OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Office of the Superintendent
ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN 6180
August 12, 1998
Student Acceptable Use Policy for Internet Access

General Regulations

The Internet and other on-line resources provided by the district are intended to be used to support the instructional program and further student learning. The OUSD network facilities (OUSD-Net) are to be used in a responsible, efficient, ethical, and legal manner in accordance with the mission of the Oakland Unified School District.

Acceptable Use Agreement

Because the Internet contains an unregulated collection of resources, the district cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information or the appropriateness of any material that a student may encounter. Therefore, before using the district’s on-line resources, each student and his/her parent/guardian shall sign and return an OUSD Acceptable Use Agreement (See Appendix A). This agreement shall specify user obligations and responsibilities and shall indemnify the district for any damages. The parent/guardian shall agree to not hold the district responsible for materials acquired by the student on the system, for violations of copyright restrictions, users’ mistakes or negligence or any costs incurred by users.

Supervision

Certificated staff shall supervise students while using on-line services at the school site, and may ask instructional assistants and student aides to assist in this supervision.

The principal or designee shall oversee the maintenance of each school’s technological resources and may establish guidelines and limits on their use. He/she shall ensure that all students using these resources receive training in their proper use.

User obligations & responsibilities

Students are authorized to use the district’s on-line services in accordance with user obligations and responsibilities specified below and in accordance with Board policy 6180 and the district’s Acceptable Use Agreement.

The principal or designee shall make all decisions regarding whether or not a user has violated these regulations and may deny, revoke or suspend a user’s access at any time. The decision of the principal or designee shall be final.

1. The student in whose name an on-line services account is issued is responsible for its proper use at all times. Users shall keep personal account numbers, home addresses and telephone numbers private. They shall use the system only under their own account number.

2. The district’s system shall be used only for purposes related to education. Commercial, political and/or personal use unrelated to an educational purpose is strictly prohibited.

3. The district reserves the right to monitor any on-line communications for improper use. Electronic communications and downloaded material, including files deleted from a user’s account, may be monitored or read by district officials.

4. The use of the district’s system is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use shall result in a cancellation of those privileges.

5. Students are prohibited from accessing, posting, submitting, publishing or displaying harmful matter or material that is threatening, obscene, disruptive or sexually explicit, or that could be construed as harassment or disparagement of others based on their race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or political beliefs.

Harmful matter includes matter, taken as a whole, which to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest and is matter which depicts or describes in a patently offensive way sexual conduct and which lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.

6. Users shall not use the system to encourage the use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco, nor shall they promote unethical practices or any activity prohibited by law or district policy.

7. Copyrighted material may not be placed on the system without the author’s permission. Users may download copyrighted material for their own use only.

8. Vandalism will result in the cancellation of user privileges. Vandalism includes the intentional uploading, downloading or creating computer viruses and/or any malicious attempt to harm or destroy district equipment or materials or the data of any other user.

9. Users shall not read other users’ mail or files; they shall not attempt to interfere with other users’ ability to send or receive electronic mail, nor shall they attempt to delete, copy, modify or forge other users’ mail.

10. Users shall report any security problem or misuse of the services to the teacher or principal. Deliberate attempts to degrade or disrupt system performance will be viewed as criminal activity under applicable state and federal law.

11. Both student and parent or guardian must sign the Acceptable Use Policy before a student can use the OUSD-Net.

12. Students who fail to abide by district rules shall be subject to disciplinary action, revocation of the user account and legal action as appropriate.
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OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Appendix A
Administrative Bulletin 6180
Student Acceptable Use Agreement for Internet Access

I, _____________________________________, the parent of _________________________________
(Parent or Guardian Name - Print) (Student Name - Print)

agree to allow my child to have access to the Internet through the OUSD-Net. I have read and agree to the Oakland Unified School District Student Acceptable Use Policy for Internet Access, and to be responsible for the behavior of my child. I understand that the district cannot guarantee the accuracy or appropriateness of information or material that my child may encounter on the Internet.

I shall not hold the district responsible for materials acquired by my child on the system, for violations of copyright restrictions, users’ mistakes or negligence or any costs incurred by my child.

I understand that the following is a non-exhaustive list of activities that will not be tolerated, and that violations may result in the loss of account privileges, as well as other disciplinary and/or legal action:

  • Sending or displaying offensive pictures or graphics.
  • Using obscene language.
  • Harassing, insulting, threatening or abusing other network users.
  • Violating copyright laws.
  • Using another user’s account and password.
  • Damaging computers, personal or network files.
  • Trespassing in another user’s private files.
  • Attempting to circumvent network security.
  • Using the OUSD-Net for commercial purposes or individual financial gain.Parent or

Guardian: __________________________________________ Date: ____________________________

(Signature)Student: __________________________________ Date: ____________________________

(Signature)School: ___________________________________ Grade: ___________________________