Acceptable Use Policies

Acceptable Use Policies

The National Education Association (NEA) suggests that an effective AUP contain the following six elements:

1   Preamble explains the process involved in determining the goals of the AUP.

2  Definition of the Goals of the AUP and key words used in the AUP.

3  Policy Statement tells what computer services are covered by the AUP and the circumstances under which students can use computer services.

4  Acceptable Uses defines appropriate student use of the computer network.

5  Unacceptable Uses gives clear and specific examples of what constitutes unacceptable student use.

Violations/Sanctions establishes procedures for the reporting and handling of policy violations.

Meridian Ranch Elementary, in District 49, adheres to two separate Acceptable Use Policies.  The first AUP is used for K-5 students for technology class.  It is brief and to the point.  There is no preamble or definition section.  The one page document provides a policy statement, a violations/sanctions section, and an acceptable and an unacceptable use section. Students and parents must read and sign this document before they are allowed to use the school computer lab.

The second policy applies to 5^th grade students at Meridian Ranch Elementary as they are issued iPads at the beginning of the school year for daily use throughout the year; they are returned at the end of the school year. This document is much more thorough with a preamble, a lengthy policy statement, optional insurance coverage offer, a violations/sanctions section explaining how to report damage, loss, or theft, and the conditions under which iPads can be repossessed when students are not compliant with the agreed upon terms of use.  Acceptable use and unacceptable use is explained in detail. Parents and students must then sign a contract before an iPad can be issued to the student.  This document also did not contain a definition section.