Acceptable Use Policies

In order to obtain permissions and consents regarding my school district’s acceptable use policy, the district has parents/guardians sign off on a one-page form indicating that they have referenced and read district policies 815 and 815.5 and will emphasize to their child their importance. Policies 815 and 815.5 can be accessed via the district’s website; each policy references other district policies as well as federal and state law. The bottom portion of the parent sign off form includes PA criminal statutes applicable to the use of technology.

Easton Area High School Acceptable Use Policy

• Policy 815: Use of the Internet and the District’s Network 
• Policy 815.1: Use of District-Owned Technolgy

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“Instead of an AUP, How About an EUP (Empowered Use Policy)?” speaks to the negative language and legalese of which acceptable use policies tend to be constructed and offers suggestions for a more positive empowered use policy. The legal considerations of providing students access to the world via their fingertips are many, and it is understandable that districts want to protect themselves and students. However, the heavy-handed language present in many AUPs is a bit of a turnoff and sets a negative tone.

Technology has globalized the world, and that comes with pitfalls but also with an abundance of opportunity. The emphasis of AUPs seems to be placed on what students are forbidden from doing online and with their devices. The AUP should also address what students should be doing online and with their devices. This will help open eyes to the benefits of technology in education and provide a foundation for responsible online behaviors. Burlington School District in Burlington, Massachusetts does a nice job of explaining dos and don’ts in plain language Burlington Public Schools Technology Acceptable Use Policy.

Finally, the AUP should be accessible to all–not just in terms of language but in terms of physicality. Although it may first seem counter-intuitive, acceptable use policies should be easily accessible online and in print. We know that varying levels of tech-savvy and tech participation exist within our own faculty; it would be naive to assume these disparities do not exist amongst students and parents. Parents should not have to scour district websites to find policies nor should we assume they have the means to do so.