San Mateo County Grand Jury • 2006-2007

Issue | Background | Findings | Conclusions | Recommendations | Responses | Attachments Summary of Are the Middle

Published: February 25, 2007 68 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 7 findings

F1
All middle schools in the County appear to be in compliance with California Education Code Sections 18030.5, which require them to establish rules for use of school-provided computers and Internet connections. All elementary School districts in the County have developed Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) that are much like contracts. They outline how students are to use school-provided computer technology, including what uses are or are not allowed, and the consequences for violating the policy. Typically, the student, and the student’s parents sign the AUP. SCSD Response: Agrees
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Adopt an Internet safety program for all sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. This program should be based on the i-SAFE model and be implemented no later than the 2008-2009 school year. SCSD Response: Partially agree. The District first wants to review this recommendation with legal counsel. The District also plans to review this recommendation with the district technology committee and administrative council. Finally, any new curriculum would have to be approved by the Board of Trustees.
F2
According to the survey, County districts spoken to have technical liaison positions in each middle school. These positions interface with a lead technical advisor in their respective offices who may provide workshops and updates for the schools’ technical liaisons. SCSD Response: Agrees
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Adopt an Acceptable Use Policy that clearly defines cyber-bullying and includes a no-tolerance policy of cyber-bullying activities with detailed consequences if this policy is broken. SCSD Response: Partially agree. The District will adopt a new Acceptable Use Policy. The consequences of non-compliance with this policy will be consistent with the enforcement of other policy violations.
F3
Many elementary school districts offer handouts and display posters cautioning students about cyber-bullying and cyber-predators, as well as warning students of the potential dangers inherent in social networking sites, such as MySpace and Friendster. SCSD Response: Agrees.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
“Many elementary school districts offer handouts and display posters cautioning students about cyber-bullying and cyber-predators, as well as warning students of the potential dangers inherent in social networking sites, such as MySpace and Friendster.” SSFUSD Response: Agrees
F4
Some County middle schools include Internet safety as part of the instruction in computer science classes, but no public elementary school district has established a curriculum that specifically deals with Internet safety. SCSD Response: SCSD has not established a curriculum that specifically deals with Internet safety.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
“Some County middle schools include Internet Safety as part of the instruction in computer science classes, but no public elementary school district has established a curriculum that specifically deals with Internet safety.” SSFUSD Response: Agrees
F5
Several organizations offer Internet safety support to schools, parents and students; some also offer curriculum and consultation. Of the organizations researched by the Grand Jury, a nonprofit foundation called I-safe provided the most comprehensive and detailed training a support. It offers a K-12 curriculum and a community outreach program to students, law enforcement and community. I-SAFE is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and does not charge for its services. SCSD Response: Agrees
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
“Several organizations offer Internet safety support to schools, parents and students; some also offer curriculum and consultation. Of the organizations research by the Grand Jury, a nonprofit foundation called I-SAFE provided the most comprehensive and detailed training and support….” SSFUSD Response: Disagrees; the District has not assessed available services and programs and is unable to endorse a specific curriculum until that analysis has been completed.
F6
Some schools in the County have Internet safety components in computer lab classes, but not all students are required to attend these classes. SCSD Response: SCSD does not have a specific Internet safety curriculm taught in all classes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
“Some schools in the County have Internet safety components in computer lab classes, but not all students are required to attend these classes.” SSFUSD Response: Agrees
F7
The survey of all school districts in the County indicate that there is no district-wide curriculum covering issues of cyber-predators, cyber-bullying or approvpiate off- campus computer use. SCSD Response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
“The survey results of all school districts in the County indicate that there is no district-wide curriculum covering issues of cyber-predators, cyber-bullying or appropriate off-campus computer use.” SSFUSD Response: Agrees Grand Jury Recommendations

Conclusions 1

No Responses Found 3

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Las Lomitas Elementary School District School District
Millbrae Elementary School District School District
South San Francisco Unified School District School District