CIPA-compliant monitoring and filtering solutions for US School Districts
In 2000, Congress passed the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to help combat the growing concern of children accessing obscene or harmful content on the Internet. Any K-12 school or library that accepts certain federal funds is required to use and evidence their “technology protection measure” on every computer connected to the Internet to block or filter any harmful content, before they can receive E-rate funding.
Schools subject to CIPA have two new additional certification requirements:
- Their Internet safety policies must include monitoring the online activities of minors
- They must provide for educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response
CIPA requirements also include the implementation of an Internet safety policy addressing:
- Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet
- The safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications
- Unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minors online
- Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors
- Measures restricting minors’ access to materials harmful to them
Schools and libraries who cannot certify that they have an Internet safety policy (including technology protection measures) may not qualify to receive their federal fund.
Become CIPA compliant with NetSupport’s solutions…
NetSupport School
In a classroom, teachers using NetSupport School can set authorized/restricted website and application lists, as well as completely block Internet access. These types of settings can be used as a default mode for lesson start-up, removing the need for the teacher to apply settings before the students have a chance to explore online.
Teachers can also monitor students’ current Internet use by viewing real-time thumbnails of their PCs. A record of Internet history use is also created and can be printed or saved for future reference. Real-time keyboard monitoring provides a simple view listing each active student and their current keyboard input (excluding password fields).
To help teachers avoid inappropriate sites and content being presented to students either intentionally or by accident via ever-changing banners and advertising media (which typically do not carry the same level of relevance or suitability), they can activate the “Safe Search” feature.
NetSupport School also helps teachers educate about positive digital interactions and how to behave responsibly online in a safe learning environment. Teachers, for example, can show their screen or a student’s screen to the rest of the class to promote positive use.
Monitor student devices in class.
classroom.cloud
Cloud-based classroom management and instruction tool, classroom.cloud, includes a powerful online safety toolkit to maintain a safe and secure online environment for all students by proactively monitoring concerning activity, identifying students at risk, and spotting concerning trends.
Staff can view trends with all-new keyword and phrase monitoring, powered by a database of over 14,000 phrases covering a wide range of online safety topics such as bullying, racism, self-harm, and many more. This feature helps to provide insight into trending topics and/or concerning issues across the school or district.
Teachers can quickly identify risks via an informative word cloud that, when clicked on, shows information such as the definition of the term and who has typed it, to help staff understand the potential risk. Schools and districts can add their own keywords too!
Monitor keywords with the phrase cloud
With the contextual intelligence-based Risk Index, staff can easily identify and support vulnerable students from alerts to potential issues which help to spot those who are ‘at risk’. To reduce false alarms, this unique feature takes into consideration the student’s current activity as well as the context – such as time of day, the device used, previous alerts triggered, and more. After evaluating the severity, a risk index number is created and the appropriate staff are notified so they can intervene accordingly.
Teachers can create ‘allowed’ and ‘restricted’ website and application lists, ensuring students can only access relevant and appropriate websites and apps during class – creating a safer online learning environment while keeping students on task and working efficiently.
In addition, classroom.cloud also helps teachers promote a culture of good digital citizenship by allowing teachers to demonstrate appropriate online behavior and encourage students to act responsibly.
Monitor websites and create ‘allowed’ and restricted lists
NetSupport DNA
IT Asset Management solution, NetSupport DNA, includes a built-in school-wide Internet safety module containing both proactive and reactive tools that are relevant, effective, and, most importantly, up to date.
NetSupport DNA contains a sophisticated keyword and phrase monitoring tool which also includes multiple language packs, allowing schools to gain an insight into what students are typing, searching for, or copying online – regardless of language.
An innovative word cloud highlights trending topics across the school to help put incidents into a broader context – while appropriate staff can be alerted through email, real-time pop-ups or summary reports, prompting them to review the triggered event.
“The internet safety features are great in providing alerts when students are interacting with potentially harmful materials online.”
– Hillcrest Academy
“Trying to list all the websites that students shouldn’t be accessing is ‘like counting stars in the heavens’. The more I use the software, the more I appreciate its functionality.”
– Summit Preparatory School Montana
The Contextual intelligence-based Risk Index automatically flags high-risk events and vulnerable students, creating a risk index number for each event, based on sophisticated contextual intelligence risk analysis. Vulnerable students can be flagged and tracked for extra support, and a ‘History of Concerns’ is available for each one. Teachers can also add any concerns they have about a student.
In addition, students’ Internet activity can be tracked and managed via the Internet monitoring tools. With the creation of profiles, schools can meet the need of each year group – ensuring that Internet access is age-appropriate while allowing the students the flexibility to learn about the online world. Apps and games can also be blocked or restricted by their window’s title, helping schools to add a broader layer of security while keeping students on task. Meanwhile, application metering reports reveal application use; helping to ensure usage complies with school policy.
Internet safety needs to be proactive too, so NetSupport DNA enables students to access online support resources – covering topics such as FGM, drug addiction, grooming and bullying – all from the NetSupport DNA Internet safety icon on their PC. Students can also report their concerns in confidence to a trusted member of staff via the ‘Report a Concern’ option.
A data protection toolkit is also included to help identify and secure sensitive information, while the endpoint security features help control the use of USB and other portable devices.
Intuitive Welcome screen with key stats for the school.
Keyword monitoring word-cloud ensures an immediate view of trending items
