M-DCPS Acceptable Use Policy
Purpose of the rule
The purpose of this rule is to establish a policy for the acceptable use of
the network as a tool for learning in Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-
DCPS) (hereinafter referred to as District). The M-DCPS network is defined
as all computer resources, including software, hardware, lines and services
that allow connection of District computers to other computers, whether they
are within the District or external to the District.
This includes connection to the Internet. In summary, the rule affirms that
no user may use the network to take any action or receive and/or communicate
any language that the employee or student could not take or communicate in
person. Users are defined as anyone authorized by administration to use the
Network. This includes, but is not limited to, staff, students,parents,
vendors, contractors, and volunteers. Prohibitions in applicable federal,
state and/or local law or regulation, collective bargaining agreements and
Board Rules are included. Additionally, this rule reflects that there is no
expectation of privacy in the use of e-mail or network communications when
such communications occur over M-DCPS provided equipment by M-DCPS
employees, students, or others.
Purpose of Access to the Network
Networks give schools the ability to share educational and research
resources from around the world with all students. These resources include
access to instructional applications, interactive collaboration between
teachers, students and other users, document sharing, communications of all
forms with people from around the world and libraries, museums and research
facilities.
I. Acceptable Use Policy
Utilization of the network by users must be in support of and consistent
with the educational objectives of the District. When utilizing the network
all users must adhere to the provisions of this rule and the standards of
conduct established in the M-DCPS Code of Student Conduct (both elementary
and secondary), Code of Conduct for Adult Students, the Code of Ethics of
the Education Profession in the State of Florida, the M-DCPS Network
Security Standards and School Board Rule 6Gx13- 4A-1.21, Responsibilities
and Duties.
A. Transmission of any material in violation of local, state, and federal
law or
regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to copyright
material,
threatening or obscene material or material protected by trade secret.
1. Obscene material is that material which:
a. The average person, applying contemporary community
standards, would find, taken as a whole, appeals solely to the
prurient interest; and 6Gx13- 6A-1.112
b. Depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct
as defined in Section 847.001 (11) F.S. (1995); and
c. Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or
scientific value.
B. Procedures concerning the protest of instructional materials and
educational
media as they are accessed through the Internet are governed by School
Board Rule 6Gx13- 6A-1.26, Instructional Materials and Resources.
C. School Board Rule 6Gx13- 1C-1.06, Politics--Participation of Staff,
governs
the use of the Internet for political activities.
D. Use of the network for product advertisement, commercial activities,
political
campaigning or solicitation is prohibited.
E. The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires school districts to
prevent students from viewing objectionable material. Pursuant to CIPA,
MDCPS uses an Internet Content Filter to prevent user access to prohibited
material.
Users of the M-DCPS network are charged with notice that besides obscene
material, there are other potentially objectionable materials available on
the
Internet, including sites with adult content, nudity, and gambling, as well
as
sites advocating violence and illegal activities. No content filter will
ever be
100% accurate, and on occasion either objectionable material may get
through or non-objectionable material may be blocked.
Bypassing the M-DCPS content filter without authorization is strictly
prohibited. M-DCPS has procedures in place to evaluate requests from
users to block or unblock sites as necessary.
Students, parents and staff should be aware that connection to any Internet
or network provider not under District control may be unfiltered. This is
particularly true of open wireless connections, which can be found almost
anywhere. The District is not responsible for unfiltered content that may be
viewed or downloaded on M-DCPS equipment that has been provided to
individuals for use outside District property.
The District is also not responsible for issues caused by the connection of
personal devices to the district’s network or improper use of the District’s
network or equipment.
II. Privilege
Accessing the Internet through District equipment is a privilege, not a
right, and
inappropriate use, including violation of this rule may result in
cancellation of the privilege. 6Gx13- 6A-1.112
A. School, regional center, and District administrators are delegated the
authority to determine appropriate and acceptable use as provided under this
rule.
B. Any user account may be closed, suspended or revoked at any time a
school, regional center, or District administrator determines an account user
or holder has used the network in an inappropriate or unacceptable manner
in violation of this or any other applicable District rule.
C. Inappropriate or unacceptable use is defined as use that violates the
District's purpose in providing students and employees access to the
Internet and use that violates the M-DCPS Code of Student Conduct (both
elementary and secondary), Code of Conduct for Adult Students, the Code of
Ethics of the
Education Profession in the State of Florida, the M-DCPS Network Security
Standards, and School Board Rule 6Gx13- 4A-1.21, or any local, state, or
federal law or regulation.
D. Access to the Internet from the district network as a tool for learning
will be
automatic. Parents must notify the school in writing if they do not want
their
child to access the Internet.
III. Monitoring
Administration reserves the right to review any material on user accounts for
purposes of maintaining adequate fileserver space and monitoring
appropriateness of material accessed through the network. In reviewing and
monitoring user accounts for the purpose of determining adequate fileserver
space, the District shall respect the privacy rights of user accounts.
IV. Network Etiquette
All users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network
etiquette. These standards of conduct include, but are not limited to the
following:
A. Users should be polite. The use of abusive language is prohibited.
B. Use appropriate language. The use of profanity, vulgarities or any other
inappropriate language is prohibited.
C. Engaging in activities which are prohibited under local, state or federal
law is prohibited.
D. Activities which violate the M-DCPS Code of Student Conduct (both
elementary and secondary), Code of Conduct for Adult Students, the Code of
Ethics of the Education Profession in the State of Florida, the M-DCPS
Network Security Standards and School Board Rule 6Gx13- 4A-1.21, are
prohibited. 6Gx13- 6A-1.112
E. Do not reveal your personal address and/or telephone number or that of
other users unless compelled to by law.
F. Electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private. People who
operate
the system do have access to all mail. Messages relating to or in support of
illegal activities will be reported to the authorities.
G. Do not use the network in such a way that other users would be unable to
get the full benefit of information available. This includes, but is not
limited to:
running applications that deny the network’s services to others, tying up
computers without a legitimate educational or school district or school
business purpose while others are waiting, damaging software or hardware
so that others are unable to use it, or any conduct that would be prohibited
by
Section 815.06 Fla. Stat.
H. Do not use the network to send or receive messages that discriminate
based on gender, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, political
beliefs,
marital status, age, sexual orientation, social and family background,
linguistic preference, disability or that are inflammatory.
V. Services
Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user's own risk.
The
District will not be responsible for any damages a user may incur. This
includes, but is not limited to, loss of data resulting from delays, non-
deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by negligence,
errors, or omissions. The District is not responsible for the accuracy or
quality of information obtained through the network. All users need to
consider the source of any information they obtain through the network, and
evaluate the accuracy of the information.
VI. Security
Security on any computer network is a high priority, especially when the
system involves many users.
A. If a user can identify a security problem on the network, the user must
notify a system administrator. The user must not demonstrate the problem to
others.
B. Users must not use another individual=s account without written permission
from that individual. Attempts to log into the system as any other user will
result in disciplinary action as described in Section X - Disciplinary
Actions for
Improper Use contained herein.
C. Any user that has been determined by administrators to have violated this
rule may be denied future access to the Internet through the District
network.
6Gx13- 6A-1.112
D. A user with a history of utilizing other computer systems in an
inappropriate
or unacceptable manner may be denied access to the District network.
E. Users of the network will be held responsible for all activity associated
with
the user’s account. Users should not share their passwords with anyone,
engage in activities that would reveal anyone’s password or allow anyone to
use a computer to which they are logged on.
F. Accessing chat rooms or instant messaging while using the M-DCPS network
is prohibited.
G. The use of Internet tools such as blogs and discussion boards are intended
for educational purposes only.
H. Downloading pictures, sounds, video clips, text documents or any material
without authorization and without confirmation that the material is not
copyrighted is prohibited (see School Board Rule 6Gx13- 4C-1.061 through
4C-1.063, Copyrights – Educational Media, Electronic Media, and
Compliance and Fair Use).
I. Downloading games, video files, audio files or running streaming media
without educational value and without authorization by a teacher or a local
administrator is prohibited. These applications tie up a great deal of
bandwidth and storage and many of the files infringe on the owners’
copyrights.
J. Downloading or installing software applications without authorization is
prohibited.
K. Using the District’s wireless equipment while on M-DCPS property to
connect to any wireless networks but those provided by M-DCPS without
authorization is prohibited. External signals will not provide content
filtering
and access to private networks may be illegal.
VII. Vandalism and Harassment
Vandalism and harassment when utilizing the Internet will result in
cancellation of user privileges. This includes, but is not limited to, the
uploading or creation of computer viruses and the attempt to destroy, harm
or modify data of another user.
VIII. Procedures for Use
Student users must always get permission from their teachers or facilitators
before using the network or accessing any specific file or application.
Student users must also follow written and oral classroom instructions.
6Gx13- 6A-1.112
A. All users have the same right to use the computer resources. Therefore,
users shall not play games without educational value or use the computer
resources for non-academic activities when other users require the system
for academic purposes Personal use of the M-DCPS network, including e-mail
and the Internet, is permitted as long as that use does not interfere with
an employee’s duties and/or system operation and abides by all district
policies and standards.
B. Teachers are responsible for teaching proper techniques and standards for
participation, for guiding student access to appropriate sections of the
Internet, and for assuring that students understand that if they misuse the
network they will lose their privilege to access the Internet from the
classroom environment. Students should not be provided with network
access unless they are properly supervised by an individual trained to
provide the guidance students require.
IX. Inappropriate Material
On a global network it is impossible to control effectively the content of
data and an industrious user may discover inappropriate material.
Inappropriate material is that material that is determined inconsistent with
the goals, objectives and policies of the educational mission of the
District.
X. Disciplinary Actions for Improper Use
The act of accessing the Internet through the District's network signifies
that the user will abide by the provisions of this rule.
Disciplinary action for inappropriate use by students will be based on the
tiered
actions described in the codes of student conduct (Elementary, Secondary or
Adult)
and may include, but is not limited to, loss of privilege, suspension or
expulsion.
Disciplinary action for inappropriate use by staff will be as provided for
in the
applicable collective bargaining agreements.
