Policy Code:  3225/4312/7320 Technology Acceptable Use   

Technological resources, including computers, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, other electronic devices, programs, networks and the Internet, provide opportunities to enhance instruction, appeal to different learning styles and meet the educational goals of the board.  Through the school system’s technological resources, users can observe events as they occur around the world, interact with others on a variety of subjects, and acquire access to current and in-depth information.   

A. REQUIREMENTS FOR USE OF TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES   

The use of school system technological resources, such as computers, smartphones, tablets, e-readers and other electronic devices, networks, and the Internet, is a privilege, not a right for employees and students.   
       
Annually, all students and staff must be trained about appropriate on-line behavior.  Such training must cover topics such as cyberbullying and interacting with others on social networking websites and in chat rooms.   
       
Anyone who uses school system computers, electronic devices, or personal devices at a Cabarrus County Schools location, or who accesses the school network or the Internet at an educational site must comply with the requirements listed below.  All students and employees must receive notice of this policy’s provisions annually.  Before using school system technological resources, students and employees must sign a statement indicating that they understand and will strictly comply with these requirements.  Failure to adhere to these requirements will result in disciplinary action, including revocation of user privileges.  Willful misuses may result in criminal prosecution under applicable state and federal law, disciplinary action for students, and/or adverse personnel action for employees.      

1. School system technological resources are provided for school-related purposes only. Acceptable uses of such technological resources are limited to activities that support learning and teaching.  Use of school system technological resources for commercial gain or profit is prohibited.     
2. Under no circumstance may software purchased by the school system be copied for personal use.   
3. Students and employees must comply with all applicable board policies, administrative regulations, and school standards and rules in using technological resources.  All applicable laws, including those relating to copyrights and trademarks, confidential information, and public records, apply to technological resource use.  Any use that violates state or federal law is strictly prohibited.   
4. No user of technological resources, including a person sending or receiving electronic communications, may engage in creating, intentionally accessing, downloading, storing, printing or transmitting images, graphics (including still or moving pictures), sound files, text files, documents, messages or other material that is obscene, defamatory, profane, pornographic, harassing or considered to be harmful to minors.   
5. Users of technological resources may not send electronic communications fraudulently (i.e., by misrepresenting the identity of the sender).        
6. Users must respect the privacy of others.  When using e-mail, chat rooms, blogs or other forms of electronic communication, students must not reveal personally identifiable, private or confidential information, such as the home address or telephone number, of themselves or fellow students.  In addition, school employees must not disclose on the Internet or on school system websites or web pages any personally identifiable information concerning students (including names, addresses or pictures) without the written permission of a parent or guardian or an eligible student, except as otherwise permitted by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or Policy 4700, Student Records.  Users also may not forward or post personal communications without the author’s prior consent.        
7. Users may not intentionally or negligently damage computers, computer systems, electronic devices, software, or computer networks.  Users may not knowingly or negligently transmit computer viruses or self-replicating messages or deliberately try to degrade or disrupt system performance.      
8. Users may not create, download, or access any software (including, but not limited to, instructional, games, or network communications programs) onto any school system computer, electronic device or network without the express permission of the chief technology officer or designee.     
9. Users are prohibited from engaging in unauthorized or unlawful activities, such as “hacking” or using the computer network to gain or attempt to gain unauthorized or unlawful access to other computers, computer systems or accounts.    
10. Users are prohibited from using another individual’s computer account.  Users may not read, alter, change, execute or delete files belonging to another user without the owner’s express prior permission.      
11. If a user identifies a security problem on a technological resource, he or she must immediately notify a system administrator.  Users must not share the problem with other users.  Any user identified as a security risk will be denied access.   
12. Cabarrus County School employees shall supervise student use of the Internet during instructional time.      
13. Views may be expressed as representing the official view of the school system only with prior approval by the superintendent or designee.          

B. RESTRICTED MATERIAL ON THE INTERNET         

Before a student may use the Internet for any purpose, the student’s parent must be made aware of the possibility that the student could obtain access to inappropriate material.  The parent and student must sign a consent form acknowledging that the student user is responsible for appropriate use of the Internet and consenting to monitoring by school system personnel of the student’s e-mail communication and use of the Internet.   
       
The board is aware that there is information on the Internet that is not related to the educational program.  The board also is aware that the Internet may provide information and opportunities to communicate on subjects that are not suitable for school-age children and that many parents would find objectionable.  School system personnel shall take reasonable precautions to prevent students from having access to inappropriate materials, such as violence, nudity, obscenity or graphic language that does not serve a legitimate pedagogical purpose.  The superintendent or designee shall ensure that the Internet service provider or technology personnel have installed a technology protection measure that blocks or filters Internet access to audio or visual depictions that are obscene, that are considered pornographic or that are harmful to minors.  School officials may disable such filters for an adult who uses a school-owned computer for bona fide research or another lawful educational purpose.  School system personnel may not restrict Internet access to ideas, perspectives or viewpoints if the restriction is motivated solely by disapproval of the ideas involved.     

C. PRIVACY          

No right of privacy exists in the use of technological resources.  School system administrators or individuals designated by the superintendent may review files, monitor all communication, and intercept e-mail messages to maintain system integrity and to ensure compliance with board policy and applicable laws and regulations.  School system personnel monitor on-line activities of individuals who access the Internet via a school-owned computer.   

D. PERSONAL WEBSITES      

The superintendent or designee may use any means available to request the removal of any personal websites that substantially disrupt the school environment or that utilize school system or individual school names, logos or trademarks without permission.   
       
1. Students   
       
Though school personnel generally do not monitor students’ Internet activity conducted on non-school system computers during non-school hours, when the student’s on-line behavior has a direct and immediate effect on school safety or maintaining order and discipline in the schools, the student may be disciplined in accordance with board policy (see the student behavior policies in the 4300 series).   
       
2. Employees   
       
All employees must use the school system e-mail or school system websites or webpages when communicating with students or parents on-line about any school-related matters.  Thus, employees may not use personal websites, personal email accounts, or personal social media accounts (including, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and Google +) to communicate regarding school-related matters or attempt to communicate with other employees or students about school-related matters.   
       
Employees are to maintain an appropriate, professional relationship with students at all times.  Employees are strongly encouraged to block students from viewing personal information on employee personal websites, personal email accounts, or social media (including, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and Google +) in order to prevent the possibility that students could view materials that are not age-appropriate.  If an employee creates and/or posts inappropriate content and it has a negative impact on the employee’s ability to perform his or her job as it relates to working with students or other employees, the employee will be subject to discipline up to and including dismissal.  This section applies to all employees, volunteers and student teachers working in the school system.     

E. USE OF THIRD PARTY WEBSITES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES   

The Board recognizes that numerous websites and cloud-based applications are owned and managed by third party vendors may play an important role in the educational process.  Any employee who seeks to utilize a third party website or cloud-based application,  not under the Cabarrus County School domain, for instructional purposes, including but not limited to sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Moodle, or Blackboard, shall notify his/her principal or designee and shall attach the principal or designee to the account as an end user.  In addition, prior to creating unique accounts for student access, the teacher shall notify the students’ parent/guardian. Exemptions shall be made for accounts that have been prequalified by the CCS Chief Technology Officer or designee. 

 
Legal References: U.S. Const. amend. I; Children's Internet Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. 254(h)(5); Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2522; Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g; 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq.; 20 U.S.C. 6777; G.S. 115C-325(e), -391   
Cross References: Curriculum and Instructional Guides/Frameworks for Instruction (Policy 3115), Technology in the Educational Program (Policy 3220), Copyright Compliance (Policy 3230/7330), Web Page Development (Policy 3227/7322), Student Behavior Policies (all policies in the 4300 series), Public Records – Retention, Release and Disposition (Policy 5070/7350), Use of Equipment, Materials and Supplies (Policy 6520), Network Security (Policy 6524), Staff Responsibilities (Policy 7300), Employee Use of Social Networking Sites, Blogging and the Internet (Policy 7323)   
Adopted:  August 10, 2009; Revised: August 13, 2012    

Policy Code:  4318 Use of Electronic Devices   

A. Authorized Use   

B. Consequences for Unauthorized Use   

C. Search of Electronic  Devices   

D.  Liability   

Policy Code:  4313 Student Use Of Social Networking Sites, Blogging And The Internet   

INTRODUCTION 

PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS   

1. Students shall not use profane, pornographic, obscene, indecent, lewd, vulgar or sexually offensive language, pictures or graphics in Internet Postings that could cause a substantial disruption to the school environment.   
2. Students shall not use language, pictures or graphics promoting violence or gang activity in Internet Postings.   
3. Students shall not use Internet Postings to libel or defame the Board, School System, school employees, or other students.  
   
4. Students shall not use Internet Postings to harass, bully, or intimidate employees or other students. Behaviors that constitute harassment and bullying include, but are not limited to, comments that are derogatory with respect to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, color, age or disability; sexually suggestive, humiliating, or demeaning comments; and threats to stalk, haze, physically injure or damage the property of another student or employees.     
5. Students shall not post pictures of school system employees without obtaining written permission.  Students shall not falsely represent themselves as an employee of the school system.   

CONSEQUENCES