File:  IJNDB - EMPOWERED DIGITAL USE POLICY

Purpose

The Framingham School Committee recognizes the need for students to be prepared to contribute to and excel in a connected, global community. To that end, the district provides ongoing student instruction that develops digital citizenship  skill sets for using technology  as a tool. Information and communication technology are an integrated part of our curriculum across subjects and grades in developmentally appropriate ways and are aligned  with the Massachusetts Curriculum  Frameworks  and standards, including  seeking knowledge and understanding; thinking critically and solving problems; listening, communicating,  and interacting effectively; and engaging and competing in a global environment.

Availability

The Superintendent or designee shall implement,  monitor, and evaluate the district's system/network for instructional and administrative purposes.

All users  shall acknowledge  that they understand  that using digital devices, whether personal or school owned, and the school district network is a privilege  and when using them in accordance  with School District guidelines they will retain that privilege.

The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement  administrative guidelines,  regulations, procedures, and user agreements, consistent  with law and policy, which shall include but not be limited to the following:

  Digital devices, software, and networks  shall be used in school for educational  purposes and activities.

  An individual's personal information  (including home/mobile phone numbers,  mailing addresses, and passwords) and that of others shall be kept private.

  Individuals  will show respect for themselves  and others when using technology including social media.

  Users shall give acknowledgement to others for their ideas and work.

  Users shall report inappropriate use of technology immediately.

  These procedures  shall be reviewed  annually by district administration together with students and teachers  and shall provide a springboard for teaching and learning around topics such as internet safety, digital citizenship, and ethical use of technology.

PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION  AND RESPONSIBILITY

  The Framingham  Public Schools Empowered Digital Use Policy contains restrictions on accessing inappropriate material. There is a wide range of material available on the Internet,  some of which may not be in concert with the particular values of the families of students. It is not practically possible for the Framingham Public Schools to monitor and enfor-ce a wide range of social values in student use of the Internet.  Further, the District recognizes that parents/guardians  bear primary responsibility for communicating their particular set of family values to their children. The district will encourage parents/guardians to specify to their children what material is and is not acceptable for their children to access through The Network.

  Framingham Public Schools will provide students and parents with guidelines  for the student's personal safety while using the Internet.

DISTRICT LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Framingham Public Schools makes no warranties  of any kind, either expressed  or implied, that the functions or the services  provided  by or through its Network  will be error-free or without defect. The district will not be responsible for any damages users may suffer, including but not limited to loss of data, interruptions of service, or physical, psychological, or monetary damages. The District is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system. The District will not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations arising through the use of the system.

SEARCH AND SEIZURE

  The Network  is the property of the Framingham Public Schools and its storage systems are therefore subject to inspection by the administration  at any time. System users have a limited privacy expectation in the contents of their personal files on The Network.

  Routine maintenance and monitoring  of the system may lead to discovery  that the user has violated or is violating  the Framingham Public Schools Empowered Digital Use District Policy, or the law.

  An individual search will be conducted  if there is suspicion that a user has violated the Empowered Digital Use District Policy or the law. The nature of the investigation  will be in the context of the nature of the alleged violation.

SOURCE:  MASC

First reading:  January 19, 2016; second reading:  February 2, 2016