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Guidelines for Safe Student Electronic Communications: Phones and Other Devices in Schools, Cyber-Bullying, Texting, “Sexting”, FaceBook, MySpace, and Things Parents Should Know and Do
As we begin a new school year, we want to provide parents with information intended to help keep our student communications safe, responsible, and legal. First, a reminder that use or display of cell phones, iPods, and other personal electronic devices are not allowed in school in the Lake Washington School District. This prevents an array of problems, from theft/loss of property, to plagiarism, class disruption, and distraction. Students may use cell phones before and after the official school day, and should store them silenced and out of sight during the school day, including during lunch period. If parents or students have an emergency message, they may request permission to use an office phone. Devices will be confiscated by school staff if they are seen or heard during the day.
Facts for Parents
- 95-100% of youth regularly access the internet
- 90-95% regularly carry cell phones to school
- 85-90% of parents think they are knowledgeable about their children’s online life
- 70-75% of youth say parents stop checking at about 14 years old
- 65-70% say friends sharing private pictures is a problem
- 60-65% say parents know nothing about what they do online
- 55-60% do not tell parents when they are bullied online
- 50-55% say they do not get internet safety instruction at school
- 40-45% say they knowingly give out personal information online
- 30-35% have or are willing to meet “online friends” in real life
Cyber-Bullying
— A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself
— Cyber bullying is bullying using the internet or other forms of electronic communications to carry out or extend bullying.
— LWSD maintains clear rules and policies relating to bullying. Proven anti-bullying programs are in place in all elementary schools (Steps to Respect) and junior high schools (Olweus).
Texting/”Sexting”
Sending text messages, including “Twitters” and attachment photos is a form of digital communication between children and youth that is drawing the attention of schools and police agencies. School-age youth are being found in possession, sending, forwarding, creating inappropriate nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves and others. Where students report that this activity is consensual, it is illegal and mandatory that school personnel report any such activity to police.
Social Networks
Social networks such as FaceBook and MySpace are commonly used by students to communicate with “friends”. Students and parents need to be aware that the information they share, including photos, private family and individual information, and information that should be kept private, is accessible to anyone and everyone. Students think they are anonymous; they do not understand or expect the consequences.
Parents Should keep their children safe and legal by:
- Recognizing that you are a “digital immigrant”; our children are “digital natives” and are generally ahead of us in use and application of technology.
- Remember that you are an adult.
- Talk to students, children about their experiences online.
- Teach Tech safety.
- Set a good example.
- Create rules and set parameters for technology use
- Monitor kids’ activity
- Know their screen names and passwords
- Set up computers in open spaces
- Continue to work on your own cyber-literacy; have kids show you how.
WASL Update
The requirements for earning a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) have not changed. In order for a student to earn a CAA, a notation on a transcript, a student must pass the Reading, Writing and Math WASL or an approved alternative. However, the state has recently altered the requirements for fulfilling the math graduation requirements. Students still need to take the Math WASL once. Most students take it in their 10th grade year. For those students who do not pass the Math WASL or an approved alternative, they can still earn a diploma if they earn two math credits after 10th grade. The recent change is that students no longer need to test on an annual basis.
Therefore, all students in grade 10, who did not take and pass the Math WASL in grade 9, will be scheduled to test.
Eastlake High School strongly encourages students who have not passed the Math WASL in grade 10 to continue to take the Math WASL in subsequent years in order to try and earn a CAA. So all of those students in grades 11 and 12, who have not passed the Math WASL, will be schedule to test, but the test is now optional.
Below is an excerpt from an article posted on the OSPI website and answers to some frequently asked questions. Please refer to the following website for more information, http://www.k12.wa.us/, or contact Chris Bede with any questions.
Meeting the Math Graduation Requirement
Although Washington students in the classes of 2009-2012 don’t need to pass the math WASL to be eligible for a diploma, they must fulfill a state math graduation requirement in order to graduate. To meet the state assessment graduation requirement, students must pass the reading and writing tests on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), or a legislatively approved alternative, and fulfill the math requirement, which was amended by the state Legislature in March 2009.
How do students meet the math graduation requirement?
Students must either pass the high school math WASL (or a legislatively approved alternative) OR earn two math credits after 10th grade. Students who earn two math credits after 10th grade are no longer required to take an annual math assessment. They must still take the math WASL once before using any of the approved alternatives