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Gwinnett County Public Schools

Policy: Responsible Use of Technology and Electronic Media

Level: Accompanying Procedure: Descriptor Code: Rescinds
Policy
I-Instructional Programs		 P.IFBG, P.IFBH IFBG June 21, 2012
Descriptor Term: Effective Date:

Responsible Use of Electronic Media
New Title: Responsible Use of Technology and Electronic Media

Keywords:
Student Discipline:
Policy References: 

Gwinnett County Public Schools recognizes that the use of technology is prevalent in society has a significant role in teaching and learning and the operation of the school system. Students and staff have access to the Internet, cell phones, games, and a variety of personal technology tools, applications, and devices, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, to learn, interact, share, create and innovate. Students and staff utilize social media websites
and applications as well as a variety of other digital resources that allow them to interact, share, create and innovate. Staff members utilize these same resources as a means to effectively engage and motivate student learning and collaborate with colleagues. Staff members utilize these same resources as a means to effectively engage, motivate, and direct
student learning and collaborate with colleagues. These technologies must meet GCPS standards, approval processes, and expectations and relevant laws for use for communication with students, staff and community members. The same laws, professional standards, expectations, and guidelines for interacting with students, parents, community members, and colleagues apply online as they do in the real world. The Board has adopted and will enforce the Code of Ethics adopted by the Professional Standards Commission. Students are expected to comply with the Student Conduct Behavior Code.

It shall be the policy of the Board that the school system shall have in continuous operation, with respect to any electronic devices belonging to the school and/or belonging to individuals accessing the GCPS network, the following:

 

  1. A qualifying "technology protection measure," as that term is defined in Section 1703 (b)(1) of the Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000; and
  2. Responsible User Agreements signed by all users of the district-wide area network and/or other electronic information services; and
  3. Procedures or guidelines developed by the Superintendent, administrators and/or other appropriate personnel which provide for monitoring the online activities of users and the use of the chosen technology protection measure to protect against access through such computers to visual depictions that are (i) obscene, (ii) child pornography, or (iii) harmful to minors, as those terms are defined in Section 1703(b)(1) and (2) of the Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000. Such procedures or guidelines shall be designed to:
    1. Provide for monitoring the online activities of users to prevent, to the extent practicable, access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and the World Wide Web;
    2. Promote the safety and security of minors when using instruction-related electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
    3. Prevent unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors; and
    4. Restrict minors' access to materials "harmful to minors," as that term is defined in Section 1703(b)(2) of the Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000.
    5. Establish consequences for staff and students and employees who willfully violate the 'Staff Acceptable Use Policy' or the 'Student Acceptable Use Policy' acceptable-use-procedures.
    6. Provide for an expedited review and resolution of a claim that the policy is denying a student or school employee access to material that is appropriate for instructional, administrative, and/or business purposes.
  4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that are trained with data to automate tasks normally requiring human intelligence. AI technologies are used for a variety of purposes. GCPS commits to safe, responsible, and ethical use of AI.
  1. 5. Students will also be educated about appropriate online behavior, including safe interactions with other individuals on social networking websites, electronic chat room safety, and cyberbullying awareness and prevention.