FUTURE READY ISLANDERS Student Assigned Laptop Guidelines · FUTURE READY ISLANDERS Student...
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www.mpsri.net/futureready 1
FORWARD THINKING…FUTURE READY ISLANDERS
FUTURE READY ISLANDERS
Student Assigned Laptop Guidelines
Middletown Public Schools (MPS) is committed to learning that empowers all students to achieve
post-high school success. This includes safe, smart, and ethical use of technology. Computers,
software, the internet, and other new technologies open doors to virtually unlimited opportunities to
connect, share, do work, and especially, learn. It is our hope to leverage that power and create the
best education possible for all of our students.
Our world is increasingly digital, connected, and mobile. We use computers, tablets, smartphones and
the internet every day in ways that benefit our lives. School and learning are no different -- school is
not just preparation for life, it is part of life, and it reflects the world that we live in. We want teachers,
students, and parents to receive the benefits of this connected world, aware that we are doing our best
to make those connections as safe as possible.
We are fortunate to be in the position to offer a 21st Century learning experience for our students. We
are grateful for the grants and support that we have received to date. Two competitive grants awarded
from the vanBeuren Charitable Foundation, totaling over $200,000 have allowed us to focus on
transforming our classrooms to support the innovative learning environments that our children
deserve. The statewide wireless classroom initiative and our category two erate funds have supported
a wireless access point for every learning environment across the district. Thank you to those that
have supported our students, as they become Future Ready. You can follow our progress here:
www.mpsri.net
Our Anchor Academy has assigned their laptops to each grade 9 student for their
daily use. These laptops will not go home at night. This document provides the
expectations while using these district devices.
This document has three parts:
1. IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
2. DETAILS ABOUT USING THE DISTRICT ASSIGNED LAPTOP
3. INFORMATION ABOUT SAFTEY, RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITY OF USE
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Middletown Public Schools Digital Transformation
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FUTURE READY ISLANDERS
Student Assigned Laptop Guidelines
Contents PART I: SIX THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ................................................................................................................................. 3
1: SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY ........................................................................................................................... 3
2: LEARNING IS A PROCESS ................................................................................................................................................... 3
3: ACCESS IS A PRIVILEGE ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
4: PRIVACY IS NOT GUARANTEED ......................................................................................................................................... 3
5: WE USE Microsoft 365 AND GOOGLE APPS FOR EDUCATION .......................................................................................... 3
6: CIPA, COPPA, and FERPA ................................................................................................................................................... 4
PART 2: USING YOUR LAPTOP ................................................................................................................................................... 5
LAPTOP ASSIGNMENT ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
LAPTOP DAILY DISTRIBUTION & DROP OFF .......................................................................................................................... 5
BASIC GUIDELINES ................................................................................................................................................................. 5
LAPTOP USE AT SCHOOL ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
LAPTOP OWNERSHIP ............................................................................................................................................................. 6
TAKING CARE OF LAPTOPS .................................................................................................................................................... 6
GENERAL CARE AND PRECAUTIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 6
SCREEN CARE ........................................................................................................................................................................ 6
USING LAPTOPS AT SCHOOL ................................................................................................................................................. 7
INTERNET USE ELSEWHERE ................................................................................................................................................... 7
SOUND .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
MANAGING FILES AND SAVING YOUR WORK ....................................................................................................................... 7
SOFTWARE ON LAPTOPS ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
PERSONALIZING YOUR LAPTOP............................................................................................................................................. 8
NETWORK CONNECTIVITY ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
INSPECTION ........................................................................................................................................................................... 8
MONITORING USE ................................................................................................................................................................. 8
RESTORING A LAPTOP ........................................................................................................................................................... 8
STORING LAPTOPS ................................................................................................................................................................ 8
TECHNICAL SUPPORT ............................................................................................................................................................ 8
LAPTOP DAMAGE, LOSS & THEFT ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Middletown Public Schools Digital Transformation
www.mpsri.net/futureready 3
PART 3: RESPONSIBLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY ............................................................................................................................ 9
INTERNET SAFETY ................................................................................................................................................................ 11
SAFETY REQUIRES EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE .................................................................................................................. 11
THE INTERNET IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CLASSROOM ...................................................................................................... 11
EDUCATION, SUPERVISION, AND MONITORING ................................................................................................................. 11
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ELECTRONIC DATA ............................................................................................................................ 12
INAPPROPRIATE NETWORK USAGE .................................................................................................................................... 12
PROHIBITED USE OF COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS ........................................................................................................... 12
ONLINE BULLYING ............................................................................................................................................................... 13
ONLINE SAFETY ................................................................................................................................................................... 13
THE 7 GEARS OF THE FUTURE READY FRAMEWORK: ............................................................................................................. 14
PART I: SIX THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1: SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY There is some risk that comes with online activity. MPS manages technology with a clear intent to
protect our students, staff and guests. It is our top priority to protect data, privacy, and people.
2: LEARNING IS A PROCESS Learning to use technology responsibly takes time, effort, and guidance. Middletown Public Schools
offer age-appropriate curriculum to all students about digital citizenship. We also integrate topics like
copyright, privacy, courtesy, and online safety into class work on a regular basis. As technology
evolves, we encourage students, teachers, and parents to embrace the learning that is needed to
continue to use technology responsibly.
3: ACCESS IS A PRIVILEGE Students and staff are expected to learn and comply with all MPS regulations and policies concerning
the responsible use of technology. Failure to do so can result in loss of that privilege and could also
lead to disciplinary or legal action. This is outlined in detail in the MPS Use Agreement, guidelines,
policies and regulations.
4: PRIVACY IS NOT GUARANTEED MPS makes every effort to protect student privacy and the security of electronic data, but there are
limits. Any device that is owned by MPS or data connected to MPS accounts may be secured and
inspected at any time for compliance with school and district policies, and state and federal laws. That
means that we reserve the right to inspect the device, MPS e-mail files, and any data files associated
with MPS accounts.
5: WE USE Microsoft 365 AND GOOGLE APPS FOR EDUCATION MPS primarily uses Windows devices, a laptop computer that uses Microsoft and Google Apps. Office
365 and all Microsoft Apps (Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Sway, Skype), OneDrive, OneNote
Class Notebooks, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, Google Slides are just a few of the
apps we use every day.
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To use Microsoft 365 and Google apps, every student is issued a MPSRI network account.
6: CIPA, COPPA, and FERPA MPS operate subject to federal regulations intended to preserve the safety and privacy of our
students: CIPA, COPPA, and FERPA. All MPS policies are intended to comply with or exceed these
guidelines. CIPA is the Children’s Internet Protection Act. It specifies that Middletown Public Schools
must prevent illegal or unauthorized access to and use of our computers, software, and networks. This
includes internet access, e-mail, and any other form of electronic communication. CIPA also requires
that we keep personal information secure.
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act
COPPA is the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Many websites required users to submit their
name and email address in order to use that site. COPPA requires any website that collects such
information to get permission from a parent/guardian before they allow a child under age 13 to sign up.
http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/coppafaqs.shtm
FERPA is the Federal Education Rights Privacy Act. It grants students and their parent or guardian
access to a student’s educational records. It also regulates what student directory information (name,
e-mail, DOB, etc) that a school can legally share with third parties.
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
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PART 2: USING YOUR LAPTOP
LAPTOP ASSIGNMENT
Advisory Room
Advisory Teacher Laptop Distribution
Room
Laptop Distribution
Teacher
Laptop Distribution Cart
105 McCoombs 246 Myllamaki MHS Mobile Cart 19
224 Marx 242 Decoteaux MHS Mobile Cart 18
233 Duggan 241 O'Brien MHS Mobile Cart 4
240 Lendrum 244 Pignatelli MHS Mobile Cart 6
241 O'Brien 241 O'Brien MHS Mobile Cart 4
242 Decoteaux 242 Decoteaux MHS Mobile Cart 18
243 Sparadeo 245 Haas MHS Mobile Cart 7
244 Pignatelli 244 Pignatelli MHS Mobile Cart 6
245 Haas 245 Haas MHS Mobile Cart 7
246 Myllymaki 246 Myllamaki MHS Mobile Cart 19
248 Holubesko 242 Decoteaux MHS Mobile Cart 18
252 Oliveira 241 O'Brien MHS Mobile Cart 4
To receive the MPS issued laptop, a student and their parent or guardian must have signed the
following forms:
Acceptable Use Policy
Students Handbook
Classroom Management Plans
LAPTOP DAILY DISTRIBUTION & DROP OFF Laptops should be picked up each morning in your laptop distribution room between 7:25 – 7:30 am. Students
will only use the laptop that is assigned to them. Students will return the laptop during the last five minutes of
each school day. (Early dismissals can leave their laptop with MHS Main Office staff.)
BASIC GUIDELINES The use of district-owned technology equipment by students, such as laptop computers and multi-media devices, is encouraged, providing all guidelines, regulations and policies are followed. These guidelines are necessary to protect the district’s investment in hardware and to maintain the security of the district’s network.
These guidelines are to be used in conjunction with Middletown Public Schools policies that address appropriate use of technology and digital resources. These policies include but are not limited to (1) MPS Computer and Internet Acceptable Use Policy (2) Student Handbook (3) Classroom Management Plans (4) Web Mail Policy (5) The Website Policy (6) The Technology Support Policy. All MPS guidelines and policies regarding technology and electronic resources apply to computer use at school. These policies and guidelines also apply to any use outside of the MPS network when using your MPS laptop or any MPS equipment. It is expected that all students of the Middletown Public Schools whose equipment including laptops and multi-
media devices and personal devices (cell phones) agree to the following guidelines and rules. Violation of
these guidelines and rules will result in disciplinary and/or legal consequences.
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LAPTOP USE AT SCHOOL
Logging On
Students can use their mpsri network log on for access to the laptop. The laptops have wireless access and
the network can be accessed wirelessly from any location in any MPS building.
Saving Files
When at school, teachers can save to their M drive.
The community portal, mpsri google or mpsri office 365 can also be used to save files.
Items saved to the desktop will be lost if there is a hard drive error or other equipment problems.
Lock Your Laptop
Laptops should always be “locked” when not in use. For your own security, hold down the Windows key on the lower left of the keyboard and push the
letter “L” key. To unlock, perform a Ctrl + Alt + Delete as if to log on to the laptop. Retype the login name
and password.
LAPTOP OWNERSHIP MPS retains sole right of ownership of the Laptop. The laptops are assigned to the students for educational purposes only. All users of the laptop must adhere to Middletown Public School Policies regarding appropriate use, data protection, computer misuse, health and safety. Students are responsible for all content found on their laptops. Do not allow any unauthorized users access to your laptop.
TAKING CARE OF LAPTOPS Students are responsible for the general care of their school-issued laptop. If your laptop is broken or
not working properly, contact your advisor to submit the work order on behalf of your laptop. If the
laptop is not functioning then place the laptop into the assigned cart. Students should complete the
REPAIR FORM and leave it with the laptop or submit it using the online link. If a loaner laptop is
warranted, one will be issued to the student until their laptop can be repaired or replaced. Please see
Mrs. Sheely in the Guidance Office to receive this loaner.
GENERAL CARE AND PRECAUTIONS a) Be careful when you have food and/or drink near your laptop.
b) Insert cords, cables, and removable storage devices carefully. Don’t force connections.
c) Close the screen when you need to carry your laptop around.
d) Close or shut down your laptop when not in use to conserve battery life.
e) Use care when placing your laptop in a bag or locker -- protect the screen.
f) Don’t expose your laptop to extreme temperature or direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
g) Never leave the laptop in an unsecure location.
h) Do not remove or attempt to alter the serial number or identification tags. Students should never remove or alter any MPS identification labels or tags attached to/displayed on any MPS equipment.
SCREEN CARE Rough treatment may damage your laptop screen; it is particularly sensitive to damage from excessive
pressure.
a) Do not place anything near the laptop that could put pressure on the screen.
b) Do not place anything in a backpack that will press against the cover.
c) Beware of putting anything in your backpack that touches the cover.
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d) Do not poke the screen with any object not intended to be used with a touchscreen.
e) Do not place anything on the keyboard before closing the lid (e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks).
f) Clean the screen with a soft, dry, anti-static, microfiber cloth or pre-moistened eyeglass cloth.
g) Do NOT use window cleaner or water to clean your laptop.
USING LAPTOPS AT SCHOOL The laptop is intended for use at school every day, be sure to secure it back into the cart and plugged
it so that it can be charged. If you need to charge your laptop during the day then please ask your
classroom teacher for a power supply so that you can plug it in (Do not remove one from the cart).
You can also use any cart to charge your laptop during the day. At night, the laptop should be stored
in its intended cart.
INTERNET USE ELSEWHERE While the laptop should not leave MHS it should be noted that the device will be filtered and audit logs
will be collected on usage, even when used outside of the MPS network.
SOUND Keep the sound on your laptop muted except when needed. You can use headphones with permission
from your parent AND teacher(s). If your school supplies you with headphones, you are responsible
for their care and replacement if they are lost.
MANAGING FILES AND SAVING YOUR WORK o Students can save to their M drive.
o The community portal, mpsri google or mpsri office 365 can also be used to
save files.
o Items saved to the desktop will be lost if there is a hard drive error or other
equipment problems.
o Students can also save documents an external memory device such as a
SD card or USB flash drive.
Saving to the portal, One Drive (365) or Google Drive will make the file accessible from any computer
with Internet access. Students using Microsoft 365 or Google Drive to work on their documents will
not need to save their work, as Drive will save each keystroke as the work is being completed.
Students are responsible for the integrity of their files and to keep proper backups. Students will
receive instruction on proper file management procedures from their teachers.
SOFTWARE ON LAPTOPS MPS laptops are supplied with the latest build of the Microsoft Operating System (OS), and other
applications. The Microsoft OS will automatically install updates when the computer is shutdown and
restarted. Laptop software is delivered via the MPS Technology Department. Keep the software that
is originally installed on your laptop in usable condition and easily accessible at all times. From time to
time, the school may add software applications for use in a particular course. The schools may also
automatically remove applications that the schools no longer need. Only software approved by the
Technology Department and owned by MPS may be installed on District-owned computers. All
software must be installed by district technology personnel and adhere to the District’s Software
Policy. Illegal use or transfer of copyrighted materials is prohibited.
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PERSONALIZING YOUR LAPTOP Please don’t draw, write, or put stickers, paint, or tape on your laptop. Keep it clean for the next person
who will receive it. No stickers or markings of any kind are allowed on the laptops. They are not to be
defaced, damaged or tagged in any way.
NETWORK CONNECTIVITY The MPSRI network might not be up and running 100% of the time. In the case that the network is
down, MPS will not be responsible for lost or missing data.
INSPECTION Students may be selected at random to provide their laptop for inspection. The purpose for inspection
will be to check for proper care and maintenance as well as inappropriate material being carried into
the school. All laptops will be inspected at the end of the year to identify damage and arrange for
repair.
MONITORING USE Students should be aware that there should be no expectation of privacy when using MPSRI network
or equipment. When students access the MPS network at school, MPS will actively filter access and
use third party solutions to monitor content for threats, violence, illegal activity, etc. Notifications are
sent to the MPSRI Tech Support and Administration regarding suspicious activity. If concerns are
identified, disciplinary action and/or parent contact may occur.
RESTORING A LAPTOP If technical difficulties occur, the technical support staff will use the “5-minute” rule. If the problem
cannot be fixed in 5 minutes, the laptops will be reset to factory defaults and the Microsoft OS reset to
the state it was in when it was first checked out to the student. All student-created files stored on a
flash drive, or cloud based drive will be intact after the operating system is restored. However, all other
data (user accounts, music, photos, documents) stored on internal memory that has NOT been synced
will not be restored.
STORING LAPTOPS You are responsible for your laptops at all times. Keep it in a secure place. Don’t stack things on top of
it. Don’t leave it unattended. Students should lock their laptop in their locker when it is not needed in
class, for example in Physical Education class or during lunch.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT If tech support is needed then the laptop should be returned to the cart and the cart coordinator will submit a
work order to the MPS Technology Department. The technology department will come to the room to look
at the laptop. The student is also required to complete a student tech support form (paper or online)
As always, the technology help desk will do its very best to have the shortest turnaround time possible.
Where possible, a loaner laptop will be provided via Mrs. Sheely and the Guidance Office (if available).
Teachers can check the status of their repair in the work order system.
Link to Student Form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gVQ78bfFFUC8XEVkwa4TkTy2ZhGtcXNCkukEJi4NNI1UQ0R
TS0EzSjJTTEs5R0YyUDZVWE8zMTdLTS4u
LAPTOP DAMAGE, LOSS & THEFT Loss or theft of the property must be reported to the MPS Technology Department Help Desk at 401-849-2122
as soon as possible after the occurrence. Loss or theft should also be reported to the MHS Administration.
Issues or concerns requiring repair should be reported via the MPS Technology work order system.
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DAMAGE: If the Laptop is accidentally damaged or vandalized, it will be repaired or replaced.
Subsequent damage to the Laptop after the first documented incident could result in an investigation,
disciplinary action and parent notification.
LOSS: If a Laptop is lost, it will be replaced. Subsequent instances of a lost Laptop could result in an
investigation, disciplinary action and parent notification.
THEFT: If the Laptop is stolen, the MPS may require that a police report be filed. Fraudulent reporting
of theft will be turned over to the local law enforcement agency for investigation. Students making a
false report may also be subject to disciplinary action.
PART 3: RESPONSIBLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY Middletown Public Schools has specific policies that address appropriate use of technology and digital resources. These policies include but are not limited to (1) MPS Computer and Internet Acceptable Use Policy (2) Employees Telecommunications Equipment and Use Policy (3) MPS Code of Ethics (4) Web Mail Policy (5) The Website Policy (6) The Technology Support Policy. All MPS guidelines and policies regarding technology and electronic resources apply to computer use at school. These policies and guidelines also apply to home use of your MPS laptop or any MPS equipment.
Technology Guidelines Middletown Public Schools is committed to making available to all student and staff members access to a wide range of digital learning facilities, equipment, and software, including computers, computer network systems, and the Internet connection. The goal in providing this technology and access is to support the educational objectives and mission of the Middletown Public Schools promote resources sharing, innovation, problem solving, and communication to enhance student learning. The District has the right to place reasonable restriction on the material accessed and/or posted through the use of it’s computers, computer network, and/or Internet connection.
The student is responsible, at all times, for the care, appropriate use, and damages incurred to the laptop.
The student agrees to handle all equipment carefully and protect it from potential sources of damage. The
student also agrees to store all equipment in a safe and secure location. If any loss, damage or destruction of
school property is determined to be the fault of the student, MPS may charge the student the lesser of the
repair or replacement cost. The student will not be held responsible for loss, damage or destruction of school
property when such loss, damage or destruction is determined not to be the fault of the student. Allowances
will be made for normal wear and tear of equipment.
Privileges & Responsibilities
Access to this infrastructure imposes certain responsibilities and obligations. Users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of digital etiquette and district policies. Users are not to modify the standard configuration of any computer or other technologies. Users should report any malfunction, inappropriate material or improper usage to the appropriate staff through a work order. Users should not use technology in any way that disrupts use by others or creates a hostile learning environment. Examples of prohibited conduct include but are not limited to the following:
Use of another user’s account.
Attempting to breach the desktop/laptop security of a computer
Attempting to break into password protected areas of a network or tampering with network systems
Use of the technology infrastructure to obtain inappropriate material
Use of technology to engage in behavior prohibited by the district’s anti-‐harassment and bullying policy.
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Property Rights Users must respect the property of others by crediting sources and following all copyright laws. Users may not download or install software without administrative permission. All software loaded on the District’s hardware is the property of the District and may not be copied or transmitted to any outside party: upon termination of employment or student withdrawal, no employee or student shall remove any software or data from District-‐owned equipment. No employee or student may copy, download from the Internet or install onto a District computer or otherwise use any software in violation of applicable copyrights and license agreements.
Privacy Electronically Stored Personal Data The District permits the use of its computer facilities for the storage of personal data and files, so long as this does not adversely impact the operation or capacity of the system in a material way. Users should not assume any right of privacy in the personal files maintained on the District’s technology infrastructure. Examples of this include, but are not limited to the following:
District computers, devices, network and servers including your M drive or other drives (also accessible through fileway)
Cloud technology such as files stored on third party servers (for example: community log in, mpsri google and mpsri office 365)
District Webmail
Any data that is hosted on the equipment and on personal devices is the responsibility of the user. MPS is not responsible and does not support data on local hard drives or portable devices. Users must take measures to securely protect any and all school department data that resides on the devices.
District Monitoring The District has the right, but not the duty, to monitor any and all aspects of its computers, computer network systems, and Internet access. The District shall have the both the authority and the right to review or monitor, with or without prior notice, the content of electronic communication for any reason, including but not limited to retrieval of information, investigation or resolution of network or communications problems, prevention of system misuse, ensuring compliance with policies for use of third-‐party software and information, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requests and enforcement of all District policies. The District also reserves the right to review, inspect the content of, and monitor all information residing on all computers and file servers for such purposes. Students and staff waive any right to privacy in anything they create, store, send, disseminate or receive on the District’s computers and computer network systems, including the Internet.
Users may not engage in activities that consume excessive amounts of network bandwidth, such as
downloading, uploading and/or live streaming non-‐school-‐related content. If the MPS Technology Department suspect high utilization of bandwidth or inappropriate use of district technology resources, a user may be asked to turn over a device and any passwords.
Per district policy, all files stored on any district profile or devices are the property of the district and are subject to regular review and monitoring at any given time.
Reminders Regarding Unacceptable Use Access to, submittal, publication, display or retrieval of any material in violation of any United States or state regulation is prohibited, including, but not limited to copyrighted material; threatening, racially offensive, abusive, defamatory, profane, sexually oriented, pornographic, or obscene material; or material protected by trade secret.
• Use for individual profit or gain or other commercial activities is not acceptable.
• Use for product advertisement or political action or political activities is prohibited.
• Excessive personal use or consuming excessive amounts of bandwidth
• Contributing to cyberbullying, hate mail, harassment, discriminatory remarks, and
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other antisocial behaviors.
• Intentionally seeking information on, obtaining copies of, or modifying files, other data or passwords belonging to other users, or misrepresenting other users on electronic resources.
• Using an electronic resources account authorized for another person.
• Making use of the electronic resources in a manner that serves to disrupt the use of the District network by others.
• Unauthorized downloading or installation of any software, including shareware and freeware, for use on District electronic resources.
• Malicious use of electronic resources to develop programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer or computing system and/or damage the software components of a computer or computing system.
• Any attempt to defeat or bypass the District’s Internet filter by using or trying to use proxies, https, special ports, modification to the District browser settings or any other techniques, which are designed to avoid being blocked from inappropriate content or conceal Internet activity.
• Personal laptops and/or personal devices are not supported by the MPS Technology
Department at this time.
INTERNET SAFETY
SAFETY REQUIRES EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE a) Parents and Users : Every user must take responsibility for his or her use of the network and
Internet and avoid inappropriate sites. Despite the best efforts of supervision and Internet filtering, all
users and their parents/guardians are advised that access to the electronic network may include the
potential for access to materials inappropriate for school-aged students.
b) Personal Safety : Don’t reveal personal information such as names, home address, telephone
number, school name, location. Don’t arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone you only “met” on
the Internet. Students should identify themselves only by their first name and/or student ID.
c) Active Restrictions : MPS uses filtering software and other technologies to prevent students from
accessing websites that are obscene, pornographic, harmful to minors, anti-social, or which promote
illegal activity. The use of anonymous proxies to bypass content filters is strictly prohibited and will be
considered a violation of responsible use expectations. The schools also monitor the online activities
of students, through direct observation and/or technological means.
THE INTERNET IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CLASSROOM Blogs, discussion groups, podcasts, or other internet tools are considered an extension of the
classroom. Speech that is inappropriate in the classroom is also inappropriate in electronic
communication used for school. Students should not share personal information online, even on
school or classroom based sites.
EDUCATION, SUPERVISION, AND MONITORING While students are at school, MPS teachers and staff will educate, supervise, and monitor appropriate
usage of the online computer network and access to the Internet in accordance with District policy, the
Children’s Internet Protection Act, and the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.
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Students will receive instruction about responsible and appropriate online behavior, including
interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms; and online bullying
awareness and response.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ELECTRONIC DATA Students are responsible for what is on their laptops: including data, apps, or extensions that are not
installed by MPS Technology staff. Students should back up their data or use internet based storage
to protect data from loss.
INAPPROPRIATE NETWORK USAGE MPS will take steps to promote the safety and security of users of the MPS online computer network
when using electronic mail and other forms of direct electronic communications.
Specifically, as required by CIPA, prevention of inappropriate network usage, including:
a. Unauthorized access, including so-called ‘hacking’, and other unlawful activities
b. Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding
minors
PROHIBITED USE OF COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS The user is responsible for all his/her actions and activities involving the network. Examples of
prohibited conduct include but are not limited to the following:
a) Accessing materials/communications, or sending, creating, or posting materials that are
damaging to another person’s reputation
b) Abusive
c) Obscene
d) Threatening or demeaning to a person’s gender or race
e) Sexually oriented
f) Contrary to the district’s policy on harassment
g) Illegal
h) Harassing/Cyberbullying
i) Gaining unauthorized access to wired or wireless network resources
j) Using the school’s computers or network for illegal activity such as copying software or other
violation of copyright laws
k) Using the school’s network for private financial or commercial gain
l) Installing unauthorized programs on any of the district’s computers or computer systems.
m) Purposely infecting any district computer or network with a virus or program designed to
damage, alter, or destroy data
n) Using or attempting to use another person’s username or password
o) Posting or plagiarizing work created by another person without his or her consent
p) Posting anonymous messages
q) Using the network for commercial or private advertising
r) Forging electronic mail messages
s) Attempting to read, alter, delete, or copy the electronic mail of other system users
t) Using the district’s computer hardware, network, or Internet link while access privileges are
suspended.
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u) Using the district’s computer hardware, network, or Internet link in a manner that is
inconsistent with a teacher’s directions and generally accepted network etiquette
v) Attempting to alter the settings and/or configuration of a computer or any of the district’s
software.
ONLINE BULLYING MPS considers cyberbullying to be the same as face-to-face bullying. Cyberbullying is prohibited.
Online bullying is when a child is threatened, harassed, humiliated, or embarrassed by another child
using digital technologies such as the Internet. Some examples of cyberbullying include:
a) Pretending to be someone else online to deceive others
b) Spreading lies and rumors about others
c) Tricking people into revealing personal information
d) Sending or forwarding inappropriate text messages
e) Posting pictures of people without their consent
ONLINE SAFETY All students participate in online safety classes each year, with a focus on keeping students safe
online. Some of the main points include:
a) Never post or share your personal information online (this includes your full name, address,
telephone number, school name, parents’ names, or Social Security number)
b) Never share your passwords with anyone, except your parents
c) Never meet anyone face to face whom you only know online
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FORWARD THINKING…FUTURE READY ISLANDERS
WHAT IS THE MPS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION?
Middletown Public Schools is working to transform our culture to promote more collaboration and
innovative instructional approaches through a digital learning environment. Through a 1:1 digital
transformation, teachers are engaging students in a more student-centered learning environment and
moving away from more traditional, teacher-centered classrooms. This instructional shift, coupled with
digital tools and resources, are helping Middletown’s students to improve their achievement and
prepare them for success in college and careers.
Congratulations on being part of the Middletown Public Schools (MPS) digital initiative and our
professional learning community’s transformation through technology! The program is beginning
with the introduction of laptops for every teacher in all schools in the fall of 2014. Providing laptops
to teachers will support the necessary transformation to a digital learning environment as we take
advantage of the global resources that come with Internet access and the world of learning anytime
and anywhere.
The Middletown Public Schools’ Academic & Technology Services primary goal is supporting schools
and our school district in our efforts to improve student learning. We want to ensure that each student
achieves success and is prepared to be an informed and involved citizen of the 21st Century. We
know that our digital transformation will not only support this goal but will also help us to ENSURE
SUCCESS FOR EVERY STUDENT
THE 7 GEARS OF THE FUTURE READY FRAMEWORK:
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Personalized Professional Learning Robust Infrastructure Budget and Resources Community Partnerships Data and Privacy Use of Space and Time Collaborative Leadership