POLICIES, PROCEDURES

AND CONTRACTS

SCHOOL POLICIES

Well crafted policies lay out

expectations, define rights and responsibilities,

describe procedures and

detail the remedies available if policy is

violated.Policies allow

administrators to use contract law

principles to create a kind of private law that governs

the school community

Acceptable use policies(AUPs), bullying policies, parent permission slips, school handbooks, disciplinary procedures are all Contracts.All these contracts are binding to the school community.

For example: a school with an antibullying policy, based on its

findings of an increase in offensive text messaging and emailing

among students may amend its policies to include a prohibition

against cyberbullying.

CONTRACTSContracts establish

the private

law developed

by and between parties.

Contracts allow

parties to create

their own rules.

Parties can

amend the

contract in light of

changing circumsta

nces

Flexibility of the

Contract law makes it suitable

for handling technology issues,

particularly for the use of school

computers and the school

internet system.

CONTRACT LAW

School leaders craft appropriate policies for the school.

School puts students and teachers on notice by publishing and distributing policies.

Parents and students return signed copies of the same before student privileges are granted.

The school policies become the law of the school.

SCHOOL AUPs

Help establish private law for

school communities.

Lay out the terms and

conditions for use of school

computers and internet

resources.

Describe student,

teacher and staff

privileges.

Prescribe rules of behavior.

Identify the consequences for breaking these rules.

SCHOOL RECORDS RETENTION POLICIESRecords Retention policies

address the storage, retention and destruction of school records created and stored on school computers and internet systems.• These records include student grade reports,

attendance records, standardized test scores and other student specific information.

Schools, working with legal council need to draft record retention policies appropriate for their schools, while providing adequate direction and protection for IT professionals.

SCHOOL SHOULD INCLUDE POLICIES ON THE FOLLOWING:

Cyber bullying Policy

Student privacy and

Data Security

Rights and responsibiliti

es of students,

teachers and staff

Copyright Compliance

Policy

Employee blogging

policy

THE ROLE OF SCHOOLS FOR POLICIES TO BE EFFECTIVE

School Leaders need to

identify all the risks to students,

teachers and staff and

take responsible precautions to minimize

the risks.

School needs to establish

and communicat

e clear boundaries

to all members of the school

community.

School must provide

educational programmin

g for students and professional development training for

teachers and staff.

Schools should establish a policy describing the recommended chain of command for reporting incidents. Schools can craft age appropriate tests students must pass before being granted license to participate in less structured internet activities.

FIVE STEP PLAN FOR DRAFTING SCHOOL POLICY

1

•Collect Data

2

•Solicit input

3

•Draft the new/revised policy

4

•Circulate the draft of new/revised policy

5

•Approve and disseminate the new/revised policy

NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS SHOULD INCLUDE:A copy of the user notification form is provided to the student.

Description of Parent/Guardian responsibility.Notification that parents have the option to request alternative educational activities not requiring internet access.A statement that the Student Online Acceptable Use Consent Form must be signed by the student, parent/guardian and teacher prior to use by student.A statement that the school’s acceptable use policy is available for parental review.

CHECKLIST REGARDING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Has the School done the

following?

Made an assessment of the legal risks

arising from the use of

classroom technology?

Communicated clear

expectations and boundaries with regard to

all uses of technology in

the classroom?

Enlisted student, staff and parent

input in drafting school

technology contracts?

Established training

requirements and policy acceptance procedures

prior to use of technology resources?

Incorporated parent

education into your school’s technology strategy?

Established a chain of

command for reporting incidents?

ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTERS, COMPUTER

NETWORKS AND INTERNET RESOURCES

ACCESSSchool offers internet access for staff and students to use.

Students and their parents/guardians must sign an acceptable use consent

form.

The school will provide each employee an email account.

Students will be provided limited access to the internet after they have permission

from their teacher.The use of the school computer and internet

system is a privilege, not a right.

EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE

Educational purpose includes information

management, classroom activities, educational

research, career development and

curriculum activities using the computer and internet

The school internet system is not a public access

service. School has the right to place reasonable

restrictions on the material accessed or posted through

it.

Students and employees cannot use the school

computer network for non educational commercial

purposes.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

FREE

SPEECH

•As in case of the school newspaper, the school may restrict speech on the electronic medium for valid educational reasons.

SEARCH AND SEIZUR

E

•Electronic communication, stored data, downloaded material may be intercepted, accessed or searched by the administrators and faculty.

•Individual search can be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that policies have been violated

UNACCEPTABLE USES

• Personal Contact

info

Illegal Activities

System Security

Inappropriate

Language

Respect for privacy

Respecting Resource

LimitsPlagiarism

and Copyright Infringeme

nt

Inappropriate access

to material

LIMITATION AND LIABILITYThe school disclaims liability for the

misuse of its computers, equipment, emails and internet programs that violate the policy or any applicable law.• The school gives no guarantee that the

services provided shall be without error or defect.

The school is not responsible for any loss suffered due to its computer system, including loss of data, interruptions in service, accuracy or quality of information or financial obligations resulting from the use of school resources.