Operating Guidelines
Book:	Operating Guidelines
Section:	I - Instructional Program
Title:	Acceptable Use of Local/Wide Area Network and Internet Access - High Schools and Middle Schools
Number:	IFBGB (3)
Status:	Active
Legal:
Adopted:	08/09/2007
Last Revised:
Last Reviewed:

Policy Detail

Fulton County High Schools and Middle Schools
Acceptable Use for Local/Wide Area Network and Internet Access

The Internet is the collective name for thousands of computers worldwide, which are connected through phone networks. The computers communicate with the same protocol and have an established Internet address. It is similar to a library of books, written in the same language and having a call number. However, one difference between the Internet and the Information and Technology Center is that our books are acquired according to School Board approved guidelines. Selection of Internet resources, on the other hand, is decided by the end user. The user carries the responsibility of selecting appropriate items to view. This policy describes user behavior and identifies what actions are prohibited.

Services

Student access to the Internet will only be provided through the Fulton County Schools local/wide area network and the school’s Internet provider. Access to the school Local Area Network (LAN) is a privilege available to all students; however the account access may be disabled if student use is inappropriate.

Terms and Conditions for Local/Wide Area Network and Internet Access

The Internet user is held responsible for his/her actions and activity within his/her usage. Fulton County Schools is not accountable for any costs incurred to the user while online. Unacceptable uses of the local/wide area network will result in disciplinary action. Some examples of such unacceptable use are:

• Access, create, download or display offensive or obscene messages or pictures
• Use obscene or defamatory language
· Participate in unauthorized Internet “chat” rooms
• Install, download or play games or programs of any kind without permission of the media specialist school personnel - suggestion from MS principals
• Give out personal information about themselves or another student such as their name, address, phone number or location
• Harass, insult, defame or attack others
• Damage computers altering computer systems or computer networks
• Violate copyright laws, such as illegally installing or copying of software
• Try to obtain or use another person’s password
• Trespass in another’s folders, work or files, vandalizing the data of another user
• Posting anonymous messages or attributing one’s communications to another individual
• Intentionally waste limited resources such as paper, data storage space, time online
• Employ the network for financial gain
• Gaining unauthorized access to resources
• Neglecting to log out all programs and the network when users leave the computer station

Consequences:

These offenses will be treated as vandalism. Consult your student handbook to understand the related disciplinary actions. In the least, the offenses above could result in the student being denied access to the network for a specific period of time. The overall goal of this discipline is to make the student a responsible, considerate and ethical user of online resources.

Restrictions:

Parent(s) and Guardian(s) of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their child or ward should follow. To that end, Fulton County Schools supports and respects each family’s values regarding LAN and Internet access. Any parent or guardian, who would prefer not to have his/her child access the Local Area Network and Internet should mark “No” on the Acceptable Use Agreement form, as indicated.

Conditions of Use and Account Management:

Students who access the LAN automatically agree, through a statement on the computer screen, to abide by the restrictions outlined in Fulton County Schools policy for acceptable use. The specific conditions and services being offered may change from time to time.

Fulton County Schools makes no warranties with respect to Internet service or content. Parents and students should be aware that Fulton County Schools does not have control of the information on the Internet, nor can it provide impenetrable barriers to accessing the full range of information available. Other sites accessible via the Internet may contain material that is illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people.

All Fulton County Schools students will be assigned their own network account name with password. Passwords should not be given out to anybody.

With this account, students will have their own folder on the school’s server to store their work. Parent(s) or guardian(s) of students who do not wish their child to have access to the LAN and Internet at Fulton County Schools may request to have the student account disabled when the principal is notified in writing of their decision.

Fulton County Schools believes that the benefits to educators and students from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, far exceed any disadvantages of access. Fulton County Schools has also minimized these disadvantages by utilizing filtering software to block access to undesirable web sites.

Cross Reference: IFBGA - Electronic Networks Access Policy

References: