6141.322

Instruction

Computers: Web Sites/Pages

Goals

The Board of Education allows the District and schools within the District to create and maintain Web sites for educational purposes.

Web sites are avenues for providing information, communicating, and educating. District and school websites shall support the educational aims of the Hamden School district. They shall be used to share information about school curriculum and instruction, school-authorized activities, and other information relating to our schools and our mission. Websites may also provide instructional resources for staff and students.

 

Responsibility

The content of materials published on websites should be professional quality and consistent with the education mission of the school system. Websites shall follow standards for ethical behavior in regard to information and technology by showing respect for the principles of intellectual freedom, intellectual property rights and the responsible use of information and technology. Pages shall reflect an understanding that both internal and external audiences will be viewing the information.

Web page content must be kept current and be maintained regularly. No information or graphics may be posted on websites in violation of any copyright laws.  Copyright permission must be obtained for the use of any copyrighted material unless use is permitted as "fair use" under federal law. 

Guidelines for the design and content of school and school-related web pages are outlined in the Regulations.

Building administrators are responsible for being knowledgeable about the content of their building’s web site. The library media specialist is designated as webmaster unless that responsibility is delegated by the webmaster to another staff member.

All materials should be reviewed by the webmaster prior to posting them on the web site. Access passwords for uploading files to the core school site will remain in the possession of the webmaster only.

Teachers, staff members, school organizations, or students may create web pages following district guidelines. These web pages must resolve as links from the schools’ web sites. Neither students, staff, nor other individuals may use the district’s web sites to provide access to non-school related websites of a personal nature, opinion or service.

Any pages or links representing the school district shall follow guidelines and responsibilities pertaining to content standards, student records, copyright, technical standards, and accessibility for disabled individuals.

Review

Any student, parent, or employee may express concerns about the district’s web sites. The web page(s) will remain online while the complaint is investigated.  If a resolution has not been agreed upon, then the concerned party may submit a formal complaint. (See attached form A.)

 

(cf. 1110 - Communications with the Public)

(cf. 5125 - Student Records; Confidentiality)

 (cf. 5145.2 - Freedom of Speech/Expression)

(cf. 6141.321 – Computers:  Acceptable Use)

(cf. 6145.3 - Publications)

(cf. 6161.1 - Evaluation of Instructional Materials)

(cf. 6162.6 - Use of Copying Devices; Copyright)

 

Legal Reference:           
Connecticut General Statutes

                                        1-19(b)(11) Access to public records. Exempt records.

                                        10-15b Access of parent or guardians to student's records.

                                        10-15c Discrimination in public schools prohibited

                                        10-209 Records not to be public.

                                        11-8a Retention, destruction and transfer of documents

                                        11-8b Transfer or disposal of public records. State Library Board to adopt regulations.

                                        46b-56 (e) Access to Records of Minors.

                                        Connecticut Public Records Administration Schedule V - Disposition of Education Records (Revised 1983).

                                        Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (section 438 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended,                                         added by section 513 of PL 93-568, codified at 20 USC 1232g.).

                                        Dept. of Education 34 CFR Part 99 (May 9, 1980 45 FR 30802) regs. implementing FERPA enacted as part of 438 of General                                           Education provisions act (20 USC 1232g)-parent and student privacy and other rights with respect to educational records, as                                             amended 11/21/96.

                                        Public Law 94-553, The Copyright Act of 1976, 17 USC 101 et. seq.U.S. Const. Amend. I

                                        Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2522

                                        Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §§791, 793-794 (2006), (34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 104)

                                        Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§12101-12213; 29 C.F.R. Part 1630 (2006); 28 C.F.R. Part 35 (2006)

                                        Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008

 

Policy Revised:	January 10, 2023
Policy Revised:	June 8, 2004	HAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Policy Adopted:	January 11, 2000	Hamden, Connecticut

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