Monitoring+and+Evaluation

=V. Monitoring and Evaluation= =A. Evaluation=

=B. Policies= =**4526 - ACCEPTABLE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES**= The Hyde Park Central School District recognizes both the benefit of and requirement to exploit information technology resources in the delivery, formulation and management of education in our district. Examples of such resources include but are not limited to application software, computer networks, and computer hardware. Not only are these resources critical in the education of students, they are crucial to the efficient operation of the district.

The primary use of district information technology resources is to enhance and support the educational program of the district. For students, that use consists of activities specifically designated by a teacher or staff member, activities approved by a staff member immediately responsible for the resources in use, and activities that legitimately comprise all or part of an assignment or class activity. Student use of district technology must be under the supervision of a staff member. For staff members, primary use is those activities that make up any part of that individual's job responsibility. In recognition that the necessary skills transcend the academic arena, limited non-educational use by students, staff and community groups is permitted as long as it does not interfere with the educational program. All use including all forms of digital information exchange is subject to district policies pertaining to information technology resource use and to the district Code of Conduct. The district will comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act.

At no time will district technology resources be used for or to promote:
 * access to and transmission of inappropriate material via any form of electronic communication
 * unauthorized access to information and systems and other unlawful online activity
 * unauthorized online disclosure, use or dissemination of personal identification information of minors
 * unauthorized access into computer systems
 * copyright infringement
 * other activities that would violate Hyde Park Central School District policy/regulation and/or the district Code of Conduct

Users of district resources will not cause to happen or, through inaction allow to happen, any potentially or disruptive activity such as computer viruses or theft or destruction of intellectual property (files, accounts, passwords, etc.). Users are also required to take reasonable precautions to safeguard access passwords such as choosing non-trivial passwords and protecting them from disclosure.

Staff and students are enjoined to make prudent use of consumable resources (paper, ink, disk space etc.) and may use limited amounts of such consumables for acceptable non-educational personal purposes, consistent with other Board policies. Other groups authorized to use district technology resources must furnish or replace consumable resources.

The superintendent is directed to maintain a procedure for requesting additional hardware and/or software. At no time are computer users permitted to install unauthorized software.

Reasonable security methods will be employed to protect user computer files (including email files) from unauthorized access. However, all computer files resident on district equipment are subject to examination by the Superintendent or his or her designee:


 * In the course of routine system management;
 * If there is reasonable suspicion of widespread or individual inappropriate use or abuse;
 * During general monitoring of network (including Internet) activity and technology protection measures; and
 * As a result of authorized legal requests

The district does not warrant the availability or reliability of any technology resources for non-educational use and is not liable for losses during such use due to data loss or system interruption. The district is not responsible for any legal or financial obligations incurred by anyone while using district equipment or resources. Public use of Hyde Park Central School District information technology resources is also subject to Policy 1500, Public Use of School Facilities.

Use of district information technology resources may be restricted or prohibited to address chronic violations of district policy. No long-term restrictions will be placed on the use of district technology resources without appropriate due process. The Superintendent will develop regulations whereby individuals who violate the provisions of this policy can be identified.  =**4526.1 - INTERNET SAFETY ** =

Access to the Internet is an integral component of the information technology resources of the Hyde Park Central School District. The district is committed to providing such access unrestricted as long as the safety of the students and staff using it is preserved. Use of this equipment is governed by Policy 4526, which covers all information technology resources and is further governed as follows. All access to the Internet shall be through a technology protective measure that blocks or filters access to visual depictions:

The Superintendent or his or her designee shall monitor and examine all district computer network activities to ensure compliance with this policy and accompanying regulation. The Superintendent is also directed to ensure that staff and students receive training on Internet Safety.
 * 1) that are obscene as defined in section 1460 of title 18, United States Code;
 * 2) of child pornography as defined in section 2256 of title 18, United States Code; or
 * 3) that are harmful to minors as defined in the Children's Internet Protection Act

The Superintendent is directed to establish a procedure for disabling technology protective measures to permit bona fide research or other lawful activities by an employee or a student under the supervision of that employee. The procedure must include recording the nature of the research or activity, the time period(s) during which the protection measures are to be disabled and the specific point of access (computer, workstation, etc.). The Superintendent or his or her designee also shall develop and implement procedures that provide for the safety and security of students using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; monitoring the online activities of students using district computers; and restricting student access to materials that are harmful to minors. In addition, the Board prohibits the unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding students; unauthorized online access by students and other unlawful activities; and access by students to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web. The Superintendent or his or her designee shall establish and implement procedures that enforce these restrictions. All users of the district’s computer network, including access to the Internet and World Wide Web, must understand that use is a privilege, not a right, and that any such use entails responsibility. They must comply with the requirements of this policy and accompanying regulation, and the district’s Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy, the district Code of Conduct, and generally accepted rules of netiquette. __Ref__: Public Law No. 106-554 47 USC §254 20 USC §6801 Children's Internet Protection Act section 1460 of title 18, United States Code section 2256 of title 18, United States Code

=DISTRICT INTERNET FILTERING=

All school district Internet traffic is routed through Dutchess BOCES. Dutchess BOCES uses an Internet filter called 8e6 for districts who subscribe to the internet filtering coser. 8e6 filters all content based on categories and exceptions (see below for a sample category list). Only the superintendent or his/her designee can bypass the filter or request that an exception be entered into the filtering system.

[|More information on 8e6 filtering solution] Example Filter Grid: