Student Use Of Technology (Internet)

The Board of Education recognizes that as telecommunications and other new technologies shift the ways that information may be accessed, communicated, and transferred by members of the society, those changes also may alter instruction and student learning. The board supports access by students to rich information resources along with the development by staff of appropriate skills to analyze and evaluate such resources. In a free and democratic society, access to information is a fundamental right of citizenship.

Telecommunications, electronic information sources, and networked services significantly alter the information landscape for schools by opening classrooms to a broader array of resources. In the past, instructional and library media materials could usually be screened-prior to use-by committees of educators and community members intent on subjecting all such materials to reasonable selection criteria. Board Policy 6161.1 requires that all such materials be consistent with district-adopted guides, supporting and enriching the curriculum while taking into account the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities, and developmental levels of the students. Telecommunications, because they may lead to any publicly available file servers in the world, will open classrooms to electronic information resources which have not been screened by educators for use by students of various ages.

Electronic information research skills are now fundamental to preparation of citizens and future employees during the Age of Information. The board expects that staff will blend thoughtful use of such information throughout the curriculum, and that the staff will provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of such resources. Staff will consult the guidelines for instructional materials contained in Board Policy 6161.1 and will honor the goals for selection of instructional materials contained therein.

Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway. Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behavior and communications apply (cf. BP 5131). The network is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others. Access to network services will be provided to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.

Independent student use of telecommunications and electronic information resources will be permitted upon submission of permission forms and agreement forms by parents of minor students (under 18 years of age) and by students themselves. Regional networks require agreement by users to acceptable use policies outlining standards for behavior and communication.

Access to telecommunications will enable students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards while exchanging messages with people throughout the world. The board believes that the benefits to students from access in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration exceed the disadvantages. But ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the Escondido Union School District supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for independent access.

Board ESCONDIDO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: January 11, 1995 Escondido, California

(ref: CodeInput)