22.1-70.2 - Acceptable Internet use policies for public and private schools. - Virginia Statutes

§ 22.1-70.2. Acceptable Internet use policies for public and private schools.

A. Every two years, each local school board shall review, amend if necessary,and approve the school division's acceptable use policy for the Internet. Ata minimum, the policy shall contain provisions that (i) are designed toprohibit use by division employees and students of the division's computerequipment and communications services for sending, receiving, viewing, ordownloading illegal material via the Internet; (ii) seek to prevent access bystudents to material that the school division deems to be harmful tojuveniles as defined in § 18.2-390; (iii) select a technology for thedivision's computers having Internet access to filter or block Internetaccess through such computers to child pornography as set out in §18.2-374.1:1 and obscenity as defined in § 18.2-372; (iv) establishappropriate measures to be taken against persons who violate the policy; and(v) include a component on Internet safety for students that is integrated ina division's instructional program. The policy may include such other terms,conditions, and requirements as deemed appropriate, such as requiring writtenparental authorization for Internet use by juveniles or differentiatingacceptable uses among elementary, middle, and high school students.

Each school division's policy shall be posted on its website in accordancewith § 22.1-253.13:7. Additionally, each local school division shall certifycompliance with these requirements annually to the Department of Education.

B. The superintendent shall take such steps as he deems appropriate toimplement and enforce the division's policy.

C. In addition to the foregoing requirements regarding public school Internetuse policies, the principal or other chief administrator of any privateschool that satisfies the compulsory school attendance law pursuant to §22.1-254 and accepts federal funds for Internet access shall select atechnology for its computers having Internet access to filter or blockInternet access through such computers to child pornography as set out in §18.2-374.1:1 and obscenity as defined in § 18.2-372.

D. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall issue guidelines to schooldivisions regarding instructional programs related to Internet safety.

(1999, c. 64; 2001, c. 269; 2006, cc. 52, 474; 2010, c. 61.)