Policy: Acceptable Use of Technology and School resources


Portnov Computer School provides various technological resources to its students solely for educational purposes. Expanding technologies take students and staff beyond the confines of the classroom, and provide tremendous opportunities for enhancing, extending, and rethinking the learning process.  The goal in providing these resources is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication with the support and supervision of instructors and support staff.

With access to computers and people all over the world comes the potential availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the Portnov setting, or that may be harmful or disruptive.

The Portnov's electronic network and other resources is part of the curriculum and is not a public forum for general use.  Student users may access technology for only educational purposes.  Student users must conduct themselves accordingly by exercising good judgment and complying with this policy and any accompanying administrative regulations and guidelines, Discrimination Policy in particular.  Students are responsible for their behavior and communications using the Portnov's resources not limited to computers, networks, forums, chats, emails, messengers, FAXes, as well as non-electronic communications.

Student users of technology shall:

  • Use or access School's technology only for educational purposes.
  • Comply with copyright laws and software licensing agreements.
  • Understand that email and network files are not private.  Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and monitor responsible student use.
  • Respect the privacy rights of others.
  • Be responsible at all times for the proper use of technology, including proper use of access privileges, complying with all required system security identification codes, and not sharing any codes or passwords.
  • Maintain the integrity of technological resources from potentially damaging messages, physical abuse, or viruses.
  • Abide by the policies and procedures of networks and systems linked by technology.
  • Any and all discriminatory purposes, including harassment and bullying of individuals based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability, among others;

Students may not use School's technology for improper uses. These uses include, but are not limited to:

  • Any and all illegal purposes;
  • Any and all obscene or pornographic purposes, including, but not limited to, retrieving or viewing sexually explicit material;
  • Any and all purposes that would violate state, federal or international law; Copyright laws; Cyberbullying laws;  and Sexting laws.
  • Any use of profanity, obscenity, or language that is offensive or threatening;
  • Reposting or forwarding personal communications without the author's prior consent;
  • Reposting or forwarding of junk mail, chain letters, or inappropriate or offensive jokes;
  • Destruction, alteration, disfigurement or unauthorized access of hardware, software, or firmware;
  • Obtaining financial gain or Transacting any business or commercial activities;
  • Plagiarizing (claiming another person's writings as your own);
  • Political advocacy;
  • Disrupting the use of others to any process, program or tool, including downloading or otherwise spreading computer viruses;
  • Engaging in hacking of any kind, including, but not limited to, the illegal or unauthorized access;
  • Allowing others to use Property issued under the program without authorization, including students whose access privileges have been suspended or revoked;
  • Soliciting or distributing information with the intent to incite violence, cause personal harm, damage a person’s character, or to harass another individual.