Information resources offer access to computers and people throughout the world. Students and staff will have access to electronic mail and college and university libraries, information and news from a variety of sources and research institutions, software of all types, and discussion groups on a wide variety of topics, and much more!

The following guidelines are intended to be helpful and provide a base from which district and school policies can be tailored. While the emphasis here is on appropriate use, there is no intent to diminish the vital nature of electronic information services. The concerns described here are real, but they should not discourage school officials from planning for the appropriate use of one of education's newest and most valuable tools.

We encourage the establishment of a district level electronic information resources committee. Whenever possible, the committee should be composed of school board members, administrators, teachers, library media personnel, students and parents. It should be chaired by the administrator who has overall responsibility for student use of electronic information resources. The committee should develop policies and provide all users and potential users and parents with a handbook that describes the policies related to the acceptable use of electronic information resources.

While electronic information resources offer tremendous opportunities of educational value, they also offer persons with illegal or unethical purposes avenues for reaching students, teachers, and others, including parents. The following represent some of the inappropriate uses that may occur:

¥ using the network for commercial advertising
¥ using copyrighted material in reports without permission
¥ using the network to lobby for votes
¥ using the network to access a file that contains pornographic pictures, taking them home, and telling parents, "I got them at school"
¥ using the network to send/receive messages that are racist
¥ using the network to send/receive inflammatory messages
¥ creating a computer virus and placing it on the network
¥ using the network to send/receive a message with someone else's name on it
¥ using the network to send/receive a message that is inconsistent with the school's code of conduct
¥ using the network to send/receive messages that are sexist and contain obscenities
¥ using the network to request home phone numbers and, later, making obscene phone calls to the numbers
¥ using the network to provide addresses or other personal information that others may use inappropriately
¥ using the network for sending and receiving a large number of personal messages

The primary purposes of the committee are to devise ways to protect students, to develop processes for the reporting of abuses, and to design methods to prevent their recurrence.

All users should be aware that the inappropriate use of electronic information resources can be a violation of local, state, and federal laws. Violations can lead to prosecution.

II. User Contract:

Electronic Information Resource Contract

We are pleased to announce that _________________electronic information services are now available to students and teachers in our district who qualify as a result of participation in an orientation or training course. The ________District strongly believes in the educational value of such electronic services and recognizes the potential of such to support our curriculum and student learning in our district. Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. _______________ District will make every effort to protect students and teachers from any misuses or abuses as a result of their experiences with an information service. All users must be continuously on guard to avoid inappropriate and illegal interaction with the information service.

Please read this document carefully. When signed by you and, if appropriate, your guardian/parent, it becomes a legally binding contract. We must have your initials where indicated and your signature and that of your guardian/parent (if you are under 18) before we can provide you with an access account.

Listed below are the provisions of this contract. If any user violates these provisions, access to the information service may be denied and you may be subject to disciplinary action.

As a representative of this school, I will accept personal responsibility for reporting any misuse of the network to the system administrator. Misuse can come in many forms, but it is commonly viewed as any message(s) sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues described below. All the rules of conduct described in the District publication entitled "________________" apply when you are on the network.

I have read and understand this provision.

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2. Acceptable Use.

The use of my assigned account must be in support of education and research and with the educational goals and objectives of the ____________District (these may be found in the District document entitled "___________________"). I am personally responsible for this provision at all times when using the electronic information service.

a. Use of other organization's networks or computing resources must comply with rules appropriate to that network.

b. Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or other state organizations is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted material, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.

c. Use of commercial activities by for-profit institutions is generally not acceptable.

d. Use of product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited.

I am aware that the inappropriate use of electronic information resources can be a violation of local, state and federal laws and that I can be prosecuted for violating those laws.

I have read and understand this provision.

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3. Privileges.

The use of the information system is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. Each person who receives an account will participate in an orientation or training course with a ______________ faculty member as to proper behavior and use of the network. The ________________system administrator (operating under the aegis of the school board and the district office) will decide what is appropriate use and their decision is final. The system administrator(s) may close an account at any time deemed necessary. The administration, staff, or faculty of _________________ District may request that the system administrator deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts.

I have read and understand this provision.

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4. Network Etiquette and Privacy.

You are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These rules include (but are not limited to) the following:

a. BE POLITE. Never send, or encourage others to send, abusive messages.

b. USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE. Remember that you are a representative of our school and district on a non-private system. You may be alone with your computer, but what you say and do can be viewed globally! Never swear, use vulgarities, or any other inappropriate language. Illegal activities of any kind are strictly forbidden.

c. PRIVACY. Do not reveal your home address or personal phone number or the addresses and phone numbers of students or colleagues.

d. ELECTRONIC MAIL. Electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities must be reported to the authorities.

e. DISRUPTIONS. Do not use the network in any way that would disrupt use of the network by others.

f. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

-Do be brief. Fewer people will bother to read a long message
-Do minimize spelling errors and make sure your message is easy to understand and read
-Do use accurate and descriptive titles for your articles. Tell people what it is about before they read it
-Do get the most appropriate audience for your message, not the widest
-Do remember that humor and satire is very often misinterpreted
-Do remember that if you post to multiple groups, specify all groups in a single message
-Do cite references for any facts you present
-Do forgive the spelling and grammar errors of others
-Do keep signatures brief
-Do remember that all network users are human beings. Don't "attack" correspondents; persuade them with facts
-Do post only to groups you know

I have read and understand this provision.

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5. Services.

The _________________ District makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. _______________ District will not be responsible for any damages suffered while on this system. These damages include loss of data as a result of delays, non- deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by the system or your errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the information system is at your own risk. ______________District specifically disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy of information obtained through its services.

I have read and understand this provision.

initial_______

6. Security.

Security on any computer system is a high priority because there are so many users. If you identify a security problem, notify the system administrator at once. Never demonstrate the problem to other users. Never use another individual's account without written permission from that person. All use of the system must be under your own account. Any user identified as a security risk will be denied access to the information system.

I have read and understand this provision.

initial_______

7. Vandalism. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or any other agencies or networks that are connected to the system. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses. Any vandalism will result in the loss of computer services, disciplinary action, and legal referral.

I have read and understand this provision.

initial_______

8. UPDATING. The information service may occasionally require new registration and account information from you to continue the service. You must notify the information system of any changes in your account information.

I have read and understand this provision.

initial_______

Required Signatures:

I understand and will abide by the provisions and conditions of this contract. I understand that any violations of the above provisions may result in disciplinary action, the revoking of my user account, and appropriate legal action. I also agree to report any misuse of the information system to the ___________District system administrator. Misuse can come in many forms, but can be viewed as any messages sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues described above. All the rules of conduct described in the District publication entitled "---------------------------------" apply when I am on the network.

Student Signature___________________________________Date _____/__/___

PARENT OR GUARDIAN Students under the age of 18 must also have the signature of a parent or guardian who has read this contract.

As the parent or guardian of this student, I have read this contract and understand that it is designed for educational purposes. I understand that it is impossible for ____________ ____________________District to restrict access to all controversial materials, and I will not hold the District Responsible for materials acquired on the network. I also agree to report any misuse of the information system to the ___________District system administrator. Misuse can come in many forms, but can be viewed as any messages sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues described above.

I accept full responsibility for supervision if and when my child's use is not in a school setting. I hereby give my permission to issue an account for my child and certify that the information contained on this form is correct.

Parent or Guardian Name (please print):_________________________________

Signature ____________________________________________ Date _____/__/___

SPONSORING TEACHER

I have read this contract and agree to promote this agreement with the student. As the sponsoring teacher, I agree to instruct the student on acceptable use of the network and proper network etiquette. I also agree to report any misuse of the information system to the __________________________________________District system administrator. Misuse can come in many forms, but can be viewed as any messages sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism, inappropriate language, and other issues described above.

Teacher's Name (please print):__________________________________________

Signature ____________________________________________ Date _____/__/___

The guidance in this advisory on the use of electronic information services is not binding on local education agencies or other persons or entities. This advisory is exemplary, and compliance with it is not mandatory (see Education Code Section 33308.5).

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