Descriptor Term Descriptor Code Issued Date

IFAD 11/20/97
Internet Usage for Students

Rescinds Issued



Technology is changing many aspects of life as well as the information available to students. Diversity of information and opinions is valuable to students and teachers.

Within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, telecommunications, electronic resources, and network infrastructures supplement the instructional needs of the student. By providing such access to students, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools provides students and staff with many more resources than would otherwise be possible. Traditional resources such as books, print materials and other media have been evaluated by schools and school-based committees in the past according to a selection process. Administrative regulation IFAB-R describes this process. Yet, information available electronically cannot effectively be evaluated in the same manner. Electronic information changes rapidly, with the infrastructure designed to be as open as possible - and as public.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' staff are expected to make thoughtful use of electronic resources, considering the quality of the content, the skills required to access information and the ability of students to evaluate the information. In this light, staff should consult Board Policy IFAB regarding instructional materials and apply the same criteria for selecting electronic materials.

Students themselves are responsible for their actions when using networked computers or telecommunications, much as they are in a classroom. Access to networks is available to any student willing to act responsibly and courteously. Use of networked resources in a manner harmful to others will not be tolerated. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools network spaces are analogous to student desks or lockers and may be inspected when network maintenance becomes necessary or if students abuse access rights.

Supervised access to the Internet will be granted to all students. Supervised access to the Internet is defined as access to the Internet when a CHCCS staff member either is present with the students or has provided an Internet related assignment for students to complete. Examples of supervised access include all classroom settings with a staff member present, computer labs with a staff member present, and media centers when a staff member or trained volunteer is circulating or otherwise monitoring student use of the Internet. Unsupervised access is defined as student access without a specific assignment when an adult cannot continuously be present, for example, in the media center when students are present without teachers and other staff are not available to monitor Internet use. Parents may also grant unsupervised access privileges to their children by signing the Unsupervised Use Agreement form.


Page 2: Policy IFAD: Internet Usage by Students

Since the Internet is a global network, it is impossible for CHCCS to control all materials which may appear. Families should be warned that users may encounter materials which are inaccurate, defamatory, illegal or offensive, but that the potential of the Internet far outweighs the possibility that users may come across inappropriate material.



Approved: 11/20/97

Established: May 1995 Last Modified: May 13, 1998
To No-Nonsense Net-Learning   Suggestions to Seawell Web Ms.
© 1998 Seawell Elementary School