An examination of the acceptable use guidelines for Flowers High School.

1. Acceptable Use Policy
Charles Herbert Flowers HS
PGCPS

2. An Acceptable Use Policy:
 States the purposes for which network
access is provided.
 Sets out the rules under which users are
allowed to use a network.
 Details unacceptable uses of the network.
 Defines the consequences of violating the
rules of conduct.
 Ensures that legal obligations are met.

3. Schools should have an AUP:
 To encourage responsible use of the
internet by students and teachers.
 To clarify the instructional policies of the
school regarding the network and internet.
 To identify the responsibilities of
administrators, users, and parents
 To ensure compliance with legal
requirements such as CIPA.

4. Schools should have an AUP:
 To provide a code of conduct for users.
 To outline the consequences of using the
network inappropriately.
 To remind users of the need to comply
with copyright regulations.
 So that parents, teachers, students, and
administrators can agree to a structure
within which internet privileges can be
granted.

5. Charles Herbert Flowers HS
 Charles H Flowers HS does not have a
distinct AUP. The general AUP for Prince
George’s county is used.
 All individual AUPs fall under the
Acceptable Usage Guidelines found at
http://www.pgcps.org/~procedur/1000/0700.pdf
 The document covers all users: students,
teachers, administrators, etc.

6. The CHFHS AUP
 States the purposes for which network access is
provided.
“Students are expected to use these networks and
PGCPS technology for educational purposes.
Employees are required to use the school
system technology with the scope of their
employment. All users are expected to follow the
accepted and established guidelines for
technology usage. (Board Policy 115)”

7. The CHFHS AUP
 Sets out the rules under which users are
allowed to use a network.
 There are 23 listed General Procedures, a
number of stated acceptable uses, and
policies for e-mail, anti-virus, spam, cell
phones, dial-up access, virtual private
network access, PDA devices, wireless e-
mail devices, and fax machines.

8. Selected General Procedures
 Users are responsible for their own
accounts.
 Users are prohibited from sharing
accounts and/or passwords with anyone.
 All users will be held accountable for any
violations of the Acceptable Usage
Guidelines that can be traced to their
individual accounts.

9. SPAM
 Current policy dictates that users should
treat SPAM e-mail as “junk” and delete it
as it arrives

10. The CHFHS AUP
 Details unacceptable uses of the network.
 Publishing private information such as
addresses, phone numbers, or passwords.
 Inappropriate language
 Any illegal activity including violation of
copyright or other licences or contracts.
 Commercial purposes
 Annoying, harassing, or attacking others
 Anonymous messages

11. The Blanket Clauses
 “Using a pgcps.org web site for anything
other than educational or administrative
purposes as deemed appropriate by
PGCPS.
 Accessing or linking to websites that
contain material deemed vulgar or
offensive.
 Acccessing or linking to websites that
contain material deemed inappropriate.

12. The CHFHS AUP
 Defines the consequences of violating the
rules of conduct.
 May include, but are not limited to:
 Immediate suspension of access
 Disciplinary action by school administration
 Letter of reprimand
 Arrest and prosecution
 Additional disciplinary action may take place.

13. The CHFHS AUP doesn’t
 Specifically require that students or
parents sign off on the policy.
 Explicitly describe the extent of network
monitoring

14. The AUP in the classroom
 Teachers who intend to use the internet in
their classrooms should have students
and parents sign a version of the policy to
put everyone “on the same page.”
 Students may not have a good
understanding of copyrights and
plagiarism. Teachers should expect to
spend some time on this topic

15. The AUP in the classroom
 Teachers should also stress the
importance of not sharing personal
information over the internet and make it
clear that the networks are monitored.
 If teachers expect students to avoid
irrelevant websites, they should spend
some time teaching internet research
skills.

16. Teachers and the AUP
 Some of the prohibitions are vague, such
as:
Accessing or linking to websites that contain
material deemed vulgar or offensive.
These include but are not limited to . . .
images or representations of full frontal or
partial nudity lacking in any educational,
scientific, or artistic value.