AUP

Acceptable Use Policies by Margaret Mitchell



Many school districts develop and implement acceptable use policies for their teachers, staff, and students to help deal with concerns about students accessing inappropriate materials on the internet, posting inappropriate materials on school related websites, and using school technology resources in an appropriate manner. These policies describe what the school system deems 'acceptable use' of technology for educational purposes. These policies also help protect school systems from any liability incurred by allowing students, teachers, and staff access to the variety of information on the Internet. Many schools design their AUPs in the form of a contract that is sent home and signed by students; however, other schools only require that the information is presented to students.
 * Description:**

Schools that utilize technology in the classroom need to decide on rules and guidelines for the acceptable use of that technology and consequences for the the violation of these rules. When devising a policy schools need to consider:
 * What is the impact of this issue on K-12 schools, educators, and students?**


 * What restrictions might be infringements on individual free speech?
 * Is monitoring school e-mail messages a violation of personal privacy?
 * Who is ultimately responsible for student behavior in the school?
 * What legal obligations do school systems have for the behavior of their students?

Additionally, schools will need to include:
 * A definition of the school districts' stance on what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate materials or resources.
 * An outline of how student access will be monitored and who will ultimately be responsible for student behavior
 * A description of what restrictions and responsibilities are placed on staff
 * An outline of what responsibilities are placed on students and parents


 * Integrating this topic into Daily Instruction:**

Grades K-4 While elementary students may seem a bit young to fully grasp the ideas and implications of AUP, it is a good idea to have a simplified version for students and their parents. Also, simplified lessons concerning safety and etiquette online would be appropriate for this age group.

Grades 5-8 In the middle school grades it is appropriate for students to understand their responsibilities as students and citizens on the internet. Students should be given AUPs and should have a lesson integrated into their classes on what is and is not appropriate online behavior.

Grades 9-12 As students grow older they should have a more in-depth lesson on the importance of online responsibilities. In addition to signing AUPs, high schools should have lessons about the importance of acceptable behavior on the internet and implications of the permanent nature of the internet.

Baltimore County Public Schools includes its AUP in the Student Handbook. The 2010-2011 school year's AUP content can be viewed here. The AUP of Anne Arundel Country Public Schools is given to parents in the form of a letter which can be viewed here. Howard County seems to have to most detailed (and long winded) AUP of the local school districts. Their form can be viewed here.
 * Local Examples of AUPs:**

The Department of Justice's model of an AUP The state of Indiana requires all schools to have an AUP which they describe on their website
 * Links to Examples of AUPs:**

"Acceptable Use Policy" Baltimore County Public Schools Adapted Student Handbook. http://www.bcps.org/system/handbooks/Adapted-Student-Handbook.pdf "Acceptable Use Policy." Indiana Department of Education. http://www.doe.in.gov/olt/aup/welcome.html "Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement/ Internet Use Permission Form." Howard County Public Schools. http://www.hcpss.org/aboutus/form_techagreeinternetper070110.pdf "Internet Acceptable Use Policy." Anne Arundel County Public Schools. http://www.aacps.org/html/parents/internet_accept.asp "Model Acceptable Use Policy." United States Department of Justice. http://www.justice.gov/criminal/cybercrime/rules/acceptableUsePolicy.htm "Smart AUP." Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation at Nova Southeastern University. http://aup.fbi-sos.org/
 * References:**