Acceptable Use

AUP Information PowerPoint

Acceptable Use?? What characterizes acceptable use? What is an acceptable use policy?

As technology moved into classrooms and daily instructional applications, the public became more and more concerned about the destructive behaviors often described in the media. Acceptable use policies were developed to provide guidelines outlining access to information in information media, to information technology, and to education networks. In Kentucky, the Department of Education began disseminating guidelines and encouraging districts to formally develop and adopt acceptable use policies in 1995.

Purpose of an Acceptable Use Policy

• to educate
• to provide protection against violations of privacy
• to prevent misuse of public resources
• to protect against inapproriate or destructive behaviors
• to ensure that technology resources are dedicated to improving student achievement and school administration

The Office of Education Technology, Kentucky Department of Education has ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY GUIDELINES and State Requirements for Student and Staff Access to Electronic Information Resources. Schools and Districts should approve Acceptable Use Policies that:

1. meet the requirements of Senate Bill 230
   • Parental consent for student Internet use
   • Teacher supervision of student computer use
   • Auditing procedures to determine whether education technology is being used for the purpose of accessing sexually explicit or other objectionable material
2. meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
   • consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information
3. define the local board's position on
   • the reasons why access to electronic information resources is being provided
   • the relationship between network access and the district's instructional strategy
   • the responsibilities of faculty and staff
   • the responsibilities of students
   • the role of the parent/guardian
4. provide assurances that
   • the policy will be enforced
   • those who violate the policy will be held accountable
   • parents and guardians are recognized stakeholders in policy implementation
   • network access supports student achievement by fostering appropriate exploration and learning

District Policies

District policies vary from very brief general policies to very detailed more complex ones. It is very important that educators, parents and students understand these policies. Many Kentucky districts post their policies on their web pages. Links to examples of district policies for Ballard County, Caldwell County, Calloway County, Jefferson County Graves County, Henderson County Students, Henderson County Staff, Hickman County, Hopkins County Livingston County, Lyon County Marshall County, McCracken County, Murray Independent, and Paducah Independent may help to clarify the different ways these mandates have been addressed. Because each district has the freedom to add requirements and to enforce acceptable use in unique ways, it is imperative that the policy for specific districts be reviewed as appropriate.