Congress enacted the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in 2000 to address issues relating to minors' access to harmful or obscene content via the Internet. CIPA compliance is mandatory to libraries and schools that leverage the E-Rate program to get discounts for Internet connections or access. These organizations are mandated to provide a safe environment for kids when they go online.
"'m at a small gathering of education journalists, policymakers and school leaders today, and in attendance is the Department of Education's Director of Education Technology, Karen Cator.
Cator told me that teachers continue to thank her for outlining these important clarifications about schools blocking access to Web sites. For those who haven't seen the original article, which followed an article about surprising blocked Web sites, here it is again."