Student Online Privacy and Safety

Approved Learning Platforms

District 65 uses the Learn Platform to manage and display the approved applications and learning platforms for student use. Each tool listed on the Learn Platform has been vetted for SOPPA compliance, ensuring that student data is protected according to the highest standards. Families can view the list of approved platforms, including details on grade level usage, approval status, and subject area focus.

Privacy Laws

We adhere to several key laws designed to protect student and family privacy:

• Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA): Effective July 1, 2021, SOPPA requires educational technology companies to safeguard student data and ensure it is used solely for beneficial purposes.
• Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): Restricts the collection of personal information from children under 13 by companies operating websites, games, mobile apps, and digital services directed to children.
• Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA): Requires schools that receive federal E-Rate funding to implement measures to block access to content that is obscene, involves child pornography, or is harmful to minors.
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Governs the privacy of student education records, restricting access and use of student information.

Data Breaches

In the unlikely event of a data breach, District 65 is committed to promptly notifying affected parties and taking all necessary steps to mitigate the impact. We prioritize transparency and adhere to best practices and regulations to protect student information. For more information, please refer to School Board Policy 7:345 - Student Data Privacy and Security.

Securly Web Filter and Aware Platform

District 65 employs Securly’s web filter and Aware student wellness platform to safeguard students from inappropriate content and monitor their digital interactions. These tools are active on all district-issued devices, both at school and at home, and they work together to:

• Block access to harmful or inappropriate content.
• Monitor student browsing patterns, emails, and Google Workspace files for signs of distress, such as bullying or self-harm.
• Notify school leaders and support staff for timely intervention if needed.

YouTube Moderation

Student access to YouTube is restricted through Google’s "Moderated Mode," ensuring that only age-appropriate content is accessible. This mode filters out unsuitable videos, allowing educators and students to safely use YouTube as an educational resource.

Device Management Tools

• Apple Classroom: Available to educators in grades K-3 and 5-8, this tool allows teachers to monitor and manage student activities on iPads, ensuring focus during lessons.
• Securly Classroom: For 4th grade classrooms, this tool enables teachers to monitor Chromebook usage, block distracting websites, and maintain a focused learning environment.

Curriculum Integration

Digital citizenship and literacy are integral components of our educational approach. District 65 ensures that students develop essential digital literacy skills through:

• K-5 Internet Safety Education: Integrated into the K-5 Library curriculum as part of Research & Digital Literacy units.
• 6-8 Digital Literacy Instruction: Aligned with the Illinois Standards Aligned Instruction for Libraries (I-SAIL) Standard #3, ensuring students understand the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities in a digital world.
• Ongoing Curriculum Development: We continue to develop resources that support digital literacy across all grade levels, aligned with ISTE student standards, including digital citizenship.

Digital citizenship and literacy are integral parts of our educational approach. The district adheres to Illinois Instructional Mandates, including teaching Internet Safety Education through our K-5 Library curriculum as part of the Research & Digital Literacy units. In grades 6-8, we incorporate the Digital Literacy Illinois Standards Aligned Instruction for Libraries (I-SAIL) Standard #3 through our library curricular resources. Educators have access to resources created to support the integration and intentional teaching of computer literacy skills, including technical skills, data security, and privacy. These resources, which will be available for educators to incorporate in their teaching in grades K-8 across content areas, align with the Illinois Instructional Mandates on Computer Literacy.

As we continue to integrate instructional technology across the curriculum, we are working to align learning opportunities with the ISTE student standards, including the Digital Citizenship standards (1.2), to ensure that students develop essential digital literacy skills. Our instructional technology team in the district is actively working to incorporate these standards when integrating technology into learning opportunities, further reinforcing the importance of responsible and informed technology use.

ISTE Standards

Our digital literacy efforts are aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) student standards, including Digital Citizenship (Standard 1.2), to ensure that students are equipped with the skills to navigate the digital world responsibly and safely.

Securly Home App

To support families in monitoring their child’s online activities at home, District 65 offers the Securly Home App. This app allows parents to:

• View their child’s online activity in real time.
• Set up custom filters and controls.
• Receive alerts for concerning behavior.

Below are resources that families can use to get started:

• D65 Getting Started with Securly Home (English).pdf
• D65 Getting Started with Securly Home (Español).pdf
• Securly Home Parent FAQ (English).pdf
• Securly Home Parent FAQ (Español).pdf

Screen Time on iPads

Families with students who have district-issued iPads can utilize Apple's Screen Time settings to manage app usage and schedule downtime. Learn how to set up Screen Time.

Family Resources

We encourage families to explore the following resources to support responsible technology use at home:

• Facebook Family Safety Center
• Connect Safely
• Common Sense Media

Responsibility Overview

The Acceptable Use Handbook outlines the shared responsibility between the school, students, and families to ensure appropriate internet access and technology use. Parents/guardians are responsible for supervising their child’s out-of-school access to online resources.

Expectations and Consequences

Students are expected to adhere to district policies regarding appropriate technology use. Violations may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the student handbook. Intentional damage to district equipment or misuse of the network will result in charges for repair or replacement.

Parental Involvement

We encourage parents to discuss the Acceptable Use Handbook with their children and stay actively involved in monitoring their online activities.

Acceptable Use Agreement for Student Access to and Use of Networked District 65 Information Resources

With Internet access come responsibilities. Evanston/Skokie School District 65 provides access to and integrates thoughtful use of technology-based resources throughout the curriculum and provides guidance and instruction in the appropriate use of these resources in the school.

Equipment and Network

District 65 students have access to a wide array of technology and software to promote learning. Students are expected to respect and take care of the hardware and software that is provided. Intentional damage to equipment, software, or the network will result in disciplinary action and charges for repair or replacement to the student’s family.

The Internet

The Internet is an electronic network connecting hundreds of thousands of computers and millions of individual users all over the world. This technology propels our schools through the communication age by allowing students and staff to access and use resources from distant computers, communicate and collaborate with other individuals and groups around the world, and significantly expands their available information base. Families should be aware, however, that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive to some people.

Appropriate Internet access is the shared responsibility of the school, the student, and the family. Parents/guardians have responsibility for agreements their children make or actions they take and, outside of school, for setting and conveying the standards their children should follow when using any media or information service. Students are responsible for good behavior on these electronic resources.

The district's intent is to make Internet access secure while furthering educational goals and objectives. The district institutes required filtering and other technical methods to regulate students' Internet access. Those methods do not always guarantee compliance with the district's Acceptable Use Policy. If a student accesses objectionable or inappropriate material, they should immediately report it to their teachers or staff at Information Services. Ultimately, parents/guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources.

The district offers parents/guardians the option of requesting alternative activities not requiring Internet use for their minor children.

Privacy and Security

Equipment,​ ​network​ ​resources,​ ​messages,​ ​files,​ ​programs​ ​and​ ​software​ ​applications​ ​that​ ​are​ ​stored​ ​on​ ​or​ ​relayed by​ ​District​ ​65’s​ ​computers​ ​and​ ​servers​ ​are​ ​not​ ​private.​ District 65 and its representatives employ mechanisms to monitor all users’ on-line activities, including website browsing, email use, chat room participation, and other forms of electronic communications. District 65 reserves the right to monitor any users' online activities, at any time, with or without notice, and to access review, copy, store, or delete any electronic communications or files and disclose them to others as it deems necessary.

Restrictions

In compliance with the Illinois Harassing and Obscene Communications Act, (720 ILCS 135/0.01), the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Illinois Internet Safety Education Act (105 ILCS 5/27-13.3) and all other applicable local, state and federal statutes and guidelines, the following activities are not permitted on District 65’s electronic resources:

• Accessing, uploading, downloading, transmitting, displaying or distributing obscene, abusive, intimidating, threatening, defamatory or sexually explicit material or language or otherwise harassing students or staff.
• Transmitting a student’s personal information, work or picture with identifiable information without written parental permission.
• Using another person's passwords; trespassing in another person's folders, work or file.
• Selling or buying anything over the Internet for personal financial gain; or selling or purchasing any illegal substance.
• Using the Internet for advertising or promotion, including conducting for-profit business activities or engaging in solicitation for non-profit groups, religious purposes, lobbying, or votes.
• Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks; vandalizing, damaging or disabling the property of another person or organization; debilitating or disabling computers, systems or networks through the intentional mis- or over-use of electronic distribution or storage space, the spreading of computer "viruses,” or hacking.
• Violating copyright, or otherwise using another person's intellectual property without his or her prior approval or proper citation; using another person's passwords; trespassing in another person's folders, work or files.
• District 65’s technology resources, communications systems, email, and web site are not a public forum.

Sanctions

Violations of District 65 and school networked information resources policies could result in the loss of access to the resources. Additional disciplinary action may be determined at the building or classroom level in line with existing practice for language and behavior. When appropriate, law enforcement agencies may become involved. A full, detailed list of restrictions and sanctions are detailed in the District 65 Student Handbook.