2024-2025 Lake Forest Parent-Student Handbook

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

The SVUSD Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) can be found in the Annual Notification to Parents:

• 2022-23 Annual Notification to Parents (page 23)
• Notificación Anual a Padres de 2022-23 (pagina 24)

Purpose

It is the policy of SVUSD to maintain an environment that promotes ethical and responsible conduct in all online network activities by staff and students. This document serves as the guidelines and expectations of all employees, students, and other individuals working within SVUSD with regards to acceptable use of network and online resources.

Responsibilities

User Responsibilities

• Use of electronic media provided by SVUSD is a privilege that offers a wealth of information and resources for research. In order to maintain the privilege, users agree to learn and comply with all of the provisions of this policy.
• Users may not use the district Internet system for commercial purposes.

Guidelines

Access to Online Materials

• The material users may access through the district’s systems should be for educational use only. Use of district systems for entertainment purposes and/or non-academic social media use is strictly prohibited.
• Users will not use the district systems to access, publish, send, or receive any material in violation of applicable law. This includes, but is not limited to: material that is obscene; child pornography; material that depicts or describes in an offensive way, violence, nudity, sex, death, or bodily functions; material that promotes or advocates illegal activities, material that promotes the use of alcohol, tobacco, or weapons; material that advocates participation in hate groups or other potentially dangerous groups; materials that promote illegal behavior; material protected as a trade secret or material that can be construed as harassment or disparagement of others based on their race/ethnicity gender, sexual orientation, age disability, religion, or political beliefs.
• Students who mistakenly access inappropriate information must immediately report such access to a teacher or school administrator.
• Students may not download apps or software on district-purchased devices or alter system configurations unless they have received approval from a teacher or administrator.

Safety

• To protect users’ personal contact information, users shall not share online students full name or information that would allow an individual to locate a student including: family name, home address or location, work address or location, or phone number.
• Any message a user receives that is inappropriate or makes him/her feel uncomfortable should be reported as well. Students should not delete such messages until instructed to do so by a school staff member.

Unlawful, Unauthorized, and Inappropriate Uses, Activity, and Language

• Users shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the district Internet system or any other computer system through the district internal or external systems. This includes logging in to someone else’s account and/or accessing someone else’s files.
• Users shall not use the district systems to engage in any other unlawful act, including arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity, or threatening the safety of any person.
• Users shall avoid inappropriate language in their electronic communications including collaborative communications within software such as commenting in Google Docs.
• Users shall not post information that could cause damage or danger of disruption to offices, schools, organizations, or persons.
• Users shall not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks. This includes knowingly or recklessly posting false or defamatory information about a person or organization.
• Users will not harass or bully another person. Cyberbullying is prohibited by state law and district policy.

Plagiarism, Copyright, and User Agreement Infringement

• Users will not plagiarize works from any source.
• Users will not inappropriately share or reproduce a work that is protected by a copyright including songs, digital images, movies, or other artistic works.
• Users must honor their user agreements with personal accounts such as Netflix, and other streaming/software accounts where the terms of use prohibit using the account for anything other than “personal and noncommercial use.” SVUSD does not guarantee access to these services.
• When introducing a new software or app to more than one district device, the user, department, or site must purchase enough licenses for each device the user adds it to. Legal action may be taken in such cases that an app or software has not been purchased for each device in cases where the license agreement requires it.

Personal Devices

• Permission to have a device at school is contingent upon an understanding and agreement of this AUP policy. In student cases, parents must have this understanding and agreement.
• All costs for data plans and fees associated with devices are the responsibility of the owner.
• Mobile devices with Internet access capabilities are required to use district provided Internet through the district’s filtered network while on school property.
• Student use of personal devices during class time must be authorized by the teacher.
• Users may not photograph, videotape, or record any individuals without the written permission of the teacher or administrator and the students being photographed. Recordings made in a classroom require the advance written permission of the teacher or administrator.
• Users may not take, possess, or share obscene photographs or videos.
• Users may not photograph, videotape, or otherwise record instructional materials and assessments.

System and Account Security

• Users shall not share passwords or account information and must take reasonable precautions to prevent others from using your accounts. This includes NT Username/Passwords and district WiFi passwords.

Privacy

• Users should not expect privacy in the contents of their personal files and in their overall district Internet use on the district systems. All Internet usage is monitored. Violations will be reported to site and/or district personnel who will conduct further investigations as warranted.
• Parents have the right to request to see the contents of their student’s files and/or Internet history at any time.

Vandalism

• Vandalism, in addition to physical damage, is also defined as any malicious attempt to access, harm, alter, or destroy data, data of another user, or any other agencies or networks that are connected to the system. This includes but is not limited to creating/uploading viruses or hacking.

Violations of this Agreement

• In the event there is a claim that a user has violated the law or this policy, the user’s access to the district’s computer resources may be terminated and/or offending users may be disciplined under SVUSD’s discipline guidelines.
• SVUSD will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any unlawful activities conducted through the district systems.

Responsibility for Loss or Damages

• Users can be financially responsible for any harm that might result from the user’s intentional misuse of the system. In the case of student misuse, parents will be held responsible.
• SVUSD assumes no responsibility for the loss, destruction, or theft of any personal devices including but not limited to cell phones, computers, and/or personal electronic devices. School officials and district office staff are not required to investigate lost or stolen personal electronic equipment.
• SVUSD is not responsible for online material accessed off campus on a non-district network.
• If a district-purchased device is checked out to a student with written parent permission for use off campus, parents can be held financially responsible for loss or damage to the device.
• Devices should not be left unattended.

Actions

• The principal or administrator may cancel a user’s privileges whenever the user is found to have violated this policy.
• Inappropriate use may include discipline under SVUSD’s discipline’s guidelines, suspension or expulsion, in accordance with law, school, and board policy