Promoting Safe and Healthy Use of Technology

In 2000, Congress enacted the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), a federal law that addresses concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school computers. Schools subject to CIPA are required to adopt and implement an Internet safety policy. (Children’s Internet Protection Act, 2009) CIPA imposes certain types of requirements on any school that receives funding for Internet access or internal connections from the E-rate program, a program that makes certain communications technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. The level of discounts for schools is based upon the level of eligibility in the federal free and reduced lunch program. Schools are required to certify that they have their safety policies and technology in place before receiving E-rate funding. (E-Rate, 1997) The protection measures must block or filter Internet access to sites that are obscene, contain child pornography, or are harmful to minors. Forsyth County schools currently receive a 42% discount through E-rate for funding on both telecommunications services and Internet access. The Forsyth County Schools use Fortinet Fortigate 3600 Firewall and Web Filter, as well as the DeepNines appliance in order to restrict minors’ access to materials “harmful to minors,” as that term is defined in the Children’s Internet Protection Act. (Evans, 2009)
During the schools’ instructional focus class, teachers lead the students in a district-wide, planned presentation called “Netiquette.” Cyber-bullying, Internet security, and Internet safety are addressed in this engaging and relevant lesson. Additionally, a district-wide presentation concerning the ethical and legal ramifications of “sexting” is also presented during the students’ instructional focus class. Internet safety guidelines are also displayed for stakeholders on the Forsyth County website and are a part of the student acceptable use policy.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Parents have certain rights with respect to their children's education records, and these rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 2010) The Forsyth County School system maintains student information and records in compliance with laws of the State of Georgia, the federal government, and the Georgia Department of Education. Guidance for the handling of student information and records is from the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Forsyth County Schools provides notice to parents and eligible students of their rights under FERPA at the beginning of each school year, by a notice in each school handbook. Teachers of English Language Learners (ELL) also provide this notice in Spanish, Bosnian, and Korean. (Forsyth County Schools, 2008)

Children’s Internet Protection Act: FCC consumer facts. (2009) Retrieved June 9, 2010 from http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html

E-rate: Questions and answers. (1997) Retrieved June 9, 2010 from http://www2.ed.gov/Technology/overview.html

Evans, B. (2009). Forsyth county schools: Three year technology plan. (2009). Retrieved on June 10, 2010 from http://forsyth.schoolwires.com/129410616215017890/lib/129410616215017890/ForsythTechPlan2009-2012-forweb.pdf?129410616215017890Nav=|&NodeID=5817

Family educational rights and privacy act. (2010). Retrieved June 9, 2010 from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

Forsyth county schools: Student records and information management. (2008). Retrieved June 13, 2010 from http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/12941061621547467/lib/12941061621547467/StudentRecordsManual2008.pdf