Disabling or bypassing Internet
blocking software
What activities are prohibited?
• Communications that are inappropriate or
not school related
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Threats
Hate mail
Harassing messages
Discriminatory words
Offensive language
Profanity
Vulgar words
Inflammatory statements
• Instant messaging
What activities are prohibited?
• Using another student’s account
• Sharing passwords
• Accessing a password protected area
• Plagiarism - using another person’s
work as if it were your own, without
giving them credit
What activities are prohibited?
• Using the Internet or e-mail in any
way that would interfere with or
disrupt its use by others
– Destroying district computer hardware or
software
– Destroying other students files
– Implanting viruses
– Sending chain mail or broadcast messages
– Disabling virus protection software or
procedures
– Changing computer settings
What activities are prohibited?
• NO!!! Social
networking web sites
and chat rooms.
–Facebook
–Twitter
Personal Devices
• Use of personal devices during class
time is at the discretion of the teacher
with responsibility of the classroom.
• May not use cellular or other data
networks to which the user may have
access.
• Must comply with districts policies
Personal Devices
• May be confiscated at any time
• May restrict services
• Must be registered before use on
network
• NO CAMERAS!!!
• Not liable for lost or damaged items
Are students safe?
• Never give out personal
information (yours or another
person’s)
Visit SafeTeens.com
for tips, advice and
suggestions about
online safely!
– Full name, age
– Address, phone number
– School you attend
– Social security number
• Don’t post your picture
• Change passwords frequently
Are students safe?
• Report any threatening or unwelcome
messages
• NEVER agree to meet someone you
met online
Is copying OK?
• Respect copyrights
• Requesting permission to use
copyrighted materials
• Comply with license agreements
Crash
Course
In
Copyright
• Copyright law does not allow
• Making unauthorized copies of
copyrighted material
• Distributing copyrighted materials
• Illegal installation of copyrighted
software or files
• Do not plagiarize works found on
the Internet
What is your responsibility?
• Sign the AUP
– To say you have read and you understand the
Acceptable Use Policy
– To say you will comply with the Acceptable Use
Policy
• Have your parents sign the AUP
– To say they have read and they understand the
Acceptable Use Policy
– To say they went over it with you
– To say that you will abide by its requirements
What is your responsibility?
• Students must practice proper computer
and Internet etiquette
• Students must report actions by others
that are not in accordance with the
Acceptable Use Policy, such as but not
limited to:
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Sharing passwords
Using the computer accounts of others
Changing communications with the intent to deceive
Using the computer to engage in any illegal act
Disabling virus protection software
Receiving any message in violation of this policy
Coming across inappropriate material
Changing computer settings
What if you break the rules?
• Disciplinary action will be tailored to meet the
violation
• If an action violates the Student Disciplinary
Code it will be handled in accordance with the
appropriate provision of the Code
• Network and Internet access could be
terminated
• Violations may be reported to the appropriate
legal authorities
• Users shall be responsible for damages to
equipment, systems, and software
How will the District know?
The District has the right
• To monitor, track, and log any network activities
and electronic communications
• To examine contents of users’ personal files
• To block Internet sights it considers inappropriate
• To determine if an activity not appearing in the
AUP is acceptable use
• To remove files, email, unlicensed software, and
unauthorized downloads
• To monitor and allocate file server space
• To remove user accounts
• To deny user privileges
District Disclaimers
The District shall not be responsible:
• For any information that may be lost
• For material that is retrieved by the
Internet (it’s accuracy, quality, content)
• Any fees or financial obligations resulting
from use of the system
• Damages arising out of the use of the
computer