Internet Safety for Students

TDEC recommends the following:

Schools should not release personal student information to online programs and services unless it is an integral part of the school program. In such cases written permission from the parents is required. Personal information includes the following:

  • First and last name
  • Home or other physical address including street name and name of a city or town
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Social Security Number
  • Student photographs
  • Any other identifier that would permit the physical or online contacting of a specific individual
  • Information concerning the child or the parents of that child that the web site collects online

The Internet is a rich learning and education resource; however, there are many pitfalls in using it with students. TDEC also recommends using Internet filtering programs.

Schools and educators should be aware that the U.S. Government has voted several policies to help ensure children's safety on the Internet:

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998

COPA Commission Final Report
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998
Update on COPA - Supreme court rules unconstitutional.

Here are some additional resources that will help you understand the implications of these acts. These acts have a federal funding and grant component. For example, these acts do not directly apply to most Adventist schools unless they have received e-Rate funds or other federal funds.  In the spirit of the intent of this act, however, the latest recommendation from the NAD and GC Office of General Council (October 2007) after reviewing COPPA, "we should begin widespread COPPA compliance for all schools and institutions."  

          NAD Perspective of COPPA based on legal advice
          Developed by George Brill and Ernest Staats (ppt) (pdf)

          COPPA Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
          Drafting a COPPA-Compliant Privacy Policy

          Federal Trade Commission Protecting America's Consumers
          Children's Privacy
          How to Protect Kid's Privacy Online: A Guide for Teachers
          Kidz Privacy

          Tappahannock Seventh-day Adventist Church
          Sample privacy statement by
          George Brill (NAD Associate Director of IT Services)

FCC's Children's Internet Protection Act Requirements (CIPA) Order

E-Rate Central on CIPA

Additional resources to help schools keep students safe on the Internet:

Internet Safety
U.S. Department of Education

Child Safety on the Information Highway
by Lawrence J. Magid
(c) 1998 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety
An FBI Publication in either English or Spanish

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