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Internet Filtering Policy

In accordance with CIPA and Indiana Code IC 20-26-5-40.5, Mt. Vernon Community Schools uses Lightspeed Internet Filtering. 

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law passed by Congress in 2000, and updated and clarified since that time to help ensure the safety of children accessing the Internet over school and library computers. Any organizations that receive funding through E-Rate or the Universal Service Fund must certify that they are meeting the requirements of CIPA.

Top 10 CIPA and Internet Filtering Facts

  1. CIPA requires a web filter for schools that receive E-Rate funding.
  2. CIPA requires that schools block visual depictions that are pornographic, obscene or harmful to minors.
  3. CIPA requires a policy for educating users, including educating minors about appropriate online behavior and interacting with other individuals on social networking sites; a policy for internet safety; and monitoring the activity of minors.
  4. CIPA requires filtering on school-owned devices. (Clarification on requirements for student-owned devices used on campuses is forthcoming from the FCC.)
  5. Allowing YouTube videos is not a violation of CIPA.
  6. Allowing social networking is not a violation of CIPA.
  7. Schools won’t lose E-Rate funding for adjusting filtering policies to unblock appropriate sites.
  8. While educator computers need to have a web filter installed, teachers and other adults don’t need to be filtered (i.e., the ability for adults to override the filter is not a CIPA violation).
  9. Schools have the authority to make local decisions about filtering policies.
  10. Even the FCC recognizes the necessity and benefits of teaching students to be responsible digital citizens.

For a look at the base filtering we use, please see this resource from Lightspeed. Note: We do apply additional filters and tweak their base policies.