OCPS is committed to providing a safe, positive, productive, and nurturing educational environment. OCPS believes that all students should have access to technology (e.g. software, Internet, and network access) when they act in a responsible, efficient, courteous, and legal manner. This document contains the Student Technology Acceptable and Responsible Use Agreement for student use of the internet.
Educational Purpose
Technology access has been established for educational purposes and will be consistent with the district’s curriculum and the Florida Standards. The term “educational purpose” includes academic activities that directly improve upon 21st century skills such as creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration.
Students are expected to follow the rules set forth in the Code and the law in the use of the Internet and network resources.
Students may not use the Internet for commercial purposes. This means they may not offer, provide, or purchase products or services through the Internet at any school using district resources.
Student Internet Access
All students will have district-supervised access to the Internet through the classroom, media center, or computer lab. In accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), all OCPS web access is filtered. However, this does not preclude the possibility that inappropriate sites are not blocked.
Students will use OCPS Internet access for educational purposes only and will not access profane or obscene material, advocate illegal acts, or advocate violence or discrimination towards other people.
Responsible Uses
In order to ensure a safe, positive, productive, and nurturing educational environment for all, students are expected to demonstrate responsible technology uses. Students will keep information, such as his/her password, address, phone number, birthday, and other identifiable information private. Students will report anyone who tries to use technology to hurt or harass other students or staff or anyone who makes him/her feel uncomfortable.
Students will not login to any account other than their own or use OCPS technology to engage in any illegal acts, such as drug sales, purchasing alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity, threatening the safety of another person, cyber-stalking, or cyberbullying.
Inappropriate Language
Students will treat others with respect by using appropriate language and offer constructive criticism if appropriate. Students will not use inappropriate language, harass others, knowingly or recklessly communicate false or defamatory information about a person or organization, share privately sent messages without permission of the person who sent it, share private information about another person, or participate in sexting.
System Security
All students will allow any teacher, administrator, or OCPS IT staff to review their work and activities created on a school device or OCPS network at any time. Students are required to ask for permission before connecting his/her personal device to the OCPS network and will make sure any devices used on the OCPS network are approved by the district.
Students will not use technology to gain access to student grades or private student records, download unauthorized software, apps, extensions, or plug-ins on a school device, intentionally spread computer viruses, or bypass, destruct, disrupt, modify, or abuse OCPS network access.