Protecting students online

     Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is committed to supporting students’ growth and academic achievement through sound teaching practices and technology tools that expand their creativity and learning opportunities. Families should be aware that there have been instances when students have accessed “proxy sites,” which are websites that let students get around school internet protections to play games or access non‑school content on their Chromebooks.

Understanding the Concern

     While playing a quick game or watching short videos may seem harmless, using proxy sites to do so is not. These sites are built to get around the school’s safety systems, which puts students at risk. Using them also breaks the district’s Student Acceptable Use Policy and violates federal laws designed to protect children online.

Why This Is a Problem

Avoiding Safety Protections

• The school uses internet filters to give students safe access to learning resources while blocking harmful or inappropriate content. Proxy sites get around these protections and can expose students to content that is unsafe or inappropriate.

Risks to Devices and Student Information

• Many proxy sites contain harmful software, such as viruses or other malicious programs. These can damage Chromebooks, threaten student data, or interfere with the school’s network.

Impact on Learning

• Chromebooks are provided to support learning in the classroom. When they are used for games or entertainment, it distracts from instruction and takes away from the purpose of the 1:1 learning program.

How Families Can Help Support Online Safety

GCPS sees technology as a tool to help students become responsible digital citizens. Families play an important role in helping students understand why these protections are in place and how they help keep students safe.

Please talk with your student about the following:

• Why the Rules Exist
  • Explain that internet filters are not meant to take away fun, but to protect students from content that can be harmful or disturbing. These protections also help schools follow state and federal laws that require internet safety for minors.
     
• Responsible Chromebook Use
  • Remind students that their Chromebook is a privilege provided by the school for learning, collaboration, and school‑related research.
     
• Awareness of Online Activity
  • Students should understand that school internet filters work both at school and at home. The websites students try to access are monitored, and unusual or unsafe activity is reported to school administrators.

If you would like to learn more about how the district works to keep students safe online, please visit the GCPS website and review the resources available for families on protecting students while using the internet.