on the internet

What is CIPA? CIPA stands for the Children’s Internet

Protection Act. It was enacted in 2000 by

Congress, in an effort to protect the chil-

dren of America from the dangers of access

to inappropriate and harmful content. The

act requires public, government funded

places, like schools and libraries to enact

an effective internet safety policy. By fol-

lowing the guidelines of the CIPA, public

libraries and K-12 Media Centers can re-

ceive discounted internet rates and addi-

tional funding from the government. Adults

can gain access to sites that are otherwise

blocked by filtering to minors. This is be-

cause the act is used to protect minors only.

September 2013

Our Internet Safety Policy

Each student is required to have their parent or

guardian sign an internet use release form. This

gives parents the option of whether their student

will have access to the world wide web during

school hours. In addition, media staff will moni-

tor internet use inside the Media Center and

teachers will monitor during computer lab time.

Every computer in the school has internet safety

software installed and certain sites are banned

and blocked. Students are informed that an email

or correspondence made on school computers

can be monitored by administration support staff

members from other computers on the network.

Students will take internet safety courses provid-

ed by the Media Center Program. During these

courses, students will learn how use the internet

in a safe and secure manner. They will also be

provided with information on how to prevent

and report cyber bullying, as well as where to

draw the line when sharing on social media.

During school hours, students will refrain from

using cellular devices, this prevents students

from having access to an unmonitored internet

connection.

Students who accidentally access inappropriate

content are to inform a teacher or other staff

member immediately, in order to insure no

wrong doing happened and to provide safety to

the child or children involved.

How to continue internet

safety at home:

Monitor what your child

share on their various so-

cial media profiles

Talk to your child about

what is appropriate to

share

Block any sites you feel

are inappropriate

Turn on the parental con-

trols on your computer

Keep the computer in

public family spaces

Insist on access to your

child’s passwords for any

public profiles

Monitor your child’s

email and phone ac-

counts

Cyber-Bullying

Cyber-bullying is bullying with the use of internet and other

technologies to harm or harass others. Cyber-bullying is differ-

ent from other types of bullying because it can happen at any

time, all hours, everyday, making is almost impossible to es-

cape. Cyber-bullying can be done anonymously without trace

and its difficult to erase public posts and messages that are in-

appropriate. Children who are cyber-bullied are more likely to

have low self-esteem, become truant, and use drugs and alco-

hol. Cyber-bullying is becoming more frequent with adoles-

cents, therefore it is becoming more important to inform our

students on how to prevent and report it.

Identity Theft

Child Identity Theft is becoming a more prominent crime.

Thieves use stolen, children Social Security numbers to apply

for benefits, credit card accounts, and loans. You can prevent

the misuse of your child’s social security number by keeping

the information private, asking how information is being used

and stored by schools and other organizations your child is in-

volved in, shred any documentation that has your child’s per-

sonal information on it, and protect any other records with per-

sonal information on it. Close to your child’s 16th birthday,

check their credit report, this will allow for plenty of time to

repair any damages made before your child is in need of bene-

fits, loans, or bank accounts.

Stay informed on where your child is going and what

they are doing on the internet. Knowledge is your

best defense against anything that can happen to your

child.

Barseghian, T. (2013, September 17). Straight from the DOE: Dispelling Myths About Blocked Sites. Re-

trieved from Mindshift: How We Learn: http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/04/straight-from-

the-doe-facts-about-blocking-sites-in-schools/

Consumer Trade Commission. (2013, September 17). Consumer Information. Retrieved from Consumer

Trade Commission: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0040-child-identity-theft

Department of Health and Human Services. (2013, September 17). Retrieved from Stop Bullying: http://

www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/

Federal Communication Commission. (2013, September 16). Children Internet Protection Act. Retrieved

from Federal Communication Commission: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-internet-

protection-act