• Availability of Access
• Acceptable Use
• Monitored Use
• Internet Safety
• Filtering
• Disclaimer of Liability
• Training
• Copyright
• System Access
• System(s) Coordinator's Responsibilities
• Individual User Responsibilities
• System(s) Conduct
• Vandalism Prohibited
• Forgery Prohibited
• Limitation/Termination/and/or Revocation of System User Access
• Warning
• Disclaimer

Austin Independent School District Acceptable Use Guidelines

The Superintendent or designee shall implement, monitor, and evaluate electronic media resources for instructional and administrative purposes.

Availability of Access

Access to the District's electronic communications system(s), including the Internet, shall be made available to students and employees exclusively for instructional and administrative purposes and in accordance with administrative regulations.

Access to the District's electronic communications system(s) is a privilege, not a right. All users shall be required to acknowledge receipt and understanding of all administrative regulations governing use of the system(s) and shall agree in writing to comply with such regulations and guidelines. Noncompliance with applicable regulations will result in disciplinary action consistent with District policies and regulations. (See AISD Student Code of Conduct, Local DDA and DHC, and Code of Ethics and Standard Practice for Texas Educators, Regulations Governing Classified employees, p.6-8) Violations of law may result in criminal prosecutions as well as disciplinary action by the District.

Acceptable Use

The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement administrative regulations, guidelines, and user agreements, consistent with the purposes and mission of the District and with law and policy governing copyright.

Monitored Use

Electronic mail transmissions and other use of the electronic communication system(s) by students and employees shall not be considered confidential and may be monitored at any time by designated staff to ensure appropriate use for educational or administrative purposes.

Internet Safety

The Austin Independent School District:

• Controls students' access to inappropriate materials, as well as to materials that are harmful to minors;
• Ensures student safety and security when using electronic communications;
• Prevents unauthorized access, including hacking and other unlawful activities; and
• Restricts unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information regarding students.

Filtering

Each District computer with Internet access shall have a filtering device or software that blocks access to visual depictions that are obscene, pornographic, inappropriate for students, or harmful to minors, as defined by the federal Children's Internet Protection Act and as determined by the Superintendent or designee.

Disclaimer of Liability

The District shall not be liable for the users' inappropriate use of the District's electronic communication resources or violations of copyright restrictions, users' mistakes or negligence, or costs incurred by users. The District shall not be responsible for ensuring the accuracy or usability of any information found on the Internet. The Superintendent or designee will oversee the District's electronic communication system(s). Oversight of the posting of official district, campus, or division/department materials on the District's electronic communication system(s) will be the responsibility of the superintendent, principal, or division/department supervisor or designee. The District's system(s) will be used only for administrative and instructional purposes consistent with the District's mission and goals.

Training

Training for employees and students in the proper use of the system(s) will be provided. Users will be provided copies of the District's acceptable use guidelines. Training in the District's system(s) will emphasize ethical use of the system's resources.

Copyright

Copyrighted software or data may not be placed on any system connected to the District's system(s) without permission from the holder of the copyright. Only the owner(s) or individuals the owner(s) specifically authorized may upload copyrighted material to the system(s).

System Access

With the approval of the principal, or division/departmental supervisor or designee, users will be granted appropriate access to the District's system(s). Any system users identified as having violated District, campus, and/or division/department system acceptable use guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with District policies and regulations.

System(s) Coordinator's Responsibilities

The system coordinator(s) (principal, or division/department supervisor, or designee) for the electronic communication system(s) will:

1. Be responsible for the disseminating and enforcing applicable District policies and acceptable use guidelines for the District's system(s).
2. Ensure that all users of the District's system(s) complete and sign an agreement to abide by District policies and administrative regulations regarding such use. All such agreements shall be kept on file by the system coordinator.
3. Ensure that all employees supervising students who use the District's system(s) provide training emphasizing the appropriate uses of these resources.
4. Be authorized to monitor or examine all system(s) activities deemed appropriate to ensure proper use of the system(s).
5. Be authorized to set limits for disk utilization on the system(s), as needed.

Individual User Responsibilities

The following standards will apply to all users of the District's electronic information/communications system(s). Users who violate these standards may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with District policies and regulations:

1. The system(s) may not be used for illegal purposes, in support of illegal activities, or for any other activity prohibited by District Policy.
2. System users may not use another person's ID or password.
3. System users shall maintain electronic information in accordance with established guidelines.
4. System users may not upload programs to the District's system(s) without appropriate authorization.
5. System users may not knowingly bring prohibited materials into the District's electronic communication system(s).

Users who violate these standards may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with District policy and/or legal actions.

Vandalism Prohibited

Any malicious attempt to harm or destroy District equipment or materials, data of another user of the District's system(s), or any of the agencies or other networks that are connected to the Internet is prohibited. Deliberate attempts to compromise, degrade, or disrupt system performance may be viewed as violations of District policies and administrative regulations and, possibly, as criminal activity under applicable state and federal laws. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creating of computer viruses.

Forgery Prohibited

Forgery or attempted forgery of electronic mail messages is prohibited. Attempts to read, delete, copy, or modify the electronic mail of other system users or deliberate interference with the ability of other system users to send/receive electronic mail is prohibited

Limitation/Termination/and/or Revocation of System User Access

The District may limit, suspend or revoke a system user's access to the District's system(s) upon violation of District policy or administrative regulations regarding acceptable use.

Warning

System users and parents of students with access to the District's electronic communication system(s) should be aware that use of the system may provide access to other electronic communication systems in the global electronic network that may contain inaccurate or objectionable material.

Disclaimer

The District's system is provided on an "as is, as available" basis. The District does not make any warranties, whether expressed or implied, with respect to any services provided by the system(s) and any information or software contained therein. The District does not warrant that the functions or services performed by, or that the information or software contained on the system will meet the system user's requirements, or that the system will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects will be corrected. Opinions, advice, services, and all other information expressed by system users, information providers, service providers, or other third party individuals in the system are those of the providers and not the District. The District will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to misuse of the District's electronic communication system(s).

[ Back to Top ]