Technology and Device Responsible Use
The use of District technological resources, including access to the Internet, is a privilege. Students are responsible for their behavior and communications and are expected to behave in a manner that is ethical, respectful, and academically honest.
General student behavior standards, including those prescribed in applicable board policies, the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, and other regulations and school rules apply to use of technological resources. Guidance provided here is intended to clarify expectations for conduct but should not be construed as all-inclusive.
RESPONSIBLE USE GUIDELINES – INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES
- School system technological resources are provided for school-related purposes, and must be used consistently with the educational objectives of the District. Acceptable uses of such technological resources are limited to responsible, efficient, and legal activities that support learning. Use of school system technological resources for commercial gain or profit is prohibited.
- Students must comply with all applicable laws, including those relating to copyrights and trademarks, confidential information, and privacy. Any use that violates state or federal law is strictly prohibited. Plagiarism of Internet resources is prohibited.
- No user of technological resources, including a person sending or receiving electronic communications, may engage in creating, intentionally viewing, accessing, downloading, storing, printing, or transmitting images, graphics (including still or moving pictures), sound files, text files, documents, messages, or other material that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, profane, pornographic, harassing, abusive, or that is harmful to minors.
- The use of anonymous proxies to circumvent content filtering is prohibited.
- Students may not install or use any Internet-based file sharing program designed to facilitate sharing of copyrighted material.
- Students may not send electronic communications fraudulently (i.e., by misrepresenting the identity of the sender). Users are prohibited from using another individual's ID or password for any technological resource.
- Students may not reveal personal, private, or confidential information while online or via electronic communication; this information includes but is not limited to a home address or telephone number, credit or checking account information, or social security number of themselves or fellow students.
- Students may not intentionally or negligently damage computers, computer systems, electronic devices, software, computer networks, or data of any user connected to school system technological resources. Users may not knowingly or negligently transmit computer viruses or self-replicating messages or deliberately try to degrade or disrupt system performance.
- Students may not create or introduce games, network communications programs, or any foreign program or software onto any school system computer, electronic device, or network without the express prior permission of the technology director or designee.
- 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, is prohibited. Students are prohibited from copying, changing, or deleting another user’s work without their permission.
- Students are required to immediately report any inappropriate Internet content they encounter while on District premises to a teacher or other adult.
RESPONSIBLE USE GUIDELINES – USE AND CARE OF DEVICES
- Students are authorized to use devices only as specifically permitted by this policy and as permitted by their school Administrator. Possession and use of a device while at school is a privilege that may be revoked by the school Administrator or designee.
- Students should bring the device to school fully charged every day, taking full responsibility of its care, and keep it with them at all times. Sharing of District-provided devices without prior teacher permission is prohibited; students must login with assigned student username and password only.
- Students are prohibited from loaning District-provided device to another user without prior express permission of the Administrator or designee.
- Students must keep devices silent while at school and on school buses.
- Students must immediately comply with an adult’s request to close the screen, power down a device, or put a device away.
- Students must promptly report any damage to a District-provided device, and must submit the device to be examined upon request. Only MCSD personnel may inspect and / or repair devices; do not take the device to a third-party for any such action.
- Students must back up work.
- Students must not to knowingly introduce any virus, Trojan, or program designed to damage alter, destroy, or provides access to unauthorized data; participation in hacking is prohibited.
- Any use of a device to record or photograph another individual is prohibited without (1) express prior teacher permission and (2) express prior permission of that individual. Any such use may subject the student to disciplinary action and if appropriate, may be referred to legal authorities.
- Any use of a device to transmit a recording of another individual without both express prior permission of a teacher and express prior permission from all persons depicted in the recording is prohibited and may subject the student to disciplinary action, and if appropriate, may be referred to legal authorities.
- Use of any device with a camera in a locker room, bathroom, or any other area where others have an expectation of privacy is strictly prohibited.
- Any use of a device that violates any rule in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct is prohibited and may subject the student to disciplinary action.
- All devices, whether District-provided or privately owned, are subject to reasonable search and confiscation. Any device deemed to contain evidence in a disciplinary or legal matter must be maintained by the MCSD pending the outcome of the matter. Parents, please consider this when determining what device will come to school with your child.
RESPONSIBLE USE GUIDELINES – HOME AND SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
The District takes precautions to prevent students from accessing material and information that is inappropriate, obscene, pornographic, or otherwise harmful to minors, including violence, nudity, or other content that does not serve a legitimate pedagogical purpose. However, parents and guardians should be aware that the internet contains information from diverse and rapidly changing sources, including some that could possibly be inappropriate for students. Please talk with your child or children about responsible use of the internet, and please share any concerns with your child’s school Administrator.
The District is not responsible for the content accessed by students who connect to the internet via their personal mobile telephone technology bypassing District filters. Accessing inappropriate content this way is prohibited, and will be addressed as a disciplinary matter.
Students may require accounts in third party systems to meet educational goals. Parental permission will be obtained when necessary to create and manage such third party accounts; currently MCSD utilizes the G-Suite tools along with Chromebooks, and parental permissions are obtained specific to those tools through the MCSD Chromebook and G-Suite Permissions document that parents and guardians sign annually.
Parents and age-appropriate students should review that document carefully, and should use the website listed in that document to learn about G-Suite for Education. If you decline the use of the Chromebook and G-Suite for Education services, please make an appointment with the Principal of your child’s school to discuss the educational options available in the absence of these resources.
Additional information regarding G-Suite for Education can be accessed at the following sites:
https://www.google.com/edu/trust; https://gsuite.google.com/terms/education_privacy.html; https://google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy; https://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/terms/education_terms.html
Original Adopted Date: 03/18/2002 | Last Revised Date: 07/20/2020