AR 6163.4 Student Use of Technology

This policy outlines the guidelines for student use of technology within the Palo Alto Unified School District, emphasizing educational purposes, responsible behavior, and awareness of privacy limitations. It covers appropriate use, safety, and potential consequences for violations.

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Introduction Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) is committed to preparing students both academically and for future careers while ensuring that students are socially and emotionally safe. Technology use is central to both school and work, and PAUSD supports learning and teaching with technology. However, PAUSD is also aware of the complicated realities of living in a more technologically connected society. Use of District technology resources is a privilege that the District extends to students in order to support and enrich their learning experiences.

Definitions District technology includes, but is not limited to, computers, the district's computer network including servers and wireless computer networking technology (wi-fi), the internet, email, USB drives, wireless access points (routers), tablet computers, smartphones and smart devices, telephones, cellular telephones, wearable technology, any wireless communication device including emergency radios, and/or future technological innovations, whether accessed on or off site or through district-owned or personally owned equipment or devices.

Content While using District technology, students will be exposed to content from a variety of sources including, but not limited to content created by teachers and other students, applications and content purchased by the District and individual schools, and content located on the internet. While the District is able exercise reasonable control over content created and purchased by the District, it has limited control over content accessed via the internet.

PAUSD believes that open access to the internet is important to the educational process and, further, that education in the proper use of technology, not restricted access, is the best way to protect our students on the internet. For this reason, PAUSD engages in very limited filtering of internet content by ensuring district technology with internet access have a protection measure that protects against access to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors and that the operation of such measures is enforced. Parents should remember that, while best efforts to filter are made, no filtering system is 100% effective. PAUSD staff believe that the benefits to students from internet access exceed the possible disadvantages.

PAUSD makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, for the technology resources it provides or the information students may access using those systems. PAUSD is not responsible for any damages users suffer while using District technology resources. PAUSD specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy of information students may obtain from sources outside the District.

Appropriate Use The Palo Alto Unified School District expects that students will use District technology for purposes consistent with the instructional program. PAUSD technology resources should be

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used primarily for class assignments and other learning activities. Only school related files should be stored in student accounts. Students are expected to be good stewards of District technology resources, leaving equipment and work areas in good condition.

Safety & Privacy PAUSD will provide age-appropriate instruction regarding safe and appropriate behavior on social networking sites, chat rooms, and other Internet services. Such instruction shall include, but not be limited to, the dangers of posting one's own personal identification information online, misrepresentation by online predators, how to report inappropriate or offensive content or threats, behaviors that constitute cyberbullying, and how to respond when subjected to cyberbullying. Students are expected to follow safe practices when using PAUSD technology.

Consequences of Violations Students who misuse PAUSD’s technology resources will be subject to discipline which may include loss of access to PAUSD technology resources and/or other appropriate disciplinary or legal action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and applicable laws. If a student is accused of any violation, s/he has all of the rights and privileges that exist with other kinds of school infractions.

Local Policies & Practices These policies apply to all schools and students within PAUSD. Individual schools and teachers may develop local policies and procedures which may be more restrictive than District policies. Not all schools or teachers will use all types of software or hardware described in this document.

Personally Owned Devices If a student uses a personally owned device to access district technology, he/she shall abide by all applicable Board policies, administrative regulations, and this Handbook. Any such use of a personally owned device may subject the contents of the device and any communications sent or received on the device to disclosure pursuant to a lawful subpoena or public records request.

Student Obligations and Responsibilities Students are expected to use district technology safely, responsibly, and for educational purposes only. The student in whose name district technology is issued is responsible for its proper use at all times. Students shall not share their assigned online services account information, passwords, or other information used for identification and authorization purposes, and shall use the system only under the account to which they have been assigned.

District technology and bandwidth are shared and limited resources and all users have an obligation to use those resources responsibly. Students are provided access to PAUSD technology primarily for educational purposes. Incidental personal use of District technology is

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acceptable, but students should not use district technology for personal activities that consume significant bandwidth, for personal activities or for activities that violate school policy or law.

These include but are not limited to: 1. Playing games or online gaming unless approved by a teacher. 2. Downloading software, music, movies or other content in violation of licensing requirements, copyright or other intellectual property rights. 3. Installing unauthorized software. 4. Downloading, viewing or sharing inappropriate content, including pornographic, defamatory or otherwise offensive material. 5. Conducting any activity that is in violation of school policy, the student code of conduct or local, state or federal law. 6. Engaging in any activity that is harmful to other student(s), including cyberbullying. 7. Participating in political activities. 8. Conducting for-profit business. 9. "Hack" into the system to manipulate data of the district or other users 10. Intentionally disrupt or harm district technology or other district operations (such as destroying district equipment, placing a virus on district computers, adding or removing a computer program without permission from a teacher or other district personnel, changing settings on shared computers) 11. Using any software or proxy service to obscure either the student’s IP address or the sites that the student visits. 12. Disabling, bypassing, or attempting to disable or bypass any system monitoring, filtering or other security measures. 13. Accessing or attempting to access material or systems on the network that the student is not authorized to access.

Privacy Since the use of district technology is intended for educational purposes, students shall not have any expectation of privacy in any use of district technology.

The district reserves th