Chapter I - Health and Safety

Part 4.0 Privacy and School Safety

Section 4.8 Technology Security Policy

Subsection 4.8.2 Digital Citizenship

Filtering
American Preparatory Academy is currently using iBoss content filtering on all student and staff devices, which is designed to block content on the internet according to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). CIPA requires schools to have technology protection measures in place to ensure that sites containing images of inappropriate or harmful content are filtered for students and the computers they have access to.

American Prep has requested funds in the DT&L application to help evolve systems to allow us to provide more custom levels of filtering; however, at this time we function on a single student and staff policy regardless of grade or location.

Google Images is set to only be functional when SafeSearch is used (domain level setting) and YouTube is set to show only "kids safe" content (domain level setting). In addition, American Prep has added iBoss security certificates to staff and student computers that allow the decryption of HTTPS traffic for more effective filtering.

American Prep currently uses JAMF as a Mobile Device Management (MDM) that provides restrictions on computer usage and digital asset tracking.

American Preparatory Academy has been greatly benefited by the Utah Education Network state contract for iBoss, as it provides content filtering at no cost at this time. However, it is limited to general policies and we are working to improve this with the DT&L request for an Identity Management System. At this time, teachers are unable to digitally monitor student use or limit access to some applications or sites, but we hope to change that with an Identity Management System. Our IT level district-wide tools allow for overall monitoring and limiting, but it is not specific to students or classrooms.

Training and Resources
American Prep provides resources in the Parent-Student Handbook, provides biannual training for parents (which is voluntary), conducts an annual review and discussion with Land Trust committees on how we can continue to provide resources to our school community, and maintains a periodically updated blog by our District IT Director on current events and security issues facing students and parents in the digital world and how to discuss and support digital citizenship and safe technology use with their children and how to report inappropriate content.

Students receive two seminars specific to grade-level and skill-level on the use of tools they will need in their grade and on appropriate digital citizenship and safe use of technology as part of American Prep's Builders program, which enables students to identify "appropriate and inappropriate" content. We believe it is important to teach students how to respond to and evaluate the content, rather than just universally blocking content. Access to advanced filters and tools would allow us to have more evolved conversations and policies around internet content.

Appropriate Internet Use
Online bullying and pornography are the greatest threats facing our students online today. Students are not allowed access to computers unless under the direct supervision of an adult staff member. When inappropriate content is accessed or seen, it is to be reported immediately whether observed by a peer or fellow staff member.

At this time we maintain a single policy that is grade-level appropriate for all students. In the event that more advanced or mature material is required to be accessed, this is approved on a case-by-case basis with direct supervision and direction from a teacher.

When a report involves a student, the teacher and their administrator are involved to help protect the student's privacy and rights. The teacher and administrator then provide proper communication and training for the student and parent in regards to the incident. For more information on how we handle this please see American Preparatory Academy's IT Remediation Plan and Internet Safety and Acceptable Use policies.

Student-owned devices are not allowed or supported by the district.