Torrance Unified School District

Student Acceptable Use Policy

(Board Approved August 1, 2002)

The Torrance Unified School District strongly believes in the educational value of electronic services and recognizes the potential of such to support our curriculum and student learning. We are pleased to announce that electronic information services are available to students and teachers in our District. Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.

Listed below are terms and guidelines for appropriate use of technology. If any user does not follow these guidelines, access to the information service may be denied and the user may be subject to disciplinary or legal action. (Possible disciplinary action may include: Parent conference, removal from class, restitution, suspension, refer to Police Department, adjustment transfer to another school. TUSD Administrative Rule 6163.4(a)-6163.4(c).)

1. Privileges

The use of the information system is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. All decisions, related to the cancellation, are subject to the District’s review process. The administration, staff, or faculty of the Torrance Unified School District may deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts.

2. Acceptable Use

The use of the assigned account must be in support of education and research and with the educational goals and objectives of the Torrance Unified School District. The user is personally responsible for this provision at all times when using the electronic information service.

Use of other organization’s networks or computing resources must comply with rules appropriate to that network.
Transmission of any material in violation of any United States or other state organizations is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted materials, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secret.
Use of unauthorized commercial activities is not acceptable.
Use of product advertisement or political lobbying is prohibited.
Use of the network that incurs expense to the District is prohibited.
Unauthorized installing of any software or data is prohibited.

3. District Responsibilities/Limitations

The District will take prudent steps to develop, implement and maintain security procedures to insure the integrity of individual and District files. The District cannot guarantee that information on any computer system will be secure from other users.
The District will attempt to provide error free and dependable access to technology resources associated with the network.
The District will not be held liable for any information that may be lost, damaged, or unavailable due to technical or other difficulties.
The District cannot be held liable for the accuracy of information available through its services.

4. Web Policy

Teacher/Staff Web Pages. Teachers may establish Web pages for use with class activities or that provide a resource for other teachers. Teachers will be responsible for maintaining their class or educational resource sites. Teacher Web pages will be developed in such a manner as to reflect well upon the District and school.
Student and Extracurricular Organization Web Pages. Students may create a web site as part of a class activity. Material presented on a student class activity Web site must meet the educational objectives of the class activity. Material presented on extracurricular pages must relate specifically to organization activities.
Online Identification - Middle School/High School. To recognize student achievement and success, images of students and their work may be displayed on Web pages. Images of students, student work, and student achievement will only be identified by first name and last initial. Student grades may be displayed by I.D. number. Signed parent permission must be obtained if students are to be identified beyond these guidelines.
Online Identification - Elementary School. To recognize student achievement and success, images of students and their work may be displayed on Web pages. Images of students, student work, and student achievement will only be displayed with signed positive parent/guardian permission.
Online Identification - Email Addresses. Students may be issued web-based e-mail addresses to be utilized as part of class activity and in the furtherance of academic programs and educational objectives. E-mail addresses will be issued to students by I.D. number. Student e-mail addresses are not intended for personal use. Students’ e-mail usage and communications will be monitored by District personnel.
It will not be considered a violation of a user’s right to free speech to require the removal of material that fails to meet established educational objectives or that is in violation of this ISP or student disciplinary policy, or to suspend or revoke a student’s e-mail privileges for violation of this acceptable use policy.

5. Personal Responsibility

As a representative of this school, the user will accept personal responsibility for reporting any misuse of the network to a teacher, administrator or supervisor. Misuse can come in many forms, but is commonly viewed as any message(s) sent or received that indicate or suggest pornography, unethical or illegal solicitation, racism, sexism and inappropriate language.
Security on any computer system is a high priority because there are so many users. If the user identifies a security problem, notify an administrator at once. Never demonstrate the problem to other users. Never use another individual’s account without written permission from that person. All use of the system must be under the user’s own account. Any user identified as a security risk will be denied access to the information system.
Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or any other agencies or networks that are connected to the system. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses. Any vandalism will result in the loss of computer services, disciplinary action, and/or legal referral.