School policies, procedures and contracts
- 2. 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
- 3. 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.
- 4. 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 .
- 5. CONTRACTS Contracts establish the private law developed by and between parties. Contracts allow parties to create their own rules. Flexibility of the Contract law makes it suitable for Parties can amend handling technology the contract in light issues, particularly of changing for the use of circumstances school computers and the school internet system.
- 6. 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.
- 7. SCHOOL AUPs Help establish private law for school communities. Lay out the terms and conditions for use of school computers and internet resources. Prescribe rules of behavior. Describe student, teacher and staff privileges. Identify the consequences for breaking these rules.
- 8. SCHOOL RECORDS RETENTION POLICIES Records 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.
- 9. SCHOOL SHOULD INCLUDE POLICIES ON THE FOLLOWING: Cyber bullying Policy Student privacy and Data Security Copyright Compliance Policy Rights and responsibilities of students, teachers and staff Employee blogging policy
- 10. 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 communicate clear boundaries to all members of the school community. School must provide educational programming for students and professional development training for teachers and staff.
- 11. 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.
- 12. 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
- 13. 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.
- 14. 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?
- 15. ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTERS, COMPUTER NETWORKS AND INTERNET RESOURCES
- 16. ACCESS School 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.
- 17. 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.
- 18. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FREE SPEECH SEARCH AND SEIZURE •As in case of the school newspaper, the school may restrict speech on the electronic medium for valid educational reasons. •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
- 19. UNACCEPTABLE USES • Personal Contact info Illegal Activities System Security Inappropriate Language Respect for privacy Respecting Resource Limits Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement Inappropriate access to material
- 20. LIMITATION AND LIABILITY The 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.