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Anne Bubnic

Developing an Acceptable Use Policy - 0 views

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    This site is intended to assist K-12 school districts and other K-12 entities in developing their own Acceptable Use Policy for use of the K-20 Network. Since "local control" is a major tenet of K-12 education in Washington state, it is up to each district to determine what elements they wish to include in their own policy, and if they wish to include other elements not contained in the template that has been provided. Includes sample parent letters and permission forms, guidelines for Internet Safety Policies and sample board policies on Network use.
Anne Bubnic

Cyberbullying Policy: Harrass others and Lose Your Driver's License! - 0 views

  • In the past, the Medford district had used its umbrella policy on bullying, harassment and intimidation to crack down on cyber bullying.Spelling out the ban on cyber bullying and threatening to suspend driving privileges sends out a clear message that school officials are on the watch for such behavior, officials said.
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    Medford School District takes Cyberbullying seriously. In a new update to their board policy, students who use text messages or e-mails to harass schoolmates could lose their driver's licenses. Apparently, this policy has also been used for chronic truancy offenses. Prior to this new update, the school board policy on cyberbullying was already one that strongly articulated zero-tolerance for bullying in cyberspace.
Anne Bubnic

Proposed social media policy for school employees | - 7 views

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    One school district's proposed policy. Note the meaty discussion of the policy points at the end of the article.
Anne Bubnic

Schools Left in the Dust on the Social Media Highway - 4 views

  • "Our computer use policy is extensive. The frame is this is how you will use the computers when you are here, you can't go on these sites and do these things while you're at school, but when they get out from school and start using computers of their own to do some of these things, then it becomes a little bit more clouded," he said.
  • The problem NEOLA faces is a lack of law to base policies on regarding student and staff use of Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc. In turn, there are no policies for district administrators to follow, leaving a gray area for disciplinary issues. State legislature was passed regarding bullying, so NEOLA set policies based on that, but in terms of writing policy on technology, direction is what NEOLA is lacking.
Anne Bubnic

Policies, Safety, and Social Networking ~ Steve Dembo ISTE10 | - 11 views

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    See how districts have embraced new technologies while maintaining high standards and keeping students safe. Explore sample policies used at exemplary schools around the world. You can download Steve Dembo's presentation notes here: http://teach42.com/presentations/policies-ISTE.zip
Anne Bubnic

Jeff's Law [Bullying and Cyberbullying in Florida] - 0 views

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    HB 669 prohibits the bullying or harassment, including cyber bullying, of any public K-12 student or employee. It requires the Department of Education to adopt a model policy to prohibit bullying and harassment and directs all school districts to adopt a similar policy. School districts are directed to work with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and local law enforcement on developing this policy. School districts will be required to report all instances of bullying or harassment and to notify the parents of the bully and the parents of the victim.
Anne Bubnic

Curbing Cyberbullying in School and on the Web - 0 views

  • Many of the most egregious acts of cyberbullying do not take place during school hours or on school networks, a situation that presents a dilemma for public school administrators: If they punish a student for off-campus behavior, they could get hit with a freedom of speech suit.  If they do nothing, students may continue to suffer and school officials theoretically could get hit with failure to act litigation. For school administrators, it appears to be an unfortunate “catch-22.” For lawyers, it’s a “perfect storm,” pitting freedom of speech advocates against the victims of cyberbullying and schools that try to intervene. There are no easy answers in this arena, few laws, and no well-established precedents that specifically deal with cyberbullying.
  • “School administrators can intervene in cyberbullying incidents, even if the incidents do not take place on school grounds, if they can demonstrate that the electronic speech resulted in a substantial disruption to the educational environment.”
  • These cases illustrate not only a lack of precedent on cyberbullying cases, but also a dilemma for school administrators on how to handle cyberbullying.  “There are few laws that address how to handle cyberbullying, and many schools don’t have an internal policy to deal with cyberbullying that takes place off-campus,” offers Deutchman.  “It may take an unfortunate and tragic event on school property to get more schools to consider tackling electronic behavior that originates off campus.  It’s only a matter of time before a cyberbully, or the victim of cyberbullying, uses deadly force during school hours.”
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  • So, what should schools do in the meantime?  First, school officials should establish a consistent internal policy (much like a crisis plan) and a team (minimally made up of the principal, school counselor, and technology director) to deal with cyber-misconduct. This team should fully document disruptive incidents and the degree to which the learning environment is affected. The principal should invite the cyberbully’s parents to review the offending material before considering disciplinary action. Most parents at this point will do the right thing.
  • Second, schools should educate children, starting in elementary school, about the importance of cyber-safety and the consequences of cyberbullying, especially on the school’s own network. These rules should be clearly posted in the computer labs and written in age-appropriate language. The rules should be sent home to parents each year—and they should be posted prominently on the school’s website.
  • Third, teachers should continue incorporating in their curriculum projects that utilize the web and other powerful new technologies. This probably won’t help schools avoid lawsuits; it’s just good pedagogy. It’s not surprising that schools that keep up with the latest technology and software—and employ teachers who care about the quality of online communication—report lower incidents of cyber-misconduct.
  • In addition, schools should update their codes of conduct to include rules that can legally govern off-campus electronic communication that significantly disrupts the learning environment. They should also assign enough resources and administrative talent to deal with students who engage in cyber-misconduct. One very big caveat: Disciplining a student for off-campus electronic speech should be done only as a last resort, and certainly not before seeking legal counsel.
  • Finally, schools should realize that not all cyberbullies need to be disciplined. Schools should act reasonably, responsibly, and consistently—so as to avoid the very bullying behavior they are trying to curb. Until the courts provide clear standards in the area of off-campus electronic speech for young people, these recommendations will go a long way in making schools a safer learning environment for everyone.
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    Most school administrators have more than one story to tell about cyberbullying. They report that victims of cyberbullying experience low self-esteem, peer isolation, anxiety, and a drop in their grades. They note that victims may miss class or other school-related activities. Principals also point to recent high-profile cases where cyberbullying, left unchecked, led to suicide. In response, some schools have created new policies and curbed free speech on the school's computer network and on all electronic devices used during school hours. This article offers practical advice for actions schools can take to curb bullying, ranging from policy development to education.
Anne Bubnic

NECC 2008 Technology Policy Workshop - 0 views

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    These notes were taken on the Technology Policy workshop given by Dr. Larry Anderson at NECC and cite the top issues for which a policy must be developed. Other handouts are available at the NECC site , including a case study. [Scroll down to the bottom of the page].
Anne Bubnic

CoSN Receives MacArthur Grant to Explore Policy and Leadership Barriers to Web 2.0 - 0 views

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    CoSN Receives MacArthur Grant: Exploring Policy and Leadership Barriers to Effective Use of Web 2.0 in Schools
    The $450,000 grant began July 1st and over the coming year CoSN will focus on the following key objectives:
    1.Identify findings from existing empirical research relevant to the use of new media in schools and the barriers to their adoption and scalability.
    2. Assess the awareness, understanding, and perspectives of U.S. educational leaders (superintendents, district curriculum and technology directors/CTOs) and policymaker's on the role, problems, and benefits of new media in schools within a participatory culture context.
    3. Investigate and document the organizational and policy issues that are critical obstacles for the effective deployment of new media.
    4. Develop a concise report of findings and construct an action plan for intervention.
Anne Bubnic

Phone usage in schools poses challenge - 0 views

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    Currently, student non-compliance may result in confiscation of the device and other disciplinary action. But, says Superintendent Dave Jeck, that policy is about to change to keep pace with growing student non-compliance. "Cell phone usage issues were at one time exclusively a high school-middle school problem," says Jeck. "Now there are issues on all levels. We need ... a division-wide policy that makes it very clear that usage during the school day is not acceptable and violations will be dealt with sternly."Jeck is working on an addendum to the current policy -- even though legislators say the school district doesn't have to allow electronic devices on school property at all.
Judy Echeandia

Facebook, Cell Phones, & iPods: Updating The K-12 Student Handbook - 0 views

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    Today's students live in an incredibly high tech world- from cell phones to Facebook to YouTube to iPods- K-12 schools are faced with a multitude of new challenges that must be addressed in your student handbook. How can you restructure your student handbook to include the potential issues that may arise as a result of students' increased use of these technologies? Join us for a live, 60-minute audio conference where you and your colleagues will learn:
    * Keys to Drafting K-12 Handbook Policies for Today's Students
    * Online Use Policies: Facebook, MySpace & Online Communities
    * Crafting Guidelines & Policies for Cell Phone & iPod Use at School
    * Protecting Your School from Liability: What You Need to Know
    * Cyberbullying & Technology Misconduct: What Educators Must Know
Anne Bubnic

Area school officials consider how to combat sexting - 0 views

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    School officials in the Calallen, Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, and Tuloso-Midway independent school districts say their existing policy prohibiting cell phone use during school hours goes a long way to addressing any potential sexting problems. West Oso Independent School District Superintendent Michael Sandroussi said his district has a similar cell phone policy, but he thinks sexting is a serious issue that should be addressed. "Besides confiscation of phones, further disciplinary measures should be considered."
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    School officials in the Calallen, Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, and Tuloso-Midway independent school districts say their existing policy prohibiting cell phone use during school hours goes a long way to addressing any potential sexting problems. West Oso Independent School District Superintendent Michael Sandroussi said his district has a similar cell phone policy, but he thinks sexting is a serious issue that should be addressed. "Besides confiscation of phones, further disciplinary measures should be considered."
adjustingto6figu

The View from all Sides - Are Public Adjusters Good or Bad? - 0 views

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    The goal of the insurance company is to settle a claim for as little money as possible. It's why insurance policies are laden with legal terms and doublespeak to the point that policyholders really have no idea what their policy does and doesn't cover. This confusion may prompt policyholders to hire a public adjuster unnecessarily. The truth is, many public adjusters don't review every detail of a policy and may even, occasionally, represent a claim that is not even covered.
Anne Bubnic

Permission Forms | Acceptable Use Policy - 0 views

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    The Acceptable Use Policy should state that written parental consent is required before any student is given access to the Internet or to electronic mail. There needs to be a signature form for parents and students to sign indicating that they have read, understand and intend to abide by the school's Acceptable Use Policy. Sample permission forms are included for elementary, middle and high school.
Anne Bubnic

Cyber Bullying - School Policies? - 0 views

  • A punch in the eye seems so passé. Bullies these days are traveling in packs and using cyberspace to their humiliating messages online. Like the toughies of old, they are both boys and girls and they demand nothing less than total submission as the price of peace. It’s a jungle out there. For school districts, patrolling the hallways and adjacent grounds is just a start. In the 21st century, a new kind of vigilance is necessary—an expanded jurisdiction that serves to both stave off legal actions and ensure a safe and productive learning environment.
  • Today’s principals rely on district policy and practice to extend the presumed long arm of the law to off-campus incidents. Potentially, that could mean plunging headlong into the electronic frontier to rescue student victims and thwart cyberbullying classmates who thrive as faceless computer culprits.
  • A December 2009 study by Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society found that students on the receiving end report greater emotional distress, are more likely to abuse substances, and are more frequently depressed.
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  • The report concluded a child is more likely to face cyberbullying by fellow students than being stalked by an online predator. “Bullying and harassment are the most frequent threats minors face, both online and offline,” notes the Harvard report, Enhancing Child Safety & Online Technologies: Final Report of the Internet Safety Task Force to the Multistate Working Group on Social Networking of State Attorneys General of the United States.
  • Bullying can take a variety of forms. Incidents have included stealing passwords, impersonating the victim online, fake MySpace or Facebook pages, embarrassing photos or information being revealed, threats, rumors, and more. And, bullying tends to magnify the longer it exists.
  • Students sometimes will cyberbully teachers or other school employees
  • In January, a federal court in Connecticut ruled that Regional District 10 was within its rights to discipline a student over an off-campus blog. Judge Mark Kravitz rejected Avery Doninger’s claim that the school violated her free speech rights when they refused to let her serve as class secretary or to speak at graduation because of words she wrote at home
  • According to the Hartford Courant, the school district won “because the discipline involved participation in a voluntary extracurricular activity, because schools could punish vulgar, off-campus speech if it posed a reasonably foreseeable risk of coming onto school property, and because Doninger’s live journal post was vulgar, misleading, and created the risk of substantial disruption at school.”
  • In Florida, a high school senior and honor student was accused of cyberbullying after she wrote on Facebook: ‘’Ms. Sarah Phelps is the worst teacher I’ve ever met! To those select students who have had the displeasure of having Ms. Sarah Phelps, or simply knowing her and her insane antics: Here is the place to express your feelings of hatred.’’ Katherine Evans, who was suspended for “bullying and cyberbullying harassment toward a staff member,” sued the charter school in December 2008. A final ruling is pending.
  • In a 2007 incident, 19 students were suspended at a Catholic high school near Toronto for cyberbullying a principal on Facebook. The students called the principal a “Grinch of School Spirit” and made vulgar and derogatory comments. While the U.S. Constitution does not necessarily apply in private school settings, the incident demonstrates that this kind of behavior can happen anywhere.
  • Districts should have a cyberbullying policy that takes into account the school’s values as well as the school’s ability to legally link off-campus actions with what is happening or could happen at school.
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    Good article from AMERICAN SCHOOL on the policies that schools need to have in place to protect both students and teachers from cyberbullies.
Anne Bubnic

No bullies allowed [Pennsylvania State Initiative] - 0 views

  • A school must have a written bullying policy that includes consequences for violations, identify school personnel to notify with complaints and the policy must be posted in every classroom and be reviewed by students, according to a press release issued by Williams' office.
  • And while school violence had declined 4 percent during the past several years, bullying in schools has risen 5 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
  • The new legislation applies to any threats or intimidation in a school setting, including on school grounds, on a school bus or at any school-sponsored event. Also, the measure covers threats sent via e-mail or over the Internet, called cyber bullying. According to the state Department of Education, every school day 160,000 students miss school because they are afraid of being bullied.
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  • The anti-bully measure was included in a larger School Code bill in 2008. Greenleaf said he proposed the measure back in 2002, but met with resistance from school districts who worried about the cost of implementing such a program.
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    A bill passed earlier this year makes it mandatory for Pennsylvania school districts to have a written anti-bullying policy in place beginning next year.
Anne Bubnic

Board to return cell phones to students [Augusta Chronicle] - 0 views

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    With its evidence room overflowing with cell phones, the Richmond County school board is wanting to give away what it has taken 15 years to collect. The board decided to give the phones back to students when it changed its policy for cell phones in June. The policy replaces the often-criticized rule to seize phones for 365 calendar days when a pupil is caught with one. In 15 years, 5,725 phones were taken from students, according to the public safety department. Of those, 4,566 were still being held by the department this summer. Under the new rules, a parent has 10 days to claim a phone before it is turned in to public safety on the first offense. For a second offense and any phones not claimed at the school on the first offense, public safety takes the phone for 30 days.
Anne Bubnic

School District Electronic Device Policy - 0 views

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    Texas school district electronic device policy covering use of pagers, cell phones, PDA's, handheld, laptops and similar devices.
Anne Bubnic

E-safety: Developing AUPs for Effective Practice of Internet Safety - 0 views

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    Download this free 64-page document on developing appropriate policies and procedures to ensure safe use of the Internet. A checklist for developing acceptable use policies and practical strategies for responding to incidents are also included. Developed by the Internet Safety Group of New Zealand.
Judy Echeandia

Friend or Foe? Balancing the Good and Bad of Social-Networking Sites - 0 views

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    This three-part article includes a discussion of classroom connections to social networking sites and the school's role in intervening when information that affects the classroom is publicly posted on MySpace or Facebook. The authors also provide five key social networking tips:
    1. Establish a policy for dealing with incidents in which students break school rules and their inappropriate behavior is showcased publicly on social-networking sites.
    2. Outline clear guidelines for administrators that spell out how schools should discipline students based on information garnered from social-networking sites, and let parents and students know about those rules.
    3. Educate students about online-safety issues and how to use sites such as Facebook and MySpace responsibly.
    4. Have a policy in place for dealing with cyber bullying.
    5. If teachers are using social-networking sites for educational purposes, they should establish clear guidelines for how they intend to communicate with students via those sites.

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