Thing #18 AUP

The Mercer County Schools Acceptable Use Policy is broken up into several policies. The computer based policy can be accessed here. It has not been updated in 3 years, is roughly three pages long, and does not address Web 2.0 tools. It mirrors the state policy in relation to the Children's Internet Protection Act and stresses safety using the Internet and prohibits "hacking." While the policy is short, the pages following it are the permission slips parents are to sign before a student can use a school based computer. It is basically set up similar to a contract and is kept on file in each schools office. These must be signed and returned when the school year begins, but schools usually run into problems when new students come in and need to use the technology for some tests such as the WESTEST2 Online Writing Assessment. The teachers are generally accommodating for students who do not have home Internet access. Projects requiring Internet use are given class time as well as extended sue dates to complete assignments.