Internet Safety Laws

Be Aware of Internet Safety Laws:

This site is dedicated to supporting and publishing the creative work of young Nevada writers and artists. As part of the submission process we ask the sponsoring teacher to arrange for all required permissions. Work can be submitted without these permissions in place, but it will not be published until we are assured that the necessary permissions have been obtained.

There are a number of important laws that govern children's access to the Internet. A general familiarity with the law is always a good idea. More important than general awareness is to know where to go for specific information. If you need to know the 'letter of the law', you are in the right place.

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
The Children's Internet Protection Act requires schools to provide a 'filtered' connect to the Internet. Your school is expected to undertake action to provide Internet filtering -- or face losing Federal Funding.

Children’s Internet Protection Act

American Library Association’s CIPA Web Site

CIPA Survival Guide

NetComply

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA)
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act seeks to protect children under 13 from potentially harmful marketing and data-collection practices. The law requires that online services obtain verifiable parent consent before gathering any information about children.

COPPA Full text of the law

Coping with COPPA

Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) About the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

How to Comply with COPPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Federal law guarantees adult students access to their records as well as a right to privacy. This applies to both classroom and online situations.

Family Educational Right to Privacy Act. (Buckley Amendment)

FERPA Tutorial

FERPA Fact Sheet

Safeguarding Your Technology

Sample Internet Use Sample Policies and Letters
Your school should have an AUP (Authorized Use Policy) governing access to the Internet. It is important that you understand and comply with this policy. Here are several model policies to consider. Perhaps you can improve your local policy.

Kansas City, Kansas Acceptable Internet Use Policy

Eugene School District 4J Student Internet Privacy Guidelines

Bellingham Public Schools Acceptable Internet Use Policy

The Polk-Hordville (Nebraska) Acceptable Internet Use Policy

Parent Permission Letter - Sample Internet and Email Use Policy

Cleveland Municipal School District Acceptable Use Forms and Letters

Filtered e-mail services:
There are a number of systems on the market that provide a filtering service for your school Internet connection. These services are an 'add on' that provides additional email service to you and your class.

The whole business of online filtering (AKA censorship) is a serious subject. . A number of groups asserting 'kids rights' to unfiltered access to the net are springing up. The most interesting of these groups is called Peacefire.

Peacefire, open access for the Net Generation provides up to date information to kids (or anyone) seeking to bypass Internet filtering systems. This is another interesting site worth a look.

ePALS will provide up to 35 filtered email accounts for students free. They also provide a filter/Block system for schools & districts. This is a good one! ePALS specializes in coordinating a global pen-pal network that helps teachers create multicultural exchanges for their classrooms. Highly evolved, this site offers a number of free services. Consider registering.

Gaggle.Net provides (ad supported) free student email accounts that are filtered. If you pay for the service, there are no ads served to your screen.

KinderStart provided me with a 'safe' account in a matter of minutes. All I supplied was basic information and a web based email address. How safe is it? It would be easy to get an address by providing bogus information. Worth a look.

Surf Monkey provides a child safe browser as well as a service called Cyberfriend Communicator. This is essentially an online email and chat monitor.