Appropriate Technology Use Brochure- PHS

Paramus, New Jersey

Appropriate Technology Use

Paramus Board of Education

The district may furnish students electronic devices such as laptop computers, tablets, notebooks, cellular telephones, or other electronic devices. When a student is furnished with an electronic device the district shall provide the student with written or electronic notification that the electronic device may record or collect information on the student's activity or the student’s use of the device if the electronic device is equipped with a camera, global positioning system, or other feature capable of recording or collecting information on the student’s activity or use of the device. The notification shall also include a statement that the district shall not use any of the capabilities in a manner that would violate the privacy rights of the student or any individual residing with the student. The parent or guardian of the student furnished an electronic device shall acknowledge receipt of the notification. The district shall retain the acknowledgement as long as the student retains the use of the electronic device.Failure to provide the required notification shall be subject to a fine of $250 per student, per incident. If imposed, the fine shall be remitted to the Department of Education, and shall be deposited in a fund that shall be used to provide laptop or other portable computer equipment to at-risk pupils.

Paramus High School

School Furnished Electronic Devices

The board shall develop a technology plan that effectively uses electronic communication to advance andpromote learning and teaching. This system of technology shall be used to provide local, statewide, nationaland global communications opportunities for staff and students. Educational technology shall be infused intothe district curriculum to maximize student achievement of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.It is the policy of the district to establish safe and effective methods for student and staff users of the district’stechnological resources and to:A. Prevent user access over its computer network to, or transmission of, inappropriate material via Internet,electronic mail, or other forms of direct electronic communications;B. Prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful online activity;C. Prevent unauthorized online disclosure, use, or dissemination of personal identification information ofminors; andD. Comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Students shall not post personal contact information about themselves or others, nor shall students engage in any kind of personal contact with individuals they meet online. Attempts at contact from such individuals shall be reported immediately to the staff person monitoring that child’s access to the Internet. Personal contact information includes but is not limited to names, home/school/work addresses, telephone numbers, or personal photographs.

Prohibited Activities

• Users shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access (hacking) to the district system or to any other computer system through the district system, nor shall they go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another individual’s account or accessing another’s files.
• Users shall not deliberately attempt to disrupt the district’s computer system performance or destroy data by spreading computer viruses, worms, “Trojan Horses,” trap door program codes or any similar product that can damage computer systems, firewalls, servers or network systems.
• Users shall not use the district system to engage in illegal activities.
• Users shall not access material that is profane or obscene, that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or hate. Inadvertent access to such material should be reported immediately to the supervising staff person.
• Users shall not plagiarize material that is available on the Internet. Plagiarism is presenting another’s ideas/words as one’s own.
• Users shall not infringe on copyrighted material and shall follow all dictates of copyright law and the applicable policies of this district.

Prohibited LanguageProhibited language applies to public messages, private messages, and material posted on web pages.

• Users shall not send or receive messages that contain obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, or threatening language.
• Users shall not use the system to spread messages that can reasonably be interpreted as harassing, discriminatory or defamatory.

Student Safety Practices

• Users are responsible for their accounts and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized access to them. In no case should a user provide his/her password to another individual.
• Users shall immediately notify the supervising staff person or data processing department if they detect a possible security problem. Users shall not access the system solely for the purpose of searching for security problems.
• Users shall not install or download software or other applications without permission of the Assistant Superintendent and MIS department.

System Security

Prohibited Activities & Language

• Users shall access the system only for educational, professional or career development activities. This applies to discussion group mail lists, instant message services and participation in Internet “chat room” conversations.
• Users shall check e-mail frequently and delete messages promptly.

System Limits

• Users shall respect the privacy of messages that they receive and refrain from reposting messages without the approval of the sender.
• Users shall not publish private information about another individual.
• Not all data on our network are encrypted.

Privacy Rights