Policy Statement:

The Governing Board recognizes the need for a policy governing the use of the electronic information resources by students and staff. Responsibility is delegated to School Administration for implementing the policy according to established guidelines.

Internet Safety and Acceptable Use references the use of electronic information software and hardware resources made available to staff and students by the American Preparatory, and includes student or staff members' personal electronic devices accessing the school's network. These resources include, but are not limited to, voice mail, electronic mail, the Internet, wireless transmission and other network files or accounts provided to staff or students, computer hardware, including computers, computer processors, computing devices, wireless hardware and software, printers, scanners, copiers and all other peripheral and computer networking equipment. Staff and student use of electronic information resources must be in support of education and/or research and must be consistent with the educational objectives of West Virginia Academy. While access to all materials on a worldwide network cannot be controlled, Internet access in the school is filtered and monitored on an ongoing basis.

Introduction

It is the policy of West Virginia Academy to:

1. prevent users from accessing or transmitting inappropriate material over its network via the Internet, electronic mail, or other forms of direct electronic communications

2. prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful online activity;

3. prevent unauthorized online disclosure, use, or dissemination of personal identification information of minors; and

4. comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act [Pub. L. No. 106-554 and 47 USC 254(h)].

Access to Inappropriate Material

To the extent practical, technology protection measures including Internet filters shall be used to block or filter the Internet or other forms of electronic communications and access to inappropriate information. All filtering technology and software will be certified as compliant with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Specifically, as required by the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), blocking shall be applied to visual depictions of material deemed obscene or to child pornography or to any material deemed harmful to minors. Additional categories may be limited or blocked as deemed necessary by the Technology Director.

Technology protection measures may not be disabled on any student devices but may be temporarily disabled on a staff computer only for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

Inappropriate Network Usage

To the extent practical, steps shall be taken to promote the safety and security of West Virginia Academy's online computer network users when using electronic mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, and other forms of direct electronic communications.

Specifically, as required by the Children's Internet Protection Act prevention of inappropriate network usage includes:

1. unauthorized access, including so-called hacking, and other unlawful activities; and

2. unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors.

Any person found to be using a device to access inappropriate material or attempting to bypass the protective systems outlined in this policy will be subject to limited use. All appropriate parties will be notified of any inappropriate use, including parents and administrators. If deemed necessary by the school's administration the offender will have their access to school network and technology resources discontinued.

Education, Supervision, and Monitoring

It shall be the responsibility of all West Virginia Academy staff members to educate, supervise and monitor student usage of the online computer network and access to the Internet per this policy and the Children's Internet Protection Act. Monitoring computer usage requires the West Virginia Academy staff member or authorized volunteer to be present and actively observing usage at all times in which a student has access to the computer. The assigned staff member may not be engaged in other activities that would prohibit them from observing the usage of the computers.

Students are only permitted to access the network resources through school owned devices. Personal devices and staff owned devices should not be used by students except to contact help in emergency situations. Exceptions may be granted to students using devices in compliance with an IEP or as a temporary aid. Exceptions may only be granted by the Associate Director or a designee. Any device used outside this policy may be confiscated by a school administrator.

Procedures for the disabling or otherwise modifying any technology protection measures shall be the responsibility of the Associate Director or designated representatives.

The administration or designated representatives will provide age appropriate training for students who use West Virginia Academy's Internet facilities. The training provided will be designed to promote West Virginia Academy's commitment to:

1. The standards and acceptable use of Internet services as set forth in the Internet Safety Policy;

2. Student safety with regard to: safety on the Internet; appropriate behavior while on online, on social networking Web sites, and in chat rooms; and cyberbullying awareness and response.

3. Compliance with the E-rate requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act ("CIPA").

In accordance with state law, a seminar will be provided annually to educate parents on internet safety and other relevant student safety topics.

Following receipt of this training, the student will acknowledge that he/she received the training and understood it. Each student and their parent or guardian will be given a copy of the Internet Safety Policy and Network Acceptable Use Policy and will sign them indicating that they will abide by the rules and usage requirements therein prior to that student being given access to network and technology resources at West Virginia Academy.

Terms and Conditions of This Policy

Acceptable Network Use

1. Staff and students will use the Internet and other electronic information resources in an appropriate manner, abiding by the rules and regulations described in this policy.

2. Staff and students who formally publish school related information on the Internet must have proper approvals and abide by school publishing guidelines and procedures.

3. Staff and students are expected to abide by generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These rules include, but are not limited to, being polite, never sending or encouraging others to send abusive messages, and always using appropriate language.

Unacceptable Network Use

1. Staff and students may not intentionally transmit or receive material in violation of law or school policy. This includes, but is not limited to, pornographic, indecent or sexually suggestive materials, weapons, controlled substances or alcohol, or incendiary devices. Users are prohibited from posting or sending content that contains threats or is hatefully or racially, ethically or otherwise objectionable.

2. Staff and students may not participate in or promote any illegal or inappropriate activities, disruptive use of the network, including disruptive or unauthorized wired, BlueTooth, wireless transmissions, or activities of any kind that do not conform to the rules, regulations and policies of WVA.

3. Staff and students may not use the network for product advertisement or political lobbying.

4. Staff and students may not reveal personal information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, passwords, credit card numbers or social security numbers. Releasing personal information of others or that of organizations associated with the school is prohibited.

5. Staff and students may not intentionally harm or destroy school data, the network, or network performance. This includes, but is not limited to, creation and introduction of computer viruses, unauthorized access to restricted systems or programs, or using the school network to illegally access other systems.

6. Staff and students may not post or transmit photographs, videos or other works of students or staff on the Internet or through communication channels (photographed or recorded at the school, in association with the school, or at school events of any kind) or other electronic files of any kind without the permission of the staff member's direct supervisor or student's academic administrator, and those person(s), parent(s)/ legal guardians or staff members who are the subject, or are incidental participants, involved or contained in electronic file(s).

Expectation of Privacy

1. Staff and student files, disks, documents, etc., which have been used or created with school electronic resources are not considered private.

2. Staff and students have no expectation of privacy in hardware or software, files, disks, documents, websites, blogs or any other electronic medium that are created, stored, downloaded, accessed and/or used in any form on the WVA network, servers, Internet connections or other computer components owned or on the premises of West Virginia Academy.

3. Likewise, staff and students shall have no expectation of privacy regarding electronic mail transmissions which have been created, received, or sent with school resources.

Discussion/Submission

1. A parent or legal guardian will participate in a discussion with his/her student regarding proper behavior and use of the network as outlined in this policy.

2. Staff and students may be required to submit a new Staff/Student Signature of Agreement Form each year or upon special request.

Disciplinary Action

1. Signatures indicate that the staff member or student (and parent/legal guardian) has carefully read, understood, and agreed to abide by these terms and conditions regarding proper behavior and use of the network. Signatures on the Staff/Student Signature of Agreement Form are legally binding.

2. Students who violate the terms and conditions of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, including the possibility of suspension or expulsion from school and appropriate legal action. Access to electronic information may be limited, suspended or revoked.

3. Staff who violate the terms and conditions of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, including the possibility of suspension or termination of employment with the school and appropriate legal action. Access to electronic information may be limited, suspended or revoked.

4. Staff members are required to return all school supplies and equipment, including technology equipment, issued to them or in their possession in the event their employment is terminated by either party, for any reason, before the former staff member's final check will be issued.

West Virginia Academy makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, for the electronic information resources it is providing. The school will not be responsible for any damages a staff member or student suffers while using these resources. These damages may include, but are not limited to, loss of data as a result of delays, employee errors or omissions, or non-deliveries or service interruptions caused by a network system. Use of information obtained by the network system is at the employee's own risk. The West Virginia Academy specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy of information obtained through the electronic information resources.

Acknowledgement:  I have read and acknowledge that I understand the Internet Safety and Network Acceptable Use Policy. I understand that violation of the use provisions stated in the policy may result in use limitation, suspension or revocation and/or disciplinary actions by the school, or by legal authorities, including the possibility of suspension or termination of employment or other appropriate legal action.