Student Acceptable Use Policy Agreement

-Internet/Technology Usage-

Student Section (PLEASE PRINT)

Student Name: ______________________________ Grade: _______________

School: ____________________________________ Homeroom:________________

I have read the Coffee County School System (CCSS) Student Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) below this form.

If access is provided—I will supervise my child’s use of the system when my child is accessing the system [Coffee County School System Networks (CCSSN)] from home.

I hereby release the district, its personnel, and any institutions with which it is affiliated, from any and all claims and damages of any nature arising from my child’s use of, or inability to use, Coffee County School System Networks (CCSSN), including, but not limited to claims that may arise from the unauthorized use of the system to purchase products or services.

I will instruct my child regarding any restrictions against accessing material that are in addition to the restrictions set forth in the CCSS 's AUP. I will emphasize to my child the importance of following the rules for personal safety.

I give permission for my child to have Internet access through the use of the CCSSN and, if needed, to issue an account for my child. Also, I certify that the information contained in this form is correct.

Parent Signature: ______________________________________________Date: ____________________

Student Signature: _____________________________________________

Home Address: _________________________________________________ Phone:__________________

COFFEE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM--Student Acceptable Use Policy

(All students are provided this form at the beginning of each school year. The form on back is to be signed and filed at the school every year.)

Coffee County School System (CCSS) is now offering Internet access for student use. This document contains the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for student use of Coffee County School System Networks (CCSSN).

A. Educational Purpose

1. CCSSN has been established for a limited educational purpose. The term "educational purpose" includes classroom activities, career development, and limited high-quality self-discovery activities.

2. CCSSN has not been established as a public access service or a public forum. CCSSN has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material you access or post through the system. You are also expected to follow the rules set forth in the Student Code of Conduct and the Coffee County School System Board Policy.

3. You may not use CCSSN for commercial purposes. This means you may not offer, provide, or purchase products or services through CCSSN.

4. You may not use CCSSN for political lobbying. You may, however. use the system to communicate with elected representatives and to express your opinion on political issues.

B. Student Internet Access

All students will have access to Internet World Wide Web (WWW) information resources through their classroom, library, or school computer lab.

Elementary students will have e-mail access only under their teachers' direct supervision using a classroom account. Elementary students may be provided with individual e-mail accounts under special circumstances, at the request of their teachers and with the approval of their parent/ guardian.

1. Secondary students may obtain an individual e-mail account with the approval of their parent/guardian.

2. Both student and parent must sign a Student Acceptable Use Policy Agreement to have access to CCSSN and, if needed, to be granted an individual e-mail account on CCSSN. This Agreement must be renewed on an annual basis. The parent/guardian can withdraw approval at any time.

3. If approved by your building principal, you may create a personal Web page on CCSSN. All material placed on your Web page must be pre-approved and continually reviewed in a manner specified by the school. Material placed on your Web page must relate to your school and career preparation activities.

C. Unacceptable Uses

The following uses of CCSSN are considered unacceptable:

1. Personal Safety

a. You will not post personal contact information about yourself or other people. Personal contact information includes your home address, telephone number, school address, work address, etc.

b. You will not agree to meet with someone you have met online without your parent/guardian approval. Your parent/guardian should accompany you to this meeting.

c. You will promptly disclose to your teacher or another school employee any message you receive that is inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.

2. Illegal Activities

a. You will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to CCSSN or to any other computer system through CCSSN or go beyond your authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files. These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing".

b. You will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are illegal.

c. You will not use CCSSN to engage in any other illegal act, such as arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity, threatening the safety of a person, etc.

3. System Security

a. You are responsible for your individual account and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from gaining access to your account. Under no conditions should you provide your password to another person.

b. You will immediately notify a teacher or the system administrator if you have identified a possible security problem. Do not go looking for security problems, because this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.

c. You will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the District virus protection procedures if you download software.

4. Inappropriate Language

a. Restrictions against Inappropriate Language apply to public messages, private messages, and all material posted on Web pages.

b. You will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.

c. You will not post information that could cause damage or be a danger of disruption.

d. You will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.

e. You will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses or annoys another person. If you are told by a person to stop sending him/her messages, you must stop.

f. You will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

5. Respect for Privacy

a. You will not repost a message that was sent to you privately unless the sender gives permission.

b. You will not post private information about another person.

6. Respecting Resource Limits

a. You will use the system only for educational and career development activities and limited, high-quality, self-discovery activities. There is not limit on use for education and career development activities.

b. You will not download large files unless it is absolutely necessary. If necessary, you will download the file after receiving permission from the teacher in charge and at a time when the system is not being heavily used. Next, immediately remove the file from the system computer to your disk or personal computer.

c. You will not post chain letters or engage in "spamming." Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.

d. You will check your e-mail frequently, delete unwanted messages promptly, and stay within your e-mail quota.

e. You will subscribe only to quality discussion group mail lists that are relevant to your education or career development.

7. Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

a. You will not plagiarize works that you find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were yours.

b. You will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected by a copyright. If you are unsure whether or not you can use a work, you should request permission from the copyright owner. Copyright law can be very confusing. If you have questions ask a teacher.

8. Inappropriate Access to Material

a. You will not use CCSSN to access material that is profane or obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature). A special exception may be made for hate literature if the purpose of your access is to conduct research and both your teacher and parent/guardian have approved.

b. If you mistakenly access inappropriate information, you should immediately tell your teacher or another employee of the CCSS. Making your access known and stating that you mistakenly accessed inappropriate information will protect you against a claim that you intentionally violated this policy.

c. Your parent/guardian should instruct you if there is additional material that they think it would be inappropriate for you to access. CCSS fully expects that you will follow your parent's instructions in this matter.

D. Your Rights

1. Free Speech

Your right to free speech, as set forth in the disciplinary code, applies also to your communication on the Internet. The CCSSN is considered a limited forum, similar to the school newspaper, and therefore the CCSS may restrict your speech for valid educational reasons. CCSS will not restrict your speech on the basis of a disagreement with the opinions you are expressing.

2. Search and Seizure

a. You should expect only limited privacy in the contents of your personal files on the CCSSN system. The situation is similar to the rights you have in the privacy of your locker.

b. Routine maintenance and monitoring of CCSSN may lead to discovery that you have violated this Policy, the Student Code of Conduct, or the law.

c. An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that you have violated this Policy, the Student Code of Conduct, or the law. The investigation will be reasonable and related to the suspected violation.

d. Your parents have the right at any time to request to see the contents of your e-mail files.

3. Due Process

a. CCSS will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through CCSSN.

b. In the event there is a claim that you have violated this Policy or Student Code of Conduct in your use of the CCSSN, you will be provided with a written notice of the suspected violation and an opportunity to present an explanation before a neutral administrator and/or will be provided with notice and opportunity to be heard in the manner set forth in the Student Code of Conduct.

c. If the violation also involves a violation of other provisions of the disciplinary code, it will be handled in a manner described in the disciplinary code. Additional restrictions may be placed on your use of your Internet account.

E. Limitation of Liability

CCSS makes no guarantee that the functions or the services provided by or through CCSS will be error-free or without defect. CCSS will not be responsible for any damage you may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. CCSS is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system. CCSS will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system.

F. Personal Responsibility

When you are using CCSSN, it may feel like you can easily break a rule and not get caught. This is not really true because whenever you do something on a network, you leave little "electronic footprints," so the odds of getting caught are really about the same as they are in the real world.

The fact that you can do something or think you can do something without being caught does not make it right to do so. Even if you don't get caught, there is always one person who will know whether you have done wrong--that person is you. Your use of the Internet can be a mirror that will show you what kind of a person you are.