Acceptable Use Policy

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Fundamental Principles

Dayspring Christian Academy (DCA) believes that students should honor the Lord while advancing their education through the acquisition of computer knowledge and skills.  Therefore, each student bears the responsibility of self-government in accordance with biblical standards when using a computing device.  The use of electronic devices is a privilege, not a right; thus, the student who uses the computer inappropriately will incur consequences.

DCA believes that home use of technology is to be governed by the parents, but that while students are in the charge of the school, DCA reserves the right to govern any and all technology used on school grounds or at school functions under the mandate of CIPA, the Children’s Internet Protection Act.  To this end DCA will monitor the use of all devices on school premises and at school through a variety of means including but not limited to: filtration software, firewalls, random screening and other means.

In the interest of developing a relevant technology program DCA has enacted a 1:1 Google Chromebook Policy. This policy is a privilege for students of grades K-12* who are in good standing with the school and have signed the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). To this end specific rules have been established for personal devices in use on school grounds or at school functions. See Chromebook Policy.

Students in Grades K-7 are assigned their own individual Chromebook to use while here at school. Chromebooks for these grades are stored on a charging cart or charging stand at the school and are expected to be returned on a daily basis. Chromebook usage in these grades is initiated by direct instruction from teachers. Students in grades 8-12 are issued their own Chromebook which should be brought home with them daily. Students in grades 8-12 should charge their Chromebooks at home and report for school each morning with a charged Chromebook. (*Depending on availability)

Privacy Policy

In accordance with our own procedures and policies as well as CIPA and COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) DCA will provide only limited individual identifiable information to external service providers for each student as is necessary for the furtherance of his or her education.  By undersigning this form, DCA is authorized to create those accounts that are deemed helpful to the educational process for the student.

A complete list of all current accounts is available upon request as well as a description of each account service.

Rules and Expectations

Mobile devices of any kind including but not limited to, cell phones, “smart” devices (such as watches and glasses), hotspots, cameras, laptops, netbooks, iPods/mp3 players, tablets and handheld computers, must turned off and are not allowed to be on any student’s person during the hours of 7:50 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

All students must utilize the DCA network and devices provided for students.  The use of another wireless network or mobile network (3g/4g/5g data plans) or personal device (without prior administrative approval) will constitute a breaking of the AUP, see Consequences section below.

Even though the school is providing a device for each student, the teacher still governs the use of technology. Therefore, students must receive permission from their instructor or supervising staff person to use any device. This is a requirement for every instance of use.

It is the DCA expectation that the download and subsequent installation of software is legal in nature and monitored by the parents of the students. DCA reserves the right to review the software installed on any device and remove inappropriate content and programs from student devices.

At any point in time, a teacher may request of a student, his or her device, at which point any teacher may evaluate open documents and programs for adherence to this policy.

At any point in time, an administrator may request of a student, his or her personal device, at which point an administrator may evaluate all contents of the device even if not open.

“Netiquette”, Cyber-Bullying, and Privacy

Students are expected to maintain a cyber-presence which reflects a Christian witness.

Cyber-Bullying of any kind, whether in school or out, and whether on a school device or personal device, will not be tolerated and evidence thereof will be considered the breaking of the AUP.

During the course of a school day, students may not utilize the following internet-related tools: Gaming, Social Media, Texting Software, Blogs (with exclusions set by administration or teachers on a case by case basis), instant messaging and any other program type defined by any teacher or administrator.

Students may not check any personal email accounts during the school day.  An account is provided for students for their use in classroom and coursework activities (grades 6-12).  Students must limit the use of the given email address to school-related activities. All coursework and correspondence with DCA Staff must be done via the school-provided email account. The contents of any and all emails sent from a DCA-provided email account may be reviewed at the discretion of the administration. Parental access to student accounts is available upon request.

DCA expects that students will vigilantly refrain from the visitation of sites not befitting the gospel to which we have been called as Christians.

Students may not circumvent, reverse-engineer, hack, or otherwise compromise the integrity of school filtering methods, technology infrastructure (network, servers, etc) or other student accounts/devices.

Students may not enter, change, or duplicate any other person’s personal files as this is a violation of DCA plagiarism rules as well as Federal Law.

Students may not share their password information with anyone other than their parents/guardians.

Students should not log in as or digitally impersonate any other student or staff member.

Students may not install, modify or remove any software installed by the school without permission and direction therefrom.

Students must not have food or drink at any computer area or on any surface upon which a device rests.

Students are held responsible for the proper saving of their work.  To this end, students who have signed the AUP are provided with an email account and Google Drive account to store their work and files. Do not save your work on the devices themselves as this data cannot be backed up or restored in the event of a device failure.

Students are expected to properly log off and/or shutdown the device they are working on when their work is completed or when their time for work is ended.

Students are expected to treat DCA property with care and respect.

Students are expected to maintain a high level of awareness when choosing to download files to their device.  The downloading of illegal or illicit materials will be considered a violation of the AUP.

Students may not record classes in any form without the express written permission of the instructor and the school administration.

The contents of any recording may be subject to random or periodic searching at the discretion of the administration. Any approved recording may not be shared without express permission from the instructor and school administration.

Students are not allowed the use of any camera or video recording device without express written permission from the administration. This includes webcam devices.

Authority and Consequences

DCA reserves full authority over its network, grounds, and events.

The consequence of any action taken by a student which is in violation of the AUP relieves DCA from any culpability as an entity.  The full responsibilities for the misuse of technology are the student’s to bear.

Violation of any of these rules will result in appropriate disciplinary action. For the upper school student, DCA will operate on a three-strike policy for Electronic Device violations.

Strike 1: Device will be confiscated by a staff member and given to the principal. Principal will only return the device to a parent.

Strike 2: “Strike 1” consequences will be followed. In addition, the student will face a technology suspension for a period of time to be determined by the principal. During this time, the student will not be able to use any school or personal electronic devices at school. All digital work will either be done by hand or away from school.

Strike 3: Student will lose all electronic device privileges for the remainder of the *school year. (*If the third strike is reached in the last month of school, the principal may extend the time of suspension into the following school-year). The school accepts no responsibility or liability for lost or stolen items.

It is the responsibility of students to take appropriate steps to secure and care for their personal technological devices as well as those assigned to them. The school accepts no responsibility or liability for lost or stolen items. Locks for lockers are available upon request from the principal.

Chromebooks FAQ

Chromebook Policy

Acceptable Use Policy Return Form 2022-2023

Return the signed form to your homeroom teacher.