The school calendar will accommodate the education program of the District. The school calendar is for a minimum of one-hundred ninety two days and include, but not be limited to, the days for student instruction, professional development, in-service days and teacher conferences.

The academic school year for students is for a minimum of 1080 hours in the school calendar. The academic school year for students  will begin as allowed by current law. Employees may be required to report to work at the District prior to this date.

Special education students may attend school on a school calendar different from that of the regular education program consistent with their Individualized Education Program.

The Board, in its discretion, may excuse graduating seniors from up to five days of instruction after the District requirements for graduation have been met. The Board may also excuse graduating seniors from making up days missed due to inclement weather if the student has met the District's graduation requirements.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the school calendar for recommendation, approval, and adoption by the Board annually.

The Board may amend the official school calendar when the Board considers the change to be in the best interests of the District's education program.

The Board shall hold a public hearing prior to adoption or amendment of the school calendar.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The student school day for grades one through twelve will consist of a minimum of six hours, not including the lunch period. The school day consists of the schedule of class instruction and class activities as established and sponsored by the District. Time during which students are released from school for parent/teacher conferences may be counted as part of the student's instructional time. The minimum school day will meet the requirements as established for the operation of accredited schools.

The Board may define the number of days T-K/kindergarten will be held and the length of each school day for the students attending kindergarten. The school day will consist of a schedule as recommended by the superintendent and approved by the Board.

The District may also record a day of school with less than the minimum instructional hours if the total hours of instructional time for grades one through twelve in any five consecutive school days equals a minimum of thirty hours, even though any one day of school is less than the minimum instructional hours because of a professional development opportunity provided for the instructional staff or parent-teacher conferences have been scheduled beyond the regular school day. Parent-teacher conference time is included in the total of instructional hours for the day, week and calendar total hours or days. Schedule revisions and changes in time allotments will be made by the superintendent.

The superintendent has the authority to determine which continuous remote learning opportunities are appropriate in accordance with the District's Return to Learn Plan as approved by the Department of Education.  The superintendent shall consult with the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Dickinson County Department of Public Health, Iowa Department of Education and Center for Disease Control for guidance, and may take additional precautions to keep staff and students as safe as reasonably possible.  Instructional time shall be consistent with the district's approved Return to Learn plan for students, classrooms, attendance centers or the district as a whole when engaged in a method of continuous remote learning.

When the school is forced to close due to weather or other emergencies, those hours of the day during which school was in session will count toward the 1,080 total hours required.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to inform the Board annually of the length of the school day.  If a parent or guardian of a student notifies the district in writing that the student, student's immediate family member or primary caretaker has a significant health condition that increases the risk of COVID-19, documented by their doctor, the superintendent shall make reasonable accommodation, on a case-by-case basis, for the student to attend school through remote learning.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The basic instruction program shall include the courses required for each grade level by the State Department of Education. The instructional approach will be nonsexist and multicultural.

The basic instruction program of students enrolled in T-K/kindergarten shall be designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits, growth in language arts and communication skills, as well as the capacity to complete individual tasks, and the ability to protect and increase physical well-being with attention given to experiences relating to the development of life skills and human growth and development.

The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades one through six shall include: English-language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, human growth and development, physical education, traffic safety, music, and visual art.

The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades seven and eight shall include: English-language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, human growth and development, family and consumer, career, technology education, physical education and visual art.

The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades nine through twelve shall include, at a minimum, those courses outlined in the Board’s policy on Course Requirements.

The board may, in its discretion, offer additional courses in the instruction program for any grade level.

Each instruction program shall be carefully planned for optimal benefit taking into consideration the financial condition of the school district and other factors deemed relevant by the board or superintendent. Each instruction program’s plan should describe the program, its goals, the effective materials, the activities and the method for student evaluation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As part of the education program, students will have an opportunity to learn about their rights, privileges, and responsibilities as citizens of this country, state and school district community. As part of this learning opportunity students are instructed in the elements of good citizenship and the role quality citizens play in their country, state and school district community.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The principal may authorize field trips and excursions when such events contribute to the achievement of education goals of the school district. The school district will provide transportation for field trips and excursions.

In authorizing field trips and excursions, the principal shall consider the financial condition of the school district, the educational benefit of the activity, the inherent risks or danger of the activity, and other factors deemed relevant by the superintendent. The superintendent’s approval will be required for field trips and excursions outside the state. Board approval will be required for field trips and excursions which involve unusual length or expense.

Field trips and excursions are to be arranged with the principal well in advance. A detailed schedule and budget must be submitted by the employee along with the request for the field trip or excursion. The school district will be responsible for obtaining a substitute teacher if one is needed. Following field trips and excursions, the teacher may be required to submit a written summary of the event.

Written parental permission will be required prior to the student’s participation in field trips and excursions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parents may request to have their child excluded from a school program because of religious beliefs. The Board authorizes the administration to allow the exclusion if it is not disruptive to the education program and it does not infringe on a compelling state or educational interest. Further, the exclusion must not interfere with other District operations.

Parents shall request to have their child excluded from a school program because of religious beliefs by notifying the building principal of their request. In notifying the building principal the parents will abide by the following:

• The notice shall be in writing;
• The objection shall be based on legitimately held religious beliefs;
• The objection will state which activities or studies violate their religious beliefs;
• The objection will state why these activities or studies violate their religious beliefs; and
• The objection will state a proposed alternate activity or study.

The principal will have discretion to making the above-referenced determination. The factors the principal will consider when a student’s parents request that the student be excluded from a program or activity because of religious beliefs include, but are not limited to, staff availability to supervise a student who wishes to be excluded, space to house the student while the student is excluded, availability of a principal approved alternative course of study or activity while the student is excluded, the number of students who wish to be excluded, whether allowing the exclusion places the District in a position of supporting a particular religion, and whether the program or activity is required for promotion to the next grade level or for graduation.

Students who are permitted to be excluded from a program or activity which violates their religious beliefs shall be required to do an alternate supervised activity or course of study.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summer school shall be conducted in such buildings, on such grade levels, and for such lengths of time as the Board, upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, may determine. In determining whether to conduct summer school, the Board shall weigh the benefit to the students and the District as well as the District's budget and availability of licensed employees to conduct summer school.

The summer school program shall be designed to meet the following purposes or objectives:

1. Enrichment and extension of the program provided during the regular academicyear; and

2. Remedial work for those students who need and can benefit from further study in the basic subjects.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Board recognizes some students have different educational needs than other students. The board will provide a free appropriate public education program and related services to students identified in need of special education. The special education services will be provided from age 3 until the appropriate education is completed, age twenty-one or to maximum age allowable in accordance with the law.

Students requiring special education will attend general education classes, participate in nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities and receive services in a general education setting to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of each individual student. Students requiring special education shall be placed in the least restrictive environment possible appropriate to the needs of each individual student.

The appropriate education for each student is written in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Special education students are required to meet the requirements stated in board policy or in their IEPs for graduation. It is the responsibility of the superintendent and the area education agency director of special education to provide or make provisions for appropriate special education and related services.

Children from birth through age 2 and children age 3 through age 5 are provided comprehensive special education services within the public education system. The school district shall work in conjunction with the area education agency to provide services, at the earliest appropriate time, to children with disabilities from birth through age 2. This is done to ensure a smooth transition of children entitled to early childhood special education services.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Senior Year Plus Enacted by the legislature in 2008, Senior Year Plus was created to provide increased and more equal access to college credit. Courses delivered through Senior Year Plus provide students the opportunity to take rigorous college curriculum and receive both high school and college credit concurrently.

• No student shall be enrolled as a full-time student in any one postsecondary institution (24 credits per academic year).
• Successful completion of any course at a postsecondary educational institution is determined by the postsecondary educational institution.
• The Board shall have complete discretion to determine the amount of academic credit to be awarded to the student for the courses taken during the school year and for the courses taken during the summer.

Eligibility Iowa law requires students to meet certain criteria to be eligible to participate in Senior Year Plus programming. The following criteria apply to all Senior Year Plus programs and are supplemented by program-specific requirements.

• The student shall have demonstrated proficiency in reading, mathematics and science on the most recent administration of the Iowa Assessments.
• If the student is not proficient in one or more content areas of reading, mathematics, and science, an alternative but equivalent qualifying performance measurement may be utilized.
• The student shall meet the enrollment requirements established by the eligible postsecondary institution.

Concurrent Enrollment Students in grades 9 through 12 may receive secondary and postsecondary academic and/or vocational-technical credits for courses successfully completed through a postsecondary educational institution in which the school district has a contractual agreement with. The District will pay tuition costs associated for concurrent course enrollment for an eligible student. 

Students who take courses other than courses taken under an agreement between the District and the postsecondary educational institution and/or approved by the Board are responsible for tuition, transportation to and from the locations where the course is being offered, and other costs directly related to taking any postsecondary education course. The student and/or their parents shall not receive reimbursement for tuition, transportation or other expenses.

Eligible students may take credit during the summer months when school is not in session, but are responsible for tuition, transportation to and from the location where the course is being offered, and other costs directly related to taking any postsecondary education course.

The following factors are considered in the Board’s determination of whether a student will receive academic and/or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the Board for a course at a postsecondary educational institution:

The course is taken from a public or accredited private post-secondary educational institution;

• a comparable course is not offered in the District. A Comparable course is one in which the subject matter or the purposes and objectives of the course are similar, in the judgment of the Board, to a course offered in the District;
• the course is in the discipline areas of mathematics, science, social sciences, humanities, and vocational-technical education;
• the course is a credit-bearing course that leads to a degree;
• the course is not religious or sectarian; and
• the course meets any other requirements set out by the Board.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Board, recognizing alternatives to education outside the formal public school system, authorizes the establishment of a home school assistance program. This program will assist students receiving competent private instruction by providing licensed employees of the school district to assist the parent, guardian or legal custodian in the education of the student.

The parent, guardian or legal custodian registering for the home school assistance program will agree to comply with the requirements established by the faculty of the program.

Students registered for the home school assistance program will be counted in the basic enrollment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Because of our growing interdependence with other nations in the world, global education is incorporated into the education program for grades T-K/kindergarten through twelve so that students have the opportunity to acquire a perspective on world issues, problems, and prospects for an awareness of the relationship between an individual's self-interest and the concerns of people elsewhere in the world.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preparing students for careers is one goal of the education program. Career education will be infused into the education program for grades T-K/kindergarten through twelve. This education shall include, but not be limited to, awareness of self in relation to others and the needs of society, exploration of employment opportunities, experiences in personal decision-making, and experiences of integrating work values and work skills into their lives.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to assist licensed employees in finding ways to provide career education in the educational program. Special attention should be given to courses of vocational education nature. The board, in its review of the curriculum, shall review the means in which career education is combined with other instructional programs.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Students in grades one through twelve are required to participate in physical education courses unless they are excused by the principal of their attendance center.

Students may be excused from physical education courses if the student presents a written statement from a doctor stating that such activities could be injurious to the health of the student or the student has been exempted because of a conflict with the student's religious beliefs, provided such excuse or exemption fits within federal and state laws.

Students in grade twelve may also be excused from physical education courses if:

• the student is enrolled in academic courses not otherwise available, or
• the student has obtained a physical education waiver for a semester because the student is actively involved in an athletic program
• the student may also be excused from physical education courses if the student is enrolled in a cooperative, work study or other educational program authorized by the school which requires the student's absence from school.

Students who will not participate in physical education must have a written request or statement from their parents.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Students will receive, as part of their health education, instruction about personal health; food and nutrition; environmental health; safety and survival skills; consumer health; family life; human growth and development; substance abuse and non-use, including the effects of alcohol, tobacco, nicotine drugs and poisons on the human body; human sexuality; self-esteem; stress management; interpersonal relationships; emotional and social health; health resources; prevention and control of disease; and communicable diseases, including sexually transmitted infections acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

The purpose of the health education program is to help each student protect, improve and maintain physical, emotional and social well-being. The areas stated above are included in health education and the instruction is adapted at each grade level to aid understanding by the students.

Parents who object to health education instruction in human growth and development may file a written request that the student be excused from the instruction. The written request will include a proposed alternate activity or study acceptable to the superintendent. The superintendent will have the final authority to determine the alternate activity or study.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Curriculum development is an ongoing process in the school district and consists of both research and design. Research is the studious inquiry and critical investigation of the various content areas for the purpose of revising and improving curriculum and instruction based on relevant information pertaining to the discipline. This study is conducted both internally (what and how we are currently doing at the local level) and externally (what national standards, professional organizations, recognized experts, current research, etc. tell us relative to the content area). Design is the deliberate process of planning and selecting the standards and instructional strategies that will improve the learning experiences for all students.

The superintendent shall be responsible for curriculum development and for determining the most effective method of conducting research and design activities. A curriculum framework shall describe the processes and procedures that will be followed in researching, designing, and articulating each curriculum area.

In making recommendations to the board, the superintendent shall propose a framework which will, at a minimum, describe the processes and procedures for the curriculum development activities that will:

• Fulfill the mission, beliefs and vision of the school district;
• Articulate courses of study from T-K/kindergarten through grade twelve;
• Study the latest thinking, trends, research, and expert advice regarding the content/discipline;
• Incorporate best practices;
• Study the current status of the content/discipline (what and how well students are currently learning);
• Identify content standards, benchmarks, and grade level expectations for the content/discipline;
• Describe the desired learning behaviors, teaching, and learning environment related to the content/discipline;
• Identify differences in the desired and present program and develop a plan for addressing the differences;
• Communicate with internal and external publics regarding the content area;
• Involve staff, parents, students, and community members in curriculum development decisions;
• Provide for continual assessment of a student's progress;
• Improve instructional practice;
• Meet the long and short range student achievement goals found in the District's School Improvement Plan;
• Meet the requirements of the Iowa Department of Education in meeting General Accreditation Standards.
• Verify integration of local, state, and/or federal mandates ( Multi-Cultural/Non-Sexist, school-to-work,etc.);
• Verify how the standards and benchmarks of the content/discipline support each of the broader student learning goals and provide a K-12 continuum that builds on the prior learning of each level.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the Board apprised of necessary curriculum revisions, progress of each content area related to curriculum development activities, and to develop administrative regulations for curriculum development including recommendations to the Board.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long-range needs assessment enables the school district to analyze assessment data, get feedback from the community about its expectation of students and determines how well students are meeting student learning goals and objectives. The Board will conduct ongoing and in-depth needs assessment, soliciting information from business, labor, industry, higher education and community members, regarding their expectations for adequate student preparation.

In conjunction with the in-depth needs assessment of the school district, the Board may authorize the appointment of a committee, representing administrators, employees, parents, students and community members, to make recommendations and assist the Board in determining the priorities of the school district in addition to the basic skills areas of the education program.

The committee will serve as an advisory board and/or decision making board as appropriate. It will also work closely with the Iowa Core and Teacher Quality committees to ensure consistency and efficiency throughout the educational process. There are many other established committees in the District that will remain intact separate from this committee. 

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure the school district community is informed of students' progress on state and locally determined indicators. The superintendent will report annually to the Board about the means used to keep the community informed.

As a result of the Board and committee's work, the Board will determine major educational needs and rank them in priority order; develop long-range goals and plans to meet the needs; establish and implement short-range and intermediate-range plans to meet the goals and to attain the desired levels of student performance; evaluate progress toward meeting the goals and maintain a record of progress under the plan that includes reports of student performance and results of school improvement projects; and annually report the school district's progress made under the plan to the committee, community and Iowa Department of Education.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The District's curriculum plan shall contain a framework that describes the processes and procedures that will be followed to assist all staff in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully implement the developed curriculum in each content area.

There are two components of any implementation effort that must be present to guarantee the planned changes in curriculum and instruction succeed as intended:

• Understanding the conceptual framework of the content/discipline being implemented; and
• Organized assistance to understand the theory, observe exemplary demonstrations, have opportunities to practice, and receive coaching and feedback focused on the most powerful instructional strategies to deliver the content at the classroom level.

The superintendent is responsible for curriculum implementation and for determining the most effective way of providing organized assistance and monitoring the level of implementation. The superintendent will recommend the curriculum implementation process, which shall be approved by the Board. A curriculum framework will describe the processes and procedures that will be followed to assist all staff in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully implement the developed curriculum in each content area. This framework will, at a minimum, describe the processes and procedures for the following curriculum implementation activities that will:

• Study and identify the best instructional practices and materials to deliver the content;
• Describe procedures for the purchase of instructional materials and resources;
• Identify/develop measurements that demonstrate the learning behaviors, teaching, and learning environment to deliver the content;
• Study the current status of instruction in the content area (how teachers are teaching);
• Compare the desired and present delivery system, identify differences (gap analysis), and develop a plan for addressing the differences;
• Organize staff into collaborative study teams to support their learning and implementation efforts (address the gaps);
• Provide ongoing professional development related to instructional strategies and materials that focuses on theory, demonstration, practice and feedback;
• Regularly monitor and assess the level of implementation;
• Communicate with internal and external publics regarding curriculum implementation;
• Continually assess changes in curriculum;
• Involve staff, parents, students, and community members in curriculum implementation decisions.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the board apprised of curriculum implementation activities and progress of each content area related to curriculum implementation activities.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The District shall engage in an ongoing process of collecting, analyzing, synthesizing, and interpreting information to aid in understanding what students know and can do.

Curriculum evaluation must be based on information gathered from a comprehensive assessment system that is designed for accountability and committed to the concept that all students will achieve at high levels, is standards-based, and informs decisions which impact significant and sustainable improvements in teaching and student learning.

The superintendent shall be responsible for curriculum evaluation and for determining the most effective way of ensuring that assessment activities are integrated into instructional practices as part of school improvement with a particular focus on improving teaching and learning. A curriculum framework shall describe the procedures that will be followed to establish an evaluation process that can efficiently and effectively evaluate the total curriculum. This framework will, at a minimum, describe the procedures for the following curriculum evaluation activities:

· Identify specific purposes for assessing student learning;

· Develop a comprehensive assessment plan;

· Select/develop assessment tools and scoring procedures that are valid and reliable;

· Identify procedures for collecting assessment data;

· Identify procedures for analyzing and interpreting information and drawing conclusions based on the data (including analysis of the performance of various sub-groups of students);

· Identify procedures for establishing at least three levels of performance (specific to the content standard and the assessment tool when appropriate) to assist in determining whether students have achieved at a satisfactory level (at least two levels describe performance that is proficient or advanced and at least one level describes students who are not yet performing at the proficient level);

· Identify procedures for using assessment information to determine long-range and annual improvement goals;

· Identify procedures for using assessment information in making decisions focused on improving teaching and learning (data based decision making);

· Provide support to staff in using data to make instructional decisions;

· Define procedures for regular and clear communication about assessment results to the various internal and external publics (mandatory for communication about students receiving special education services);

· Define data reporting procedures;

· Verify that assessment tools are fair for all students and are consistent with all state and federal mandates;

· Verify that assessment tools measure the curriculum that is written and delivered;

· Identify procedures for deciding when multiple assessment measures are necessary for making good decisions and drawing appropriate conclusions about student learning;

· Identify roles and responsibilities of key groups;

· Involve staff, parents, students, and community members in curriculum evaluation;

· Ensure participation of eligible students receiving special education services in district-wide assessments.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to keep the board apprised of curriculum evaluation activities and the progress of each content area related to curriculum evaluation activities. The board shall review the student performance on standardized tests, district created assessments, courses, and other indicators of student achievement as it related to the District's Standards and Benchmarks and Critical Objectives. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to provide the board/parents/community with the assessment scores on an annual basis.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Approved: 9/18/89                                  Reviewed:  5/13/19                                                Revised: 2/14/11; 6/10/13

​The Board has sole discretion to approve instructional materials for the school district. The Board delegates its authority to determine which instructional materials will be utilized and purchased by the school district to licensed employees. The licensed employees shall work closely together to ensure vertical and horizontal articulation of textbooks and other instructional materials in the education program.

The Board may appoint an ad hoc committee for the selection of instructional materials. The committee may be composed of school district employees, parents, students, community members or representatives of community groups.

In reviewing current instructional materials for continued use and in selecting additional instructional materials, the licensed employees shall consider the current and future needs of the school district as well as the changes and the trends in education and society. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to report to the board the action taken by the selection committee.

In making its recommendations to the superintendent, the licensed employees will select materials which:

• support the educational philosophy of the school district;

• consider the needs, age, interests, and maturity of students;

• are within the school district’s budget;

• foster respect and appreciation for cultural diversity and difference of opinion;

• stimulate growth in factual knowledge and literary appreciation;

• encourage students to become decision-makers, to exercise freedom of thought and to make independent judgment through the examination and evaluation of relevant information, evidence and differing viewpoints;

• portray the variety of careers, roles, and lifestyles open to persons of both sexes;

• offer students opportunities to extend and refine knowledge and use knowledge in meaningful ways.

• increase an awareness of the rights, duties, and responsibilities of each member of a multicultural society.

In the case of textbooks, the Board will make the final decision after a recommendation from the superintendent. The criteria stated above for selection of instructional materials will also apply to the selection of textbooks. The superintendent may appoint licensed employees to assist in the selection of textbooks.

Gifts of instructional materials must meet these criteria stated above for the selection of instructional materials and be in compliance with board policy.

The superintendent will establish additional criteria to guide the selection of instructional materials through administrative regulation, ensuring alignment with educational goals and compliance with laws.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parents and other members of the school district community may view the instructional and library materials used by the students.  All instructional materials, including teacher's manuals, films, tapes or other supplementary material which will be used in connection with any survey, analysis, or evaluation as part of any federally funded programs must be available for inspection by parents.  

Instructional and library materials may be viewed on school district premises.

The district will publish on the district’s website a comprehensive list of all books available to students in libraries operated by the school district.  

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding the inspection of instructional materials.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Members of the school district community may object to the instructional and library materials utilized in the school district and ask for their use to be reconsidered.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principals, to develop administrative regulations for reconsideration of instructional materials.  Information related to the process for reconsideration of instructional and library materials will be made available on the district’s website. Parents or guardians of students enrolled in the district have the ability to request that their student not be able to access certain instructional material or check out certain library materials. For purposes of prohibiting access to instructional materials, Iowa law has defined instructional materials to mean either printed or electronic textbooks and related core materials that are written and published primarily for use in elementary school and secondary school instruction and are required by a state educational agency or district for use by students in the student’s classes by the teacher of record.  Instructional materials does not include lesson plans. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Board believes students should have an opportunity to reach their own decisions and beliefs about conflicting points of view. Academic freedom gives the opportunity of licensed employees and students to study, investigate, present, interpret, and discuss facts and ideas relevant to the subject matter of the classroom and appropriate to and in good taste with the maturity and intellectual and emotional capacities of the students.

It is the responsibility of the teacher to refrain from advocating partisan causes, sectarian religious views, or biased positions in the classroom or through teaching methods. Teachers are not discouraged from expressing personal opinions, as long as students are aware it is a personal opinion and students are allowed to reach their own conclusions independently.

It is the responsibility of the principal to ensure academic freedom is allowed but not abused in the classroom.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is the belief of the Board that controversial issues should be fairly presented in a spirit of honest academic freedom so that students may recognize the validity of other points of view but can also learn to formulate their own opinions based upon dispassionate, objective, unbiased study and discussion of the facts related to the controversy. A "controversial issue" is a topic of significant academic inquiry about which substantial groups of citizens of this community, this state or this nation hold sincere, conflicting points of view.

It is the responsibility of the teacher to present full and fair opportunity and means for students to study, consider and discuss all sides of controversial issues. It is the responsibility of the teacher to protect the right of the student to study pertinent controversial issues within the limits of good taste and to allow the student to express personal opinions without jeopardizing the student's relationship with the teacher.

It is the responsibility of the teacher to refrain from advocating partisan causes, sectarian religious views, or selfish propaganda of any kind through any classroom or school device; however, a teacher will not be prohibited from expressing a personal opinion as long as students are encouraged to reach their own decisions independently.

The Board encourages full discussion of controversial issues in a spirit of academic freedom that shows students that they have the right to disagree with the opinions of others but that they also have the responsibility to base the disagreement on facts and to respect the right of others to hold conflicting opinions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The District is prohibited from using the curriculum to endorse any particular religion. The Board recognizes the key role religion has played in the history of the world and authorizes the study of religious history and traditions as part of the curriculum. Preferential or derogatory treatment of a single religion will not take place in the curriculum.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure the study of religion in the schools in keeping with the following guidelines:

• the proposed activity must have a secular purpose;
• the primary objective of the activity must not be one that advances or inhibits    religion; and
• the activity must not foster excessive governmental entanglement with religion.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Board supports the use of innovative methods and the use of technology in the delivery of the education program. The Board encourages employees to investigate economic ways to utilize multimedia, computers, and other technologies as a part of the curriculum.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vision Statement - Technology Applications in the Spirit Lake Community School District

The Spirit Lake Community School District is taking bold and innovative steps to dramatically transform teaching and learning. By infusing, integrating and making technology accessible to every student, the Spirit Lake Community School District will become a model for K-12 education in the 21st Century. Technology is an integral component in the lives of students; Technology also directly impacts the future of students. All students must have access to technology and technology must be a safe and appropriate tool for learning. A sound technology foundation for each and every student needs to be based on continual professional development, appropriate acquisition and maintenance of technological resources.

Statement of Purpose

The District uses technology as one way of enhancing its mission to teach the skills, knowledge and behaviors students will need as successful and responsible adults in the community and as life-long learners. Technology includes, but is not limited to, the electronic transfer of voice, video, data and internet connectivity. Technology provides unequaled opportunities to explore and use a varied and exciting set of resources. In order to make these resources available to everyone, those who use the school’s available technology must do so in a way that is consistent with the District’s educational mission.

This Acceptable Use for Technology Policy applies to all forms of technology and all methods of accessing the District’s technology, computer network systems, and the internet. This policy is intended to provide general guidelines and examples of prohibited uses, but does not attempt to state all required or prohibited activities by users.

Students and employees will sign a form acknowledging that they have read and understand the Acceptable Use Policy for Technology, that they will comply with the policy, and that they understand the consequences for violation of the policy.

Acceptable Uses of Technology

The Board is committed to making available to students and staff members access to a wide range of electronic learning facilities, equipment, and software, including computers, computer- like equipment (such as tablets and/or smart phones), computer network systems, and the internet. The goal in providing this technology and access is to support the educational objectives and mission of the school district and to promote resource sharing, innovation, problem solving, and communication.

The District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and/or internet connection is not a public access service or a public forum. The District has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material accessed and/or posted through the use of its computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and/or internet connection.

Access to the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network, and internet shall be available to all students and staff within the District. However, access is a privilege, not a right. The amount of time and type of access available for each student and staff member may be limited by the District’s technology and the demands for the use of the District’s technology.

Parents and students will be required to sign a permission form to allow their students to access the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems and the internet. Students and staff members will sign a form acknowledging they have read and understand the District’s policies and regulations regarding appropriate use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems and the internet; that they will comply with the policies and regulations; and understand the consequences for violation of the policy or regulations. Prior to publishing any student work and/or pictures on the internet, the District will obtain written permission from the student’s parents to do so.

Students, parents, and staff members may be asked from time to time to sign a new consent and/or acceptable use agreement to reflect changes and/or developments in the law or technology. When students, parents, and staff members are presented with new consent and/or acceptable use agreements to sign, these agreements must be signed for students and/or staff to continue to have access to and use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems, and the internet.

Even if students have not been given access to and/or use of the District’s computers, computer- like equipment, computer network and the internet, they may still be exposed to information from the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and/or the internet in guided curricular activities at the discretion of their teachers.

Students will be able to access the District’s computers, computer-like equipment and computer network systems, including use of the internet. Although reasonable efforts will be made to make sure students will be under supervision while on the network, it is not possible to constantly monitor individual students and what they are accessing on the network. Some students may encounter information that may not be of educational value and/or may be inappropriate. If a student encounters such information, the student should terminate access to the information immediately and notify supervisory personnel or other appropriate personnel of what occurred. Individual electronic mail addresses will be issued to students.

The use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and internet access shall be for educational purposes only. The District will, within the curriculum currently being offered, include age-appropriate content related to children’s use of the internet. This may include anti-bullying and harassment considerations, social networking considerations and other considerations involving internet usage.

Students and staff members shall only engage in appropriate, ethical, and legal utilization of the District’s computers, computer network systems, and internet access. Student and staff member use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and internet access shall also comply with all District policies and regulations. The following rules provide guidance to students and staff for the appropriate use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and internet access. Inappropriate use and/or access will result in the restriction and/or termination of the privilege of access to and use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and internet access and may result in further discipline for students up to and including expulsion and/or other legal action and may result in further discipline for staff members up to and including termination of employment and/or other legal action. The District’s administration will determine what constitutes inappropriate use and their decision will be final.

Every computer and/or computer-like equipment in the District having internet access shall not be operated unless internet access from the computer is subject to a technology protection measure (i.e. filtering software). The technology protection measure employed by the District shall be designed and operated with the intent to ensure that students are not accessing inappropriate sites that have visual depictions that include obscenity, child pornography or are otherwise harmful to minors. The technology protection measure may only be disabled for an adult’s use if such use is for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

The Director of Technology may close a user account at any time as required and administrators, faculty, and staff may request the Director of Technology to deny, revoke or suspend user accounts. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with computer systems may be denied access to the District’s computers, the District’s computer-like equipment, the District’s computer network systems and the internet. Students and staff members will be instructed by the District’s Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel on the appropriate use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment computer network and the internet.

The District has the right, but not the duty, to monitor any and all aspects of its computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems and internet access including, but not limited to, monitoring sites students and staff visit on the internet and reviewing e-mail. The administration and the Director of Technology shall have both the authority and right to examine all computer and computer-like equipment and internet activity including any logs, data, e-mail, computer disks and/or other computer related records of any user of the system. The use of e- mail is limited to District and educational purposes only. Students and staff waive any right to privacy in anything they create, store, send, disseminate or receive on the District’s computers, computer-like equipment and computer network systems, including the internet.

No warranties, expressed or implied, are made by the District for the computer technology and internet access being provided. Although the District has taken measures to implement and maintain protection against the presence of computer viruses, spyware, and malware on the District’s computers, computer network systems, and internet access, the District cannot and does not warranty or represent that the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems or internet access will be secure and free of computer viruses, spyware or malware at all times. The District, including its officers and employees, will not be responsible for any damages including, but not limited to, the loss of data, delays, non-deliveries, misdeliveries or service interruptions caused by negligence or omission. Individual users are solely responsible for making backup copies of their data, including their District electronic mail. The District is not responsible for the accuracy of information users' access on the internet and is not responsible for any unauthorized charges students or staff members may incur as a result of their use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems, and/or internet access. Any risk and/or damages resulting from information obtained from the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems, and/or internet access is assumed by and is the responsibility of the user.

Unacceptable and/or Inappropriate Uses of Technology

Inappropriate use of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network and internet access includes, but is not limited to a violation of the following rules:

• Do not make or disseminate offensive or harassing statements or use offensive or harassing language including disparagement of others based on age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, socioeconomic status, or familial status. Do not swear, use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language. Be polite and follow the same privacy, ethical, educational, and other considerations observed regarding other forms of communication.
• Do not access, create or disseminate any material that is obscene, libelous, indecent, vulgar, profane or lewd; any material regarding products or services that are inappropriate for minors including products or services that the possession and/or use of by minors is prohibited by law; any material that constitutes insulting or fighting words, the very expression of which injures or harasses others; and/or any material that presents a clear and present likelihood that, either because of its content or the manner of distribution, will cause a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities, will cause the commission of unlawful acts or will cause the violation of lawful school regulations.
• Do not disseminate or solicit sexually oriented messages or images.
• Do not transmit your credit card information or other personal identification information, including your home address or telephone number from any District computer without prior permission from the building principal, the superintendent or other appropriate personnel. Do not publish personal or private information about yourself or others on the internet without prior written permission. Do not repost a message that was sent to you privately without permission of the person who sent the message. If any information is to be provided regarding students, it should be limited to the student’s first name and the initial of the student’s last name only. Do not arrange or agree to meet with someone met online.
• Do not use the District’s computers, computer-like equipment and/or computer network systems to participate in illegal activities. Illegal activities include, but are not limited to, gambling, fraud, and pornography.
•  Do not use, possess or attempt to make or distribute illegal/unauthorized copies of software or other digital media. Illegal/unauthorized software or other digital media means any software or other digital media that has been downloaded or copied or is otherwise in the user’s possession or being used without the appropriate registration and/or license for the software or in violation of any applicable trademarks and/or copyrights, including the payment of any fees to the owner of the software or other digital media. Do not alter, modify, corrupt or harm in any way the computer software stored on the District’s computers or computer network systems. Do not install any software on the hard drive of any District computer or on the District’s computer network systems or run any personal software from either CD-ROM, DVD, flash drives or other storage media or alter or modify any data files stored on the District’s computers, computer-like equipment or computer network systems without prior permission and/or supervision from the Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel.
• Do not download any programs from the internet without prior permission from the District’s Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel. Any programs downloaded from the internet shall be strictly limited only to those that you have received permission from the Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel to download.
• Do not share a personal user account with anyone. Do not share any personal user account passwords with anyone or leave your account open or unattended.
•  Do not access the District’s computers, computer-like equipment or computer network systems or use the District’s internet connection from a non-District computer without prior authorization from the Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel and/or without providing confirmation that the user has reviewed the District’s Acceptable Use Policy.
•  Do not disable or circumvent or attempt to disable or circumvent filtering software without prior permission from the District’s Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel.
• Do not play any games or run any programs that are not related to the District’s educational program.
• Do not vandalize the District’s computers, computer-like equipment or its computer network systems. Vandalism is defined as any attempt to harm, modify, deface or destroy physical computer equipment, computer-like equipment or the computer network and any attempt to harm or destroy data stored on the District’s computer equipment, computer-like equipment or the computer network or the data of another user. All users are expected to immediately report any problems or vandalism of computer equipment to the administration, the Director of Technology or the instructor responsible for the equipment.
• Do not commit or attempt to commit any act that disrupts the operation of the District’s computers, computer-like equipment or computer network systems or any network connected to the internet, including the use or attempted use or possession of computer viruses or worms or participation in hacking or other unlawful/inappropriate activities online. Users must report any security breaches or system misuse to the administration or Director of Technology. Do not demonstrate any security or other network problems to other users; give your password to another user for any reason; and/or use another individual's account. Do not attempt to log on to any device as a system administrator.
• Do not use the network in such a way that you would disrupt the use of the network by other users or would waste system resources (e.g. listening to internet radio, printing webpages without prior permission from the Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel, staying on the network longer than is necessary to obtain needed information).
• Do not use the District’s computers, computer-like equipment and/or computer network systems for any commercial or for-profit purposes, personal or private business, (including but not limited to shopping or job searching), product advertisement or political lobbying.
• Do not use the District’s computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems and/or the internet to access, download, transmit, and/or disseminate any material in violation of any federal or state law, copyrighted material, obscene material, hate literature, material protected by trade secret, computer viruses and/or worms, offensive material, spam e-mails, any threatening or harassing materials, and/or any material that will cause a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities. If a user encounters potentially inappropriate information, the user shall immediately terminate contact with such information and notify the Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel of the contact with inappropriate information.
• Do not plagiarize information accessed through the District’s computer; computer-like equipment, computer network systems and/or the internet. Students and staff shall obtain permission from appropriate parties prior to using copyrighted material that is accessed through the District’s computer, computer network systems, and/or the internet.                                                                                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The District has laptop computers and/or tablets for its faculty members and/or students to use inside and outside of school in order to enhance, enrich, and facilitate learning and teaching and to aid in administrative duties and school communications. All laptop computers, tablets and related equipment are school district property. The use of the District's laptop computers, tablets and related equipment shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions set out in the District's policies on appropriate use of computers, computer-like equipment, computer network systems, and the internet.

Faculty Members’ Use of District’s Laptop Computer and/or Tablet

Prior to using the District's laptop computers, tablets and related equipment, faculty members will sign a Staff Laptop Computer and/or Tablet Acceptance Form and Consent to Use of the District’s Computers, Computer-Like Equipment, Computer Network Systems, and Internet Access and agree to all outlined policies before being issued a laptop computer and/or tablet. Faculty members shall not attempt to install software or hardware or change the system configuration, including any network settings, on any District laptop computer and/or tablet without prior consultation with the District's administration.

Faculty members shall protect District laptop computers, tablets and related equipment from damage and theft. Each faculty member may be responsible for any damage to the laptop computer, tablet and related equipment they have been issued from the time it is issued to them until the time it is turned back in to the District. Faculty members who choose to store school data, such as grades, tests or exams, on District laptop computers and/or tablets are required to back up this data as a safety precaution against data loss.

Students’ Use of District’s Laptop Computer and/or Tablet

Prior to using the District's laptop computers, tablets and related equipment, a parent/guardian and/or the student will sign a Consent to Student Use of the District’s Computers, Computer- Like Equipment, Computer Network Systems, and Internet Access and agree to all outlined policies before being issued a laptop computer and/or tablet.

Students shall protect District laptop computers, tablets and related equipment from damage and theft. Each student may be responsible for and/or assessed a fee for any damage or loss of any component of the laptop computer, tablet, and/or related equipment.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The purpose of this policy is to provide a safe environment for students through the use of technology protection measures (i.e. filtering software) to enhance education in the District.

The internet is an ever expanding resource that adds large quantities of content on a daily basis. However, some of the content is inappropriate for student use and may even be harmful to students' health, safety and welfare. Therefore, the District has determined that it will establish this policy to limit student access to certain undesirable topics, including but not limited to, information and images that are obscene, constitute child pornography or are otherwise harmful to minors. Since it is not feasible for the District to continually monitor the content of the internet, the District will employ technology protection measures in the form of internet filtering software in an attempt to block access to these types of harmful and inappropriate materials.

The District’s implementation of internet filtering software does not guarantee that students will be prevented from accessing materials that may be considered inappropriate and/or harmful. However, it is a meaningful effort on the part of the District to prevent students from accessing inappropriate and/or harmful materials on the internet. The District makes no guarantee that the filtering software will be available at all times or that the filtering software will block all inappropriate and/or harmful material.

If there is an accessible Uniform Resource Locator [URL] that may be inappropriate, students, staff, and parents may request a review by designated district personnel regarding blocking the URL. Upon review, the Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel will make a determination about blocking access to that site. If there is an educationally valuable URL that is blocked, students, staff, and parents may request a review by designated district personnel regarding un-blocking the URL. The Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel will review the request and make a determination about unblocking the site.

Staff members may request that the internet filtering software be disabled for bona fide research or other lawful purposes. Such a request may be submitted to, and will be reviewed by, the Director of Technology or other appropriate personnel before the internet filtering software is disabled.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In order for students to experience a diverse curriculum, the Board encourages employees to supplement their regular curricular materials with other resources. In so doing, the Board recognizes that federal law makes it illegal to duplicate copyrighted materials without authorization of the holder of the copyright, except for certain exempt purposes. Severe penalties may be imposed for plagiarism, unauthorized copying or using of media, including, but not limited to, print, electronic and web-based materials, unless the copying or using conforms to the “fair use” doctrine. Under the “fair use” doctrine, unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted materials is permissible for such purposes as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research providing that all fair use guidelines are met.

While the District encourages employees to enrich the learning programs by making proper use of supplementary materials, it is the responsibility of employees to abide by the District's copying procedures and obey the requirements of the law. Under no circumstances shall it be necessary for District staff to violate copyright requirements in order to perform their duties properly. The District will not be responsible for any violations of the copyright law by employees or students. Violation of the copyright law by employees may result in discipline up to, and including, termination. Violation of the copyright law by students may result in discipline, up to and including, suspension or expulsion.

Parents or others who wish to record, by any means, school programs or other activities need to realize that even though the District received permission to perform a copyrighted work does not mean outsiders can copy it and re-play it. Those who wish to do so should contact the employee in charge of the activity to determine what the process is to ensure the copyright law is followed. The District is not responsible for outsiders violating the copyright law or this policy.

Any employee or student who is uncertain as to whether reproducing or using copyrighted material complies with the District's procedures or is permissible under the law should contact the teacher-librarian who will also assist employees and students in obtaining proper authorization to copy or use protected material when such authorization is required.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Employees and students may make copies of copyrighted materials that fall within the following guidelines. Where there is reason to believe the material to be copied does not fall within these guidelines, prior permission shall be obtained from the publisher or producer with the assistance of the librarian. Employees and students who fail to follow this procedure may be held personally liable for copyright infringement and may be subject to discipline by the Board.

Under the “fair use” doctrine, unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted materials is permissible for such purposes as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research. Under the fair use doctrine, each of the following four standards must be met in order to use the copyrighted document:

• Purpose and Character of the Use - The use must be for such purposes as teaching or scholarship.
• Nature of the Copyrighted Work - The type of work to be copied.
• Amount and Substantiality of the Portion Used - Copying the whole of a work cannot be considered fair use; copying a small portion may be if these guidelines are followed.
• Effect of the Use Upon the Potential Market for or value of the Copyrighted Work - If resulting economic loss to the copyright holder can be shown, even making a single copy of certain materials may be an infringement, and making multiple copies presents the danger of greater penalties.

Authorized Reproduction and Use of Copyrighted Material Reminders

• Materials on the Internet should be used with caution since they may and likely are, copyrighted.
• Proper attribution (author, title, publisher, place and date of publication) should always be given.
• Notice should be taken of any alterations to copyrighted works, and such alterations should only be made for specific instructional objectives.
• Care should be taken in circumventing any technological protection measures. While materials copied pursuant to fair use may be copied after circumventing technological protections against unauthorized copying, technological protection measures to block access to materials may not be circumvented.

In preparing for instruction, a teacher may make or have made a single copy of:

• A chapter from a book;
• An article from a newspaper or periodical;
• A short story, short essay or short poem; or,
• A chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon or picture from a book, periodical or newspaper.

A teacher may make multiple copies not exceeding more than one per pupil, for classroom use or discussion, if the copying meets the tests of “brevity, spontaneity and cumulative effect" set by the following guidelines. Each copy must include a notice of copyright.

• Brevity
  • A complete poem, if less than 250 words and two pages long, may be copied: excerpts from longer poems cannot exceed 250 words;
  • Complete articles, stories or essays of less than 2500 words or excerpts from prose works less than 1000 words or 10% of the work, whichever is less may be copied; in any event, the minimum is 500 words;
  • Each numerical limit may be expanded to permit the completion of an unfinished line of a poem or prose paragraph;
  • One chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon or picture per book or periodical issue may be copied. "Special" works cannot be reproduced in full; this includes children's books combining poetry, prose or poetic prose. Short special works may be copied up to two published pages containing not more than 10 percent of the work.
• Spontaneity - Should be at the "instance and inspiration" of the individual teacher when there is not a reasonable length of time to request and receive permission to copy.
• Cumulative Effect - Teachers are limited to using copied material for only one course for which copies are made. No more than one short poem, article, story or two excerpts from the same author may be copied, and no more than three works can be copied from a collective work or periodical column during one class term. Teachers are limited to nine instances of multiple copying for one course during one class term. Limitations do not apply to current news periodicals, newspapers and current news sections of other periodicals.

Copying Limitations

Circumstances will arise when employees are uncertain whether or not copying is prohibited. In those circumstances, the librarian should be contacted. The following prohibitions have been expressly stated in federal guidelines:

• Reproduction of copyrighted material shall not be used to create or substitute for anthologies, compilations or collective works.
• Unless expressly permitted by agreement with the publisher and authorized by school district action, there shall be no copying from copyrighted consumable materials such as workbooks, exercises, test booklets, answer sheets and the like.
• Employees shall not:
  • Use copies to substitute for the purchase of books, periodicals, music recordings, consumable works such as workbooks, computer software or other copyrighted material. Copy or use the same item from term to term without the copyright owner's permission;
• Copy or use more than nine instances of multiple copying of protected material in anyone term;
• Copy or use more than one short work or two excerpts from works of the same author in any one term;
• Copy or use protected material without including a notice of copyright. The following is a satisfactory notice: NOTICE: THIS MATERIAL MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW.
• Reproduce or use copyrighted material at the direction of someone in higher authority or copy or use such material in emulation of some other teacher's use of copyrighted material without permission of the copyright owner.
• Require other employees or students to violate the copyright law or fair use guidelines.

Authorized Reproduction and Use of Copyrighted Materials in the Library

A library may make a single copy or three digital copies of:

• An unpublished work in its collection;
• A published work in order to replace it because it is damaged, deteriorated, lost or stolen, provided that an unused replacement cannot be obtained at a fair price.
• A work that is being considered for acquisition, although use is strictly limited to that decision. Technological protection measures may be circumvented for purposes of copying materials in order to make an acquisition decision.

A library may provide a single copy of copyrighted material to a student or employee at no more than the actual cost of photocopying. The copy must be limited to one article of a periodical issue or a small part of other material, unless the library finds that the copyrighted work cannot be obtained elsewhere at a fair price. In the latter circumstance, the entire work may be copied. In any case, the copy shall contain the notice of copyright and the student or staff member shall be notified that the copy is to be used only for private study, scholarship or research. Any other use may subject the person to liability for copyright infringement.

Authorized Reproduction and Use of Copyrighted Music or Dramatic Works

Teachers may:

• Make a single copy of a song, movement, or short section from a printed musical or dramatic work that is unavailable except in a larger work for purposes of preparing for instruction;
• Make multiple copies for classroom use of an excerpt of not more than 10% of a printed musical work if it is to be used for academic purposes other than performance, provided that the excerpt does not comprise a part of the whole musical work which would constitute a performable unit such as a complete section, movement, or song;
• In an emergency, a teacher may make and use replacement copies of printed music for an imminent musical performance when the purchased copies have been lost, destroyed or are otherwise not available,
• Make and retain a single recording of student performances of copyrighted material when it is made for purposes of evaluation or rehearsal;
• Make and retain a single copy of excerpts from recordings of copyrighted musical works for use as aural exercises or examination questions; and,
• Edit or simplify purchased copies of music or plays provided that the fundamental character of the work is not distorted. Lyrics shall not be altered or added if none exist.Performance by teachers or students of copyrighted musical or dramatic works is permitted without the authorization of the copyright owner as part of a teaching activity in a classroom or instructional setting. The purpose shall be instructional rather than for entertainment.

Performances of non-dramatic musical works that are copyrighted are permitted without the authorization of the copyright owner, provided that:

• The performance is not for a commercial purpose;
• None of the performers, promoters or organizers are compensated; and,
• Admission fees are used for educational or charitable purposes only.

All other musical and dramatic performances require permission from the copyright owner. Parents or others wishing to record a performance should check with the sponsor to ensure compliance with copyright.

Recording of Copyrighted Programs

Television programs, excluding news programs, transmitted by commercial and non-commercial television stations for reception by the general public without charge may be recorded off-air simultaneously with broadcast transmission (including simultaneous cable retransmission) and retained by a school for a period not to exceed the first forty-five (45) consecutive calendar days after date of recording. Upon conclusion of this retention period, all off-air recordings must be erased or destroyed immediately. Certain programming such as that provided on public television may be exempt from this provision; check with the librarian or the subscription database, e.g. unitedstreaming.

Off-air recording may be used once by individual teachers in the course of instructional activities, and repeated once only when reinforcement is necessary, within a building, during the first 10 consecutive school days, excluding scheduled interruptions, in the 45 calendar day retention period. Off-air recordings may be made only at the request of and used by individual teachers and may not be regularly recorded in anticipation of requests. No broadcast program may be recorded off-air more than once at the request of the same teacher, regardless of the number of times the program may be broadcast. A limited number of copies may be reproduced from each off-air recording to meet the legitimate needs of teachers. Each additional copy shall be subject to all provisions governing the original recording.

After the first ten (10) consecutive school days, off-air recordings may be used up to the end of the 45 calendar day retention period only for evaluation purposes, i.e., to determine whether or not to include the broadcast program in the teaching curriculum. Permission must be secured from the publisher before the recording can be used for instructional purposes after the ten day period.

Off-air recordings need not be used in their entirety, but the recorded programs may not be altered from their original content. Off-air recordings may not be physically or electronically combined or merged to constitute teaching anthologies or compilations. All copies of off-air recordings must include the copyright notice on the broadcast program as recorded.

Authorized Reproduction and Use of Copyrighted Computer Software

Schools have a valid need for high-quality software at reasonable prices. To assure a fair return to the authors of software programs, the school district shall support the legal and ethical issues involved in copyright laws and any usage agreements that are incorporated into the acquisition of software programs. To this end, the following guidelines shall be in effect:

• All copyright laws and publisher license agreements between the vendor and the school district shall be observed;
• Staff members shall take reasonable precautions to prevent copying or the use of unauthorized copies on school equipment;
• A back-up copy shall be purchased, for use as a replacement when a program is lost or damaged. If the vendor is not able to supply a replacement, the school district shall make a back-up copy that will be used for replacement purposes only;
• A copy of the software license agreement shall be retained by the technology director or librarian; and,
• A computer program may be adapted by adding to the content or changing the language. The adapted program may not be distributed.

Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia

Students may incorporate portions of copyrighted materials in producing educational multimedia projects such as videos, Power Points, podcasts and websites for a specific course, and may perform, display or retain the projects.

Educators may perform or display their own multimedia based instructional activities. These projects may be used:

• In face-to-face instruction;
• In demonstrations and presentations, including conferences;
• In assignments to students;
• For remote instruction if distribution of the signal is limited;
• Over a network that cannot prevent duplication for fifteen days, after fifteen days a copy may be saved on-site only: or,
• In their personal portfolios.

Educators may use copyrighted materials in a multimedia project for two years, after that permission must be requested and received.

The following limitations restrict the portion of any given work that may be used pursuant to fair use in an educational multimedia project:

• Motion media: ten percent or three minutes, whichever is less;
• Text materials: ten percent or 1,000 words, whichever is less:
• Poetry: an entire poem of fewer than 250 words, but no more than three poems from one author or five poems from an anthology. For poems of greater than 250 words, excerpts of up to 250 words may be used, but no more than three excerpts from one poet or five excerpts from an anthology:
• Music, lyrics and music video: Up to ten percent, but no more than thirty seconds. No alterations that change the basic melody or fundamental character of the work;
• Illustrations, cartoons and photographs: No more than five images by an artist, and no more than ten percent or fifteen images whichever is less from a collective work;
• Numerical data sets: Up to ten percent or 2,500 field or cell entries, whichever is less;

Fair use does not include posting a student or teacher's work on the Internet if it includes portions of copyrighted materials. Permission to copy shall be obtained from the original copyright holder(s) before such projects are placed online. The opening screen of such presentations shall include notice that permission was granted and materials are restricted from further use.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------