Student Responsible Use Agreement

With this educational opportunity comes responsibility. It is important that you and your parent read the Student Responsible Use Agreement, ask questions if you need help understanding them, and sign the form. Inappropriate use of the District’s technology resources may result in revocation or suspension of the privilege to use these resources, as well as other disciplinary or legal action, in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and applicable laws.

Midway ISD provides computer, network, e-mail, and Internet access to individuals as part of the learning environment. The use of these resources is a privilege and not a right. While these systems have the power to deliver a vast number of resources to classrooms and enhance education, their effectiveness depends on the responsible and ethical use by every individual.

Users of the Midway ISD network are required to adhere to state and federal law as well as board policy. The following Student Responsible Use Agreement is based on district policy and regulations. For more information, refer to the following laws and Midway ISD documents.

• Federal and state mandates including the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Student Code of Conduct, Student Device Agreement
• Board Policy CQ (Technology Resources)
• Board Policy FNCE (Personal Telecommunications/Electronic Devices)
• Board Policy FFH (Freedom From Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation)
• Board Policy FFI (Freedom From Bullying)
• Other Associated Board Policies

If a violation of any of the policies, including this Student Responsible Use Agreement occurs, you must immediately report to a supervising teacher or district technology representative any known violation of the policies and guidelines. You must also report any requests for personally identifiable information (name, address, phone number, age, sex, race, etc.) or contact from unknown individuals, as well as any content or communication that is abusive, obscene, pornographic, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to another’s reputation, or illegal.

You are being given access to the following technology resources:

• A district email account, including access to cloud-based (online) document storage and collaboration space
• District computer hardware, software, and printers on your school campus
• District networks, including file storage space
• Access to District-owned technology resources for use at home
• District-filtered Internet access, wired and wireless

The District permits use of personal telecommunications or other electronic devices by students for instructional purposes while on campus only as authorized by your teacher. When using the device for instructional purposes while on campus, you must join the District wi-fi network and are prohibited from using personal wireless service. When not using the device for instructional purposes while on campus, you must follow the rules and guidelines for non-instructional use as published in the student handbook.

Midway ISD is committed to creating a safe and secure digital environment for you.

Please note that it is possible you may run across areas of adult content and some material you (or your parent) might find objectionable. While Midway ISD will use filtering technology to restrict access to such material, it is not possible to absolutely prevent such access. It will be your responsibility to follow the rules for responsible use. Parents and students should contact the school with concerns when objectionable content has been discovered.

Also know that all contents of email and online communications accessed through Midway ISD technology resources are the property of the District. Students should have no expectation of privacy on any information stored on Midway ISD’s network, accessed from Midway ISD’s network, or used within Midway ISD’s network. Appropriate district and school officials may monitor a technology device or access its contents at any time in accordance with this agreement and applicable law.

1. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW I TREAT OTHER PEOPLE. I will use email, social media, and other means of communications responsibly. I will not send or post hateful or harassing email, make discriminatory or derogatory remarks about others, or engage in bullying, harassment, or other antisocial behaviours while in school or out of school, whether on a school issued or personal device.
2. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR USING SCHOOL-ISSUED TECHNOLOGY DEVICES PRIMARILY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. I understand that Internet, bandwidth, and email usage at school should be related to school assignments during class time. I understand that websites, content, and media should be properly cited with respect to copyright. I will also report any suspicious behavior or other misuse of technology to my teacher or other campus administrator.
3. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR USING MY PERSONAL DEVICE ACCORDING TO DISTRICT GUIDELINES AND IN AN ETHICAL MANNER. I understand that personal devices must remain turned off during all testing and cannot be used in the classroom unless they are approved by the teacher for instructional purposes.
4. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING MY DISTRICT ISSUED DEVICES AND ACCOUNTS. I understand that I will be provided network and email accounts and that I must not share this information with anyone. I will only use my school email address for teacher directed accounts. I will not allow others to use my account name and password. I will also not download or sign up for any online resource or application without prior approval from my teacher or other District administrator.
5. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY PERSONAL INFORMATION. I understand I must always keep my personal information and the personal information of others private. I know this includes names, ID numbers, addresses, photographs, or any other personally identifiable or private information.

The following are examples of inappropriate and irresponsible use of technology resources.

1. Searching, sending, possessing, or posting electronic messages, videos, audio recordings, or images that are abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, harassing, threatening, intimidating, illegal, or that cause a material or substantial disruption at school, including cyberbullying
2. Using any device or technology to copy or capture an image or the content of any District materials (such as tests or exams) without permission of a teacher or administrator
3. Making, participating in the making of, transmitting to another via an electronic device, or posting to the Internet a digital, video, or audio recording or image of an actual or simulated act that involves a crime or conduct prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct
4. Using any device or technology to record the voice or image of another in any way that disrupts the educational environment, invades the privacy of others, or without the prior consent of the individual being recorded
5. Using any device or technology to record the voice or image of another to take, disseminate, transfer, circulate, exhibit, present, or share audio, images, video, or photos that reveal private parts of the body that are normally covered by clothing (aka sexting)
6. Using the name, persona, or image of a student, District employee, or volunteer to create a web page or post one or more messages on a website without the other person’s consent for purposes of harassing, intimidating, embarrassing, or threatening another
7. Using email, websites, or electronic devices to engage in or encourage illegal conduct, violations of the Student Code of Conduct, or to threaten school safety
8. Attempting to or successfully accessing or circumventing content filters, passwords or other security-related information of the District, officials, volunteers, employees, or other students by any means
9. Attempting to or successfully altering, destroying, interrupting, intercepting, or disabling District technology equipment, District data, the data of other users of the District’s computer system, or other networks connected to the District’s system, including uploading or creating computer viruses, worms, or other harmful material
10. Copying, downloading, reproducing, distributing, retransmitting, redisplaying, or modifying items from the District’s website
11. Using someone else’s network, email, or any other digital service’s account information
12. Storing non-educational files on school provided resources

One or more of the following consequences may be imposed:

• Suspension of access to the system
• Revocation of the network or online account(s)
• Removal of device access
• Other action, including disciplinary action, in accordance with Board policy and/or the Student Code of Conduct (as applicable)

NOTE: Students will not be disciplined for technological misconduct related to possessing items described above so long as the student (1) did not contribute to creation of the item in any way, (2) possessed it only after receiving the item unsolicited from another, (3) either promptly destroyed the item or reported it to a school employee as soon as possible, and (4) did not provide a copy, forward, or re-post the item to anyone other than law enforcement, a school employee, or the student’s parent/guardian.

Any person taking, disseminating, transferring, possessing, or sharing obscene, sexually oriented, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or other content, commonly referred to as “sexting,” will be disciplined according to the Student Code of Conduct, may be required to complete an educational program related to the dangers of this type of behavior, and, in certain circumstances, may be reported to law enforcement.

Technology allows unlimited resources to enhance our education with vast collaborative partnerships. Learning to be a good digital citizen allows us to utilize technology in safe, responsible, and productive ways. Below are specific topics Midway ISD will address with you the student, to develop trustworthy digital citizens.

• Social Media
• Email
• Commenting & Responsibility

• Over-sharing
• Digital Footprint
• “Sexting”
• Self-worth – be your authentic self

• Awareness
• Prevention and Intervention
• Reporting

• Plagiarism
• Copyright
• Reliable sources

• Sharing Personal Information
• Mutual Consent Before Sharing or Posting
• Awareness of Online Exploitation