The Teaneck Community Charter School (TCCS) provides computer equipment, software, computer services, and Internet access to its students and staff for educational purposes, enhancing the curriculum and instruction plan with powerful resources and expanding the concept of a “school without walls.”

TCCS retains the right to monitor all access and use of the Internet, e-mail, computers and network. The network maintains logs of all activity on and off the Internet, and this information is also TCCS property. It is important for all users to understand that no use of the Internet or email can ever be guaranteed private.

The Internet, or “world wide web,” includes information specifically designed for children, up-to-the-minute scientific information, government documents, and all types of valuable information that would otherwise be hard to find. This portal, for example, contains up-to-date information about our school and is accessible via the worldwide web.

The Internet is a powerful educational tool because it is made up of information from organizations and people all over the world, without restriction on content. However, because of this, it also includes material that is not of educational value or appropriate for a school setting. There is information which may be judged as inaccurate, abusive, profane, sexually oriented or illegal. TCCS does not condone or permit the use of this material. The use of technology within the school setting is a privilege, not a right and it is a joint responsibility of school personnel and the parent or guardian of each student to educate the student about his or her responsibility when using the Internet.

Internet access is available to students only on computers in the classrooms and the computer “labs” located in the hallway. However, parents and guardians must be aware that while at school, direct supervision by school personnel of each student using a computer is not always possible. Thus, students are expected to use the resources in a manner consistent with the Acceptable Use Policy and will be held responsible for their use. Additionally, parents should discuss with their children their own expectations for responsible Internet usage.

Rules for Use of Computers

As a community we need to instill a sense of respect for the facilities and equipment provided for the children's education. The following rules apply to use of of Classroom and Lab Computers:

• Treat all hardware carefully – Do not handle keyboards, mice, monitors, headphones, speakers or printers roughly – they will break.
• Do not remove decals, stickers, covers or any external parts of the computer. Do not attempt to repair any equipment. Do not open computers. If something is malfunctioning, notify a teacher.
• Do not leave paper, books or anything else on the computer tables, especially around openings in the computer where airflow would be restricted.
• Do not draw on, tape or fasten anything to the monitors or computers.
• Do not attempt to install software download and install software from the internet. Notify your teacher of any software required and your teacher, or with the teacher’s approval, the Systems Administrator will install it.
• No food or drink near the computers.
• Student accounts are disabled from changing local computer settings. Trying to circumvent this is considered “hacking” and subject to discipline per the School’s Acceptable Use Policy.
• Hubs, routers, switches and the network file servers are off-limits to all but the technology committee and any vendor authorized by the committee to administer or maintain the computer systems and network.
• If you cannot access your files on the server or receive an error message logging onto the network, write the message down and notify your teacher.

Computer Systems Acceptable Use Policy

This Policy is part of the Board of Trustees Technology Policy, as ammended October 13th, 2003.

The Board is committed to providing computer systems and access to the internet to enrich the learning experience with the wealth of information represented by the “world wide web.” The Board supports and encourages the use of the Internet to further the objective of creating “classrooms without walls,” but reserves the right to limit the use of this technology on school premises and equipment to legitimate educational activities. The Board shall publish, and review annually, an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to explain the guidelines and rules governing use of computers, the TCCS network and Internet access. Students in grades 1 through 8, and a parent or guardian, must sign an agreement to abide by the AUP in order to use the district’s computers and network resources.

The TCCS Network refers to the hardware and software that connects all the schools computers, network equipment, servers, printers and other devices. Users refers to anyone (authorized or not) using the school’s computers or network.

The Teaneck Community Charter School (TCCS) makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the services it is providing. TCCS will not be responsible for any damages suffered by users of its computers or network. This includes but is not limited to loss of data, misdirection of data, or service interruptions caused by its own negligence or user errors or omissions.

The Internet provides access to an unregulated, constantly changing collection of information. It is impossible to predict or control what someone may locate. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user's own risk. TCCS specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy, quality or appropriateness of information obtained through the Internet. Nor shall the board be responsible for financial obligations arising through any unauthorized use of the TCCS computers or network.

The network and computers are the property of TCCS, and all computer software and hardware are paid for by TCCS. Therefore, the school retains the right to monitor all access to and use of the Internet, network, file servers and computers. The network is monitored and access to the network and internet is recorded. It is important for all users to realize that no use of the Internet or email can ever be guaranteed private.

This acceptable use policy shall govern all use of the system. Sanctions for student misuse of the system shall be included in the disciplinary code for students, as set out in regulations for policy 5131 Conduct/discipline. Employee misuse may result in appropriate discipline in accord with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

Access to the TCCS network will require a user id and password for all students in grades 1-8, and all teachers and staff. Kindergarten students will have a class logon.

All TCCS students, teachers and administrative employees shall have access to the “world wide web” through the school’s network provided they have signed the AUP agreement. This AUP outlines acceptable and unacceptable activities while online, and the penalties for failing to abide by the rules. Student use of the Internet shall be supervised by qualified staff.

The Board shall ensure the acquisition and installation of blocking/filtering software to deny access to certain areas of the Internet as per the Children’s Internet Protection Act. The Board will also restrict unmanaged access to the Internet and will ensure the safety of the Local Area Network from outside intrusion. Remote access to the system will be provided for systems administration and trouble shooting purposes only.

Students will not be allowed e-mail accounts. Use of web-based email accounts from school facilities will not be allowed for students. TCCS administration and teachers will be provided individual e-mail accounts. If a class activity requires the use of e-mail, the teacher will use their supplied account and students must abide by the acceptable use policies for e-mail. Teachers and administration may access personal e-mail accounts, providing they abide by the acceptable use policies for e-mail.

The board authorizes the Director to establish and maintain a web site. The purpose of the web site will be to inform the TCCS community of programs, policies and practices. The web site should allow the parent organization, classes and student organizations to post and retrieve information. The Director shall publish and disseminate guidelines on acceptable material for the web site.

The Director shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified about the school network and the rules governing its use. Parents/guardians who do not wish their child(ren) to have access to the Internet must notify the Director writing.

Computers and the network are provided exclusively for educational purposes. Educational purposes are those necessary to prepare for or to complete classroom assignments. For employees educational purposes are any activity related to job performance. If a student has any questions about whether a specific activity is permitted, he or she should ask a teacher or administrator.

Users are prohibited from the following activities and will be subject to discipline and/or legal action for such conduct.

1. Users shall not use the school system to engage in or support any illegal activities. An illegal activity is one that violates local, state or federal laws or regulations.
2. Users shall not attempt to gain unauthorized access (“hacking”), to the school system or to any other computer system through the school system, nor shall they go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another individual’s account or accessing another’s files.
3. Users shall not deliberately attempt to disrupt the school’s computer system performance or destroy data by spreading computer viruses, worms, “Trojan Horses,” trap door program codes or any similar product that can damage computer systems, firewalls, servers or network systems. This includes activity deliberately designed to degrade or disrupt performance such as excessive game playing, printing excessive copies of documents, images or data, or running unnecessary and inefficient programs.
4. Users shall not invade the privacy of other users and gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access to the files, or account of any other user. Users shall not vandalize the data of another user.
5. Users shall not access material that is profane or obscene, that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or hate. Inadvertent access to such material should be reported immediately to the supervising staff person. If a student accidentally accesses inappropriate material she or he should back out of that information at once.
6. Users shall not buy or sell goods or services of any kind from the district computers and network, nor use the computers or network for financial gain.
7. Users shall not play games, use interactive chat rooms or websites unless specifically assigned by a teacher. Users shall not share any personal information. Personal information includes but is not limited to names, home address, phone numbers or photographs.
8. Users shall not post anonymous messages, or use the account of another user to post messages, or forge messages to make them appear to have been created by another user.
9. Users shall not plagiarize material that is available on the Internet. Plagiarism is presenting another’s ideas/words as one’s own. Information sourced from the Internet should be treated the same as information obtained from a written source and should be attributed appropriately.
10. Users shall not infringe on copyrighted material, any intellectual property, trademarks, license agreements or other contracts. Users should assume that all material is copyrighted unless explicitly noted.

1. Students shall not post personal contact information about themselves or others. Personal contact information includes but is not limited to names, home/school/work addresses, telephone numbers, or personal photographs.
2. Students shall not engage in any kind of personal contact with individuals they meet online. Attempts at contact from such individuals shall be reported immediately to the staff person monitoring that child’s access to the Internet. Users are obligated to disclose to a teacher or parent any information or electronic messages which make them uncomfortable.
3. Users shall never meet in person someone they have met online without first receiving permission from a parent. The Board does not condone such meetings and strongly suggests they do not occur.

1. Prohibited language applies to public messages, private messages, any e-mail messages, and material posted on web pages.
2. Users shall not send or receive messages that contain obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, or threatening language.
3. Users shall not use the system to spread messages that can reasonably be interpreted as harassing, discriminatory or defamatory.

1. Users are responsible for their accounts and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized access to them. In no case should a user provide his/her password to another individual.
2. Users shall immediately notify the supervising staff person or data processing department if they detect a possible security problem. Users shall not access the system solely for the purpose of searching for security problems.
3. Users shall not install or download software or other applications without permission of the supervising staff person.

1. Users shall access the system only for educational, professional or career development activities. This applies to discussion group mail lists.
2. Users shall check email frequently and delete messages promptly.

1. Users shall respect the privacy of messages that they receive and refrain from reposting messages without the approval of the sender.
2. Users shall not publish private information about another individual.

The Board designates the Assistant Director as the coordinator of the school’s computer and network resources. He/she shall recommend to the board qualified staff to ensure provision of individual and class accounts necessary for access to the computers and the Internet, designation of quotas for disk usage on the system, establishment of backup and document retention schedules, establishment of a virus protection process, implementation of internet filtering and network security, establishing access and security policies, and coordination of other activities required for maintenance of the computers and network.

The Assistant Director shall coordinate the school’s system by approving all activities; ensuring that teachers receive proper training in the use of the system; ensuring that students are adequately supervised when using the system; maintaining executed user agreements; and interpreting the AUP.

Penalties for misuse are included in the District policy on Conduct/Discipline. Offenses such as threats, theft, and violation of another person's rights will result in prosecution to the full extent of the law.