Acceptable Use Policy

With the advent of the internet, organizations have taken to preparing acceptable use policies for employees in all areas of our society. Initiated by many educational institutions and libraries, these documents have become commonplace in all sections of business and industry, in part to protect the organization from activity engaged in by its employees, but as in the case of schools and libraries, to also protect the clients; students and citizens.

The purpose of an Acceptable Use Policy, known simply as an AUP, is to outline the terms and conditions for technology use by defining access privileges, rules of online behavior, and the consequences for violating those rules. The focus of an AUP should be on the responsible use of computer networks. Such networks include both the Internet (the World Wide Web, external e-mail, and so on) and any Intranets (classroom networks, communications between classes within a school or district, library catalogue and database access, etc.).

According to the US Department of Education's online Alphabet Superhighway, AUP's should include:

  • A description of the instructional philosophies, strategies and goals to be supported by Internet access in schools
  • An explanation of the availability of computer networks to students and staff members in your school or district
  • A statement about the educational uses and advantages of the Internet
  • An explanation of the responsibilities of educators and parents for students' use of the Internet
  • A code of conduct governing behavior on the Internet
  • An outline of the consequences of violating the AUP
  • A description of what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable use of the Internet
  • A description of the rights of individuals using the networks in your school/district (such as the right to free speech, right to privacy, and so on)
  • A disclaimer absolving the school district from responsibility, under certain circumstances
  • An acknowledgment that the AUP complies with provincial and national telecommunication rules and regulations

A form for teachers, parents and students to sign, indicating that they agree to abide by the AUP

Acceptable Use Policies in Virginia

All school divisions in Virginia are required to have an Acceptable Use Policy. Many have their policies posted on their Web sites. Use this link to locate a Virginia school division. Once at the web site, you will need to search for the AUP. This may require some sleuthing, but you should eventually be able to find it. Use a site's Quick links, Frequently Accessed Pages, or search tool to find AUP, or Acceptable Use.

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/Div/index.html#Schl

Acceptable Use Policies Elsewhere

Unlike Virginia, it is unknown if all states require AUP's. But it is easy to determine the AUP of a given school division or school using the proper search terms and a search engine such as Google. You might want to research your own high school, or that of a family member, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or friend.

For example, I graduated from Great Valley High School in Malvern, PA.

I might go to Google and enter this search strategy: +"Great Valley High School" +"Acceptable Use"

One of the results I see is:

[PDF] Student Handbook 2003 – 2004
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML

The Great Valley High School Student Council is a composite of three groups: representatives from each ... ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY #815.1 ...
www.great-valley.k12.pa.us/gvhs/handbook/2003-04handbook.pdf - Similar pages

I choose to click on the link that says View as HTML so I don't have to launch my Acrobat Reader, and then search for the word acceptable. I find the information beginning on page 62 of the document.

Keep in mind that you may find the AUP hasn't been updated for a period of time. Unless the information is no longer valid, this should not be a problem. As in the example above, the AUP is from a document published during the 2003-2004 school year.