ACS Internet User AgreementARLINGTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS STUDENT USER AGREEMENT AND PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSIONS
Parent/guardian permission is required for students under the age of eighteen to participate in some school related activities. Please review the information below and complete the ACS Student User Agreement and Parent/Guardian Permissions Form to grant or deny permission for your child in each of the areas on the form. If no signature is provided, the choice will be recorded as a no. A. Student User Agreement and Independent Internet Access We are pleased to offer students of Arlington Community Schools access to district electronic resources. Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence in our system by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. Electronic resources provide students with access to vast amounts of information and numerous opportunities for communication. Our intent is to make Internet access available to students to help further educational goals and objectives. However, parents/guardians should be warned that if students disregard the guidelines of the school and/or system, they may find ways to access materials via the Internet which may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive to some people. We believe that the benefits to students from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages. Ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, Arlington Community Schools support and respect each family’s right to decide whether or not to approve independent Internet access and communication. In accordance with ACS policy #4.406 and to gain independent access to the Internet, all students under the age of 18 must obtain parental/guardian permission and must sign and return the ACS Student User Agreement and Parent/Guardian Permissions Form to the Principal or designee. Students over 18 may sign their own forms. Student Responsibilities Electronic resources are provided for students to enhance the learning experience. Student use is for educational purposes only and must be consistent with the educational objectives of Arlington Community Schools. Access to services is given to students who agree to act in a responsible manner. Parent/guardian permission is required for independent access. Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway. Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communications apply. If a student observes any illegal activities or misuse of the network, he/she shall report these activities to their supervising teacher. Computer, network, and cloud storage areas will be treated like school lockers. Network and/or school administrators and/or their designee may review ACS e-mail accounts, files, bookmarks, and communications under the same standards set for school lockers to insure the integrity of the electronic media. Privacy is not guaranteed for files stored on District computers, tablets, servers, e-mail accounts, or in the cloud, nor will files be maintained indefinitely. Students should also be advised that they should have no expectation of privacy for any information created or communicated using Arlington Community Schools electronic resources. School and Parent Responsibility Within reason, freedom of speech and access to information will be honored. During school, teachers will guide students toward appropriate materials. Outside of school and with independent access, parents/guardians bear the same responsibility for such guidance as they exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, cellphones, movies, social media, and other potentially offensive media. Schools will insure that procedures for access and standards of conduct regarding Internet use are communicated to students through appropriate instruction on Internet Safety. It is presumed that students given access will comply with District standards and will honor the agreements they have signed. The District cannot be responsible for ideas and concepts that a student may gain by his or her inappropriate use of the Internet. ACS Student Handbook 18 2016-2017 District Electronic Access and Internet Rules The following are not permitted and will result in disciplinary action: 1. Violating existing board policy, procedure, or regulation or local, state, or federal statue 2. Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures 3. Using obscene language 4. Harassing, insulting, threatening, defaming or attacking others 5. Damaging computers, computer systems, computer networks or devices 6. Attempting to bypass network security or filters, impair the functionality of the network or to bypass restrictions set by network administrators, including the creation and use of proxy servers 7. Downloading electronic media or software that may cause a threat to the network 8. Knowingly spreading viruses or malicious software 9. Hacking or attempting unauthorized access to any computer 10. Trespassing in another’s folders, work or files 11. Violating copyright laws 12. Intentional misuse of electronic resources 13. Intentionally wasting limited resources 14. Using electronic resources for non-instructional purposes 15. Using another’s login or password or other identifier (impersonation) 16. Use of the network for commercial purposes 17. Buying or selling on the Internet 18. Political lobbying or using the network for personal financial gain 19. Attempting to bypass network security to gain unauthorized access to information 20. Using personal electronic devices at school without appropriate permission 21. Using personal electronic devices to access the network without appropriate permission 22. Accessing sensitive or confidential data without authorization 23. Allowing unauthorized access to confidential data, e-mail correspondence or other information 24. Connecting a District computer to any other service provider while on District property 25. Copying sensitive or confidential data to any removable device (flash drive, hard drive, CD/DVD) or cloud storage 26. Using “system” or “administrative” passwords without authorization 27. Publishing personal information (name, address, phone number, photograph, e-mail address) without teacher/parent approval 28. Using district provided e-mail for non-school related purposes. Sanctions The use of ACS electronic resources is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in cancellation of privileges. Access entails responsibility. System administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and their decision is final. Additional disciplinary action may be determined at the local school level in keeping with existing procedures and practices regarding inappropriate language or behavior. When applicable, law enforcement agencies or legal action may be involved. |