Report on Internet Filtering and Safety

1. Report on Internet Filtering and Safety Kelly Smith Assistant Superintendent for Technology Services February 24, 2009

2. CQ (LEGAL) Electronic Communication and Data Management The District shall adopt and implement an Internet safety policy that addresses: • Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and the World Wide Web • The safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications • Unauthorized access, including “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors on-line • Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors • Measures designed to restrict minors’ access to materials harmful to minors.

3. CQ (LEGAL) Electronic Communication and Data Management • “The District shall provide reasonable public notice and hold at least one public hearing or meeting to address the proposed Internet safety policy.” - CQ (LEGAL) • First public hearing on this topic was in 2001 • NISD Internet Safety and Acceptable Use policies are addressed in: • Board Policy CQ (Legal) • Board Policy CQ (Local) • Administrative Regulation TEC-01 • Student-Parent and Employee Handbooks • Annual AUP Agreement form signed by students, parents, and staff • Parental permission forms required for students to e-mail and Web publish • Acceptable Use online course, required for all employees • K-12 Technology Applications curriculum and instructional materials

4. NISD Internet Safety Components • Ongoing education and training of students and staff • Electronic Internet filtering on all District computers • Electronic monitoring of online activities (e.g., Internet, e-mail, network systems) by students and staff on all District computers • Physical monitoring by staff of students under their supervision in classrooms, labs, and libraries when students are online • Password-protected systems and applications containing confidential data • Investigation and intervention when inappropriate activity occurs, in collaboration with Administration and/or HR departments [Data/Network Security Administrator]

5. Internet Filtering and Monitoring • Federal law (CIPA - Children's Internet Protection Act, 2001) requires school districts to use "filtering" software that attempts to block access to visual depictions and descriptions that are obscene, pornographic, inappropriate for students, or harmful to minors, as defined by CIPA and as determined by the District. • Filtering is required on all of an E-rate recipient’s Internet-enabled computers whether used by minors or adults. • Per Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, each E-rate recipient must certify annually that it is in compliance with CIPA requirements.

6. Internet Filtering and Monitoring • 8e6 is the Internet filtering system used by NISD • Web sites are blocked by three methods: • Content categories and sub-categories • Keyword searches • NISD-blocks • “Blocked” content categories, keywords, and NISD-blocks are reviewed annually, at a minimum • Process in place when staff member needs a site unblocked for instructional or operational purposes, or if they feel a particular site is inappropriate and needs to be blocked; works very well • Two-tiered filtering policy was implemented in August 2008, differentiating access for staff and students (based on login ID & password)

7. Internet Filtering and Monitoring • A “Blocked” message will display • The transaction is logged at Central Office and can be traced back to the specific computer, login username, date and time, etc.

8. Internet Filtering and Monitoring • Examples of categories and sub-categories blocked for ALL USERS: • Adult Content (child porn, explicit art, obscene/tasteless, pornography, R-Rated) • Illegal / Questionable (criminal skills, dubious/unsavory, hate, illegal drugs, terrorist) • Security (bad reputation domains, hacking, malicious code, spyware, web proxies) • Entertainment (gambling, non-educational games, online greeting cards) • Society / Lifestyle (alcohol, personals/dating, tobacco, weapons) • Adware / Banner Ads • Web-based e-mail and Chat

9. Internet Filtering and Monitoring • Examples of categories and sub-categories blocked for STUDENTS ONLY (not staff): • High Bandwidth (Internet radio, video sharing, streaming media, VoIP, web storage) • Online Communities and Message Boards • Entertainment • School Cheating • Humor

10. Internet Filtering and Monitoring • Blocking by keyword searches • List of 35 keywords • Will result in a “Blocked” message when used in Google, Yahoo, and other search engines (web search and image search) • Safe alternatives provided via NISD online databases • NISD-blocks • Can manually block (and unblock) sites regardless of how they have been categorized by the filtering system • No electronic filtering system is totally foolproof, but safeguards and controls are in place to do everything possible to protect students from inappropriate materials