1. Board of Education
September 1, 2015

2. INTERNET SAFETY Public Hearing
Etowah County Schools
September 1, 2015
INTERNET SAFETY Public Hearing

3. WHY FILTER INTERNET ACCESS WHY FILTER INTERNET ACCESS
It’s the Law!
Etowah County Schools (ECS) must comply with Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
ECS must also meet the requirements of Federal ERATE compliance
Our filter monitors traffic on our network and serves as extra eyes as the number of devices on our network increases.
WHY FILTER INTERNET ACCESS
It’s the Law!
Etowah County Schools (ECS) must comply with Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
ECS must also meet the requirements of Federal ERATE compliance
Our filter monitors traffic on our network and serves as extra eyes as the number of devices on our network increases

4. WHY FILTER INTERNET ACCESS
Schools or school divisions are required to establish guidelines for the appropriate use of computer networks. Such guidelines are generally called an Acceptable Use Policy or AUP (updated July 2012).
By definition, an AUP is a written agreement in the form of guidelines, signed by students, their parents and their teachers, outlining the terms and conditions of technology-use.
It includes definitions of acceptable online behavior and access privileges.
WHY FILTER INTERNET ACCESS
It’s the Law!
Etowah County Schools (ECS) must comply with Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
ECS must also meet the requirements of Federal ERATE compliance
Our filter monitors traffic on our network and serves as extra eyes as the number of devices on our network increases

5. ECS currently uses two methods to help ensure Internet safety and block inappropriate material:
Lightspeed Rocket provides
network security and a
content filtering system.
Secondary filtering is provided
though an iBoss system
maintained by the
Alabama Supercomputer Authority.

6. Snapshot taken Monday, 8.31.2015; 12:53pm

7. Filtering is never 100% perfect.
Some may attempt to circumvent the filter.
Some acceptable sites will be blocked. We have a system in place to submit sites for review.

9. What types of websites are blocked for students?
Pornography/adult content
Drugs and Alcohol
Weapons
Violence and Hate
Gambling
Dating
Social Networking
Instant Messaging
File Sharing
Forums, Newsgroups, Blogs
Spyware
Virus
Shopping
Gaming
Auctions
Music
Security Risks

10. What types of websites are UN-Blocked for Teachers?
Pornography/adult content
YouTube (w/login)
Pinterest (w/login)
Blogs
Ed Forums
Newsgroups
Ed Games
Ed Music
Audio/Video
File Sharing
Photography
URL Shorteners
Family Life
Education Resources
Reference
Governmental

11. CYBERBULLING/INTERNET SAFETY
Included in our AUP
Addressed in 2012 ERATE regulations and guidelines
Schools provide documentation to Technology Office – documentation is kept in our office

12. Questions/Comments