Cincinnati Public Schools

and Internet Content Filtering

A. OVERVIEW

By July 1, 2002 all public school systems and public libraries that receive E-rate funds were required to conform to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), an act signed into law on December 21, 2000. Specifically:

"No public school or public library may receive discounts unless it certifies that it is enforcing a policy of Internet safety that includes the use of filtering or blocking technology". - (CIPA 12/21/200)

CPS utilizes a vendor-supplied content filtering service that is applied to all CPS Internet connections. This service meets the criteria specified as a "Technology Protection Measure" referenced in CIPA.

"A Technology Protection Measure is a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access. It must protect against access by adults and minors to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or with respect to use of computers with Internet access by minors harmful to minors." - (CIPA 12/21/2000)

B. CPS Content Filtering, Technology Protection Measures

The CPS content filtering service provides filtering to

"block or filter Internet access for both minors and adults to certain visual depictions. These include visual depictions that are (1) obscene, or (2) child pornography, or (3) with respect to use of computers with Internet access by minors, material that is harmful to minors" - (CIPA 12/21/2000)

C. CPS Internet Filtering Policy

Filters are designed to block access to inappropriate information, but they are not foolproof.

Parents, teachers and staff must be aware that, due to the fundamental lack of restriction on the Internet at large, there is the possibility of accessing information that has not been screened by educators and that may not be consistent with district policies.

CPS expects that district staff who are responsible for supervising student Internet use will provide reasonable guidance and instruction to students on such use. The district will make a reasonable effort to create filters to prevent student access to inappropriate information, but such measures are not foolproof. Ultimately, individual users, teachers and staff are responsible for their use of CPS network resources.

CPS employees/teachers/technology coordinators only may submit a site to be reviewed for filtering action. Actions on requests are based on issues of security and appropriateness of content through the categories listed below. Action on the request may take 24-48 hours. Responses to all requests will be returned only if a name and CPS e-mail address is supplied with the request, otherwise action on the request will be apparent within 24-48 hours.

Requests for immediate blocking or unblocking of Web sites should be submitted via EMAIL to Paul Wright and will be serviced on a first-come-first-served basis. We will attempt to service all requests within two school hours. Immediate blocking or unblocking requests made during the weekend will be addressed before noon on the following workday.

D. Disclaimers and Liability

• CPS's content filtering solution is designed to block inappropriate web sites as defined by current CIPA guidelines. This solution does not filter inappropriate content contained in email or instant messaging systems.
• CPS will strive to provide a content filtering service that is useful and current and will attempt to address problems where the filtering service is found to be deficient.
• CPS assumes no liability in the event that the content filtering service is not 100% effective. CPS also assumes no responsibility for the currency of the filter or the content provided through it.
• All CPS network/Internet users are responsible to abide by the CPS Acceptable Use Policy. (That policy is governed by the CPS Office of General Counsel and can be found on the left navigation bar of the Office of General Counsel Home Page.)