Portland Public Schools Network (PPSNet)

Student Acceptable Use Regulation

PPSNet Purpose

Portland Public Schools has established an electronic communication network (PPSNet) for educational purposes. The term "educational purpose" includes use of the system for teaching and learning in the classroom, professional or career development, and limited high-quality research.

1. Personal Safety
Students will not post personal contact information about themselves. Personal contact information includes address, telephone, home address, work address, etc. School address and e-mail address may be used when it is necessary to receive information.

Students will not post personal contact information about other people, including address, telephone, home address, work address, etc. In addition, the District and its students will not include any reference to District personnel or students, including their names and pictures, without obtaining proper permission.

Students will not agree to meet with someone they have met on-line without their parents' approval and participation.

Students will promptly disclose to their teacher any message they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.

2. Illegal or Destructive Activities

Students will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the District network, or to any other computer system through the District network, or go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files.

Students will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt any computer system performance or destroy data.

Students will not use the District network to engage in any other illegal act.

3. System Security

Students are responsible for the use of their individual account and recognize that access is a revocable privilege. Students shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their account. Under no conditions should a student provide his or her password to another person.

Students must not possess or use software or hardware tools specifically designed to break security mechanisms. Examples of such tools are those that facilitate illegal copying of copy-protected software, discovery of passwords, or unauthorized deciphering of encrypted data.

Students will immediately notify the District Network Administrator if they have identified a possible security problem. Students will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following the District virus protection procedures if they download software.

4. Inappropriate Conduct

Restrictions against inappropriate language apply to public messages, private messages, and material posted on Web pages. Each student is representing his or her school and should display exemplary behavior when using the network.

Students will use clear and concise words so as not to be misconstrued. Electronic text allows no context clues to convey shades of irony, sarcasm, or harmless humor.

Students will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language.

Students will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks.

Students will not harass another person. Harassment is acting in a manner that threatens or distresses another person. If a student is told by a person to stop sending them messages, the student must stop.

Students will not post false or defamatory information about a person or organization.

Use of the network is also subject to the student discipline code, particularly those sections dealing with harassment, display of offensive materials and threatening contact.

5. Respect for Privacy

Students will not re-post a message that was sent to them privately without permission of the person who sent them the message. However, all messages posted in a public forum may be copied in subsequent communications if proper acknowledgment is given.

Students will not post personal contact information about other people, including address, telephone, home address, work address, etc. In addition, the district and its students will not include any reference to district personnel or students, including their names and pictures, without written permission.

6. Respecting Resource Limits

Students will use the network only for educational and professional or career development activities, and limited, high-quality, research activities.

Students must be aware of the finite capacity of the network and cooperate with the Network Administrator to conserve resources and assure equitable access for all. Students will not download large files unless absolutely necessary. If necessary, students will download the file at a time when the network is not heavily used.

Students will not post chain letters or engage in "spamming". Spamming is sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.

Students will check their e-mail frequently, delete unwanted messages promptly, and stay within their e-mail quota.

Students will subscribe only to high quality mailing lists that are relevant to their education or professional/career development. Before joining a public discussion, read others' messages for awhile to make sure you understand the subject of discussion. If you are new to a discussion and want to ask a question, check first for a file of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's).

Students will cancel subscriptions to discussion groups (mailing lists) before any vacation, break, or other extended absence from school.

7. Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

Students will not plagiarize works that they find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were original to the student.

Students will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when an individual inappropriately reproduces a work that is protected by a copyright. If a work contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, the student should follow the expressed requirements. If the student is unsure whether or not they can use a work, they should request permission from the copyright owner.

8. Inappropriate Access to Material

Students will not use the District network to access material that is obscene (pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature).

If a student inadvertently accesses such information, they should immediately disclose the inadvertent access in a manner specified by their school.

9. Due Process

In the event there is an allegation that a student has violated the Acceptable Use Regulation, the student will be provided with a written notice of the alleged violation and an opportunity to present an explanation before a District Administrator.

Disciplinary actions will be pursuant to the procedures described by local, state and federal law and/or the Handbook on Student Responsibilities, Rights and Discipline. If the alleged violation also involves a violation of other provisions of the Handbook on Student Responsibilities, Rights and Discipline, the violation will be handled in accord with the applicable provision of the Handbook.

When possible, disciplinary actions will be tailored to meet specific concerns related to the violation and to assist the student in gaining the self-discipline necessary to behave appropriately on an electronic network. However, violations may result in revocation of network access.

10. Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

The District makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, that the functions or the services provided by or through PPSNet will be error free or without defect. The District will not be responsible for any damage the user may suffer, including but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. The District is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on PPSNet. The District will not be responsible for financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of PPSNet. Users will indentify and hold the district harmless from any losses sustained as a result of intentional misuse of PPSNet.

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