RoxburyPublicSchools

AcceptableUsePolicy
Grades7through12

Purpose
RoxburyPublicSchoolsusesEducationalTechnologyasonewayofenhancingthe
missiontoteachtheskills,knowledge,andbehaviorsthatstudentswillneedasresponsible
citizensintheglobalcommunity.Studentslearncollaboration,communication,creativity,
andcriticalthinkinginavarietyofwaysthroughouttheschoolday.Inanefforttoleverage
schoolownedtechnologyandstudentownedtechnologyforeducationalpurposes,Roxbury
PublicSchoolshasdevelopedthisAcceptableUsePolicy.

Definitions
ThetermComputersreferstoanydesktop,laptop,tabletorothermobilecomputingdevice
ownedorissuedbyRoxburyPublicSchoolstoanystudentforschooland/orhomeuse.The
termBringYourOwnTechnology(BYOT)referstoanyprivatelyowneddesktop,laptop,tablet,
smartphone,orothermobilecomputingdevice.Othermobilecomputingdevice doesnot
includegamingdevicessuchasNintendoDS.ThetermComputerServicesreferstothe
SchoolDistrictsnetworkorInternetconnectionsusedtoaccessschoolorwebbased
information.

GeneralResponsibilities
Allstudentsareresponsiblefortheiractionsandactivitiesinvolvingcomputers,BYOTand/or
computerservices,andfortheircomputerfiles,passwords,andaccounts.Theserulesprovide
generalguidanceconcerningtheuseofthecomputers,BYOT,and/orcomputerservicesand
examplesofprohibiteduses.Therulesdonotattempttodescribeeverypossibleprohibited
activitystudents,parentsandschoolstaffwhohavequestionsaboutwhetheraparticular
activityisprohibitedareencouragedtocontactabuildingadministratorortheTechnology
Department.Theserulesapplytoallcomputers,BYOT,and/orschoolcomputerservices,
regardlessofhowtheyareaccessed.

ExpectationsforAcceptableUse

1. Communication
a. Iwilluselanguagethatispertinentandappropriatewhensubmittingacademic
work,participatinginonlineforumsandworkingcollaboratively.
b. IwillbethoughtfulandmindfulaboutthelanguageIusewhenpostingonlineor
sendingmessagestosomeoneelse.
 c. Iwillbemindfulofhowmywordsareinterpretedbyothers.
d. Iwillnotuseprofanityoranylanguagethatisoffensivetoanyone.
2. Privacy
a. IwillbeawareofprivacysettingsonwebsitestowhichIsubscribe.
b. IunderstandthatanythingIdoonlineorelectronicallyisnotprivateandcanbe
monitored.
c. Iwillnotshareanypersonalinformationaboutmyself,familyorfaculty.This
includespasswords,homeaddresses,phonenumbers,agesandbirthdate.
3. HonestyandSafety
a. Iwillnotengageinbehaviorthatputsmyselforothersatrisk.
b. Iwillrepresentmyselfhonestly.Thisincludesaccessingthenetworkusingan
accountotherthanmyown.
c. IwillseekhelpifIfeelunsafe,bulliedorwitnessunkindbehavior.
d. IwillonlycommunicatewithpeopleIknow.
e. IwillfollowsafetyguidelinespostedbysitestowhichIsubscribe.
f. Iwillnotusecomputers,BYOTand/orcomputerservicestocheaton
assignmentsortests.
4. Learning
a. Iwillhaveapositiveattitudeandbewillingtoexploredifferenttechnologies.
b. Iwillevaluatethevalidityofinformationpresentedonlineandunderstandthatnot
everythingonlineistrue.
c. Iagreetodocumentandproperlyciteallinformationacquiredthroughonline
sourcesincludingbutnotlimitedtoimages,videosandmusic.
d. Iwilladheretotheteacherwhohasthediscretiontoallowandregulatetheuse
ofcomputers,BYOT,and/orcomputerservicesintheclassroomandforuse
duringspecificprojects.
e. IunderstandthatIamprohibitedfromusingtechnologytoaccessorcreate
anythingwhichcouldbereasonablyinterpretedasobscene,offensive,
pornographic,orhavenoeducationalvalue.
5. Respectforselfandothers
a. Iwillnotuploadorpublishpersonalinformation,privatecommunicationsor
photosofotherpeoplewithoutpermission.
b. Iwillrespondthoughtfullytotheopinions,ideasandvaluesofothers.
c. Iwillnotexhibitharassing,intimidatingbehaviororbefoundbullyingthroughthe
useofcomputersorBYOT.Forexample,Iwillnotsendorsharemeanor
inappropriateemailsortexts.
d. Iwillnotusecomputers,BYOTand/orcomputerservicestorecord,transmitor
postphotographicimagesorvideosofapersonorpersonsoncampusduring
schoolactivitiesand/orhours,unlessotherwiseallowedbyateacher.
6. Respectforschoolandpersonalproperty
a. Iwilltakecareofallequipmentwhetherhome,schoolorelsewhere.
b. Iwillreportmisuseand/orinappropriatecontenttomyteachersandadults.

 7. RespectforschoolnetworkandInternet
a. IwillnotuseacomputerorBYOTforthepurposesofinfectingthenetworkwitha
virus,trojanorprogramdesignedtodamage,alter,destroyorprovideaccessto
unauthorizeddataorinformation.
b. Iwillnotattempttohack,alterorbypassnetworksecuritypolicies.

Lost,StolenorDamagedDevices
Eachusershouldtreatthecomputersissuedbytheschooldistrictand/orBYOTresponsiblyand
appropriately.RoxburyPublicSchoolstakesnoresponsibilityforstolen,lost,ordamaged
devices,includinglostorcorrupteddataonthosedevices.Ifitisbelievedthedevicehasbeen
lostorstolen,theparent/guardianisrequiredtofileapolicereportimmediatelywiththeRoxbury
PoliceDepartmentinadditiontonotifyingthemainoffice.Whileschoolemployeeswillhelp
studentsidentifyhowtokeeppersonaldevicessecure,studentswillhavethefinalresponsibility
forsecuringcomputersissuedbytheschooldistrictand/orBYOT.

Anyinsurancepurchasedforschoolissuedcomputerscoversaccidentaldamageonlyanddoes
notcoverloss,theftorintentionaldamage.InaccordancewithBoardofEducationPolicies
7523,SchoolDistrictProvidedTechnologyDevicestoStudentsand5513,CareofSchool
Property,thestudentandhis/herparent/guardianwillberesponsibleforthecostofanyschool
issuedcomputers.ForBYOT,pleasecheckwithyourhomeowner'spolicyregardingcoverage
ofpersonalelectronicdevices,asmanyinsurancepoliciescancoverlossordamage.

RestrictionofPrivileges/DisciplinaryAction
Violationofpoliciesand/orguidelinesgoverningtheuseofcomputers,BYOTand/orcomputer
servicesmayresultindisciplinaryactionasdeterminedbyBoardPoliciesand/orschool
administration.RoxburyPublicSchoolsisauthorizedtocollect,examine,andsuspend
privilegesofanycomputerand/orBYOTthathasbeensuspectedofbeingmisusedbyastudent
and/orissuspectedofcausingtechnologyproblemsonthenetworkinaccordancewith
applicablelawsandpolicies.

References
1. CommonSenseMediaCapeElizabethSampleAcceptableUsePolicy
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/pdfs/cape_elizabeth_aup
_maine.pdf
2. CommonSenseMediaCampbellHallTechnologyValues
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/pdfs/campbell_hall_tech
nology_values_aup.pdf