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Policy 8080 Implementation Procedures - Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media

Policy Document

Implementation Procedures

I. Dissemination of Information

  1. Notification of the provisions of this policy and these implementation procedures will be provided annually to all students, families, employees, and service providers through customary channels of communication.

  2. Principals will notify all technology users in their schools of the responsibilities of individuals using Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) technology and social media and of guidelines for network activities at the beginning of the school year.

  3. Department supervisors will notify those under their supervision of the provisions of this policy and implementation procedures annually, with reminders as necessary.

  4. The Superintendent/designee will include language in contracts, when applicable, that requires all contractors and vendors to review and comply with this policy and all related policies.

  5. The Office of Use of School Facilities will notify individuals or organizations seeking to use HCPSS technology of the provisions of this policy and these implementation procedures as part of agreements to use HCPSS facilities in accordance with Policy 10020 Use of School Facilities.

II. Responsibilities

  1. Individuals using HCPSS technology will not intentionally create, access, share, download or print content that:

    1. Depicts profanity, obscenity, the use of weapons, terrorism, gang affiliation, and/or violence.

    2. Promotes use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and/or other illegal or harmful products.

    3. Contains sexually suggestive messages or is sexually explicit or obscene.

    4. Contains language or symbols that demean an identifiable person or group or otherwise infringe on the rights of others.

    5. Causes or is likely to cause a disruption to HCPSS activities or the orderly operation of HCPSS.

    6. Contains rude, disrespectful, or discourteous expressions inconsistent with civil discourse or behavior.

    7. Constitutes bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation in violation of Policy 1020 Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct, Policy 1040 Safe and Supportive Schools, Policy 7140 Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Intimidation Involving HCPSS Employees, and Policy 9460 Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Intimidation Involving Students.

    8. Reasonable exceptions to this provision may be made for students conducting research under the direction of an instructor and employees completing HCPSS related responsibilities. Specific permission will be granted regarding the nature of the research to be conducted and the type of files related to that research which might be accessed or created.

  2. HCPSS Employee Responsibilities

    1. An employee’s use of personal social media may not disrupt the work/school environment, impair the employee’s ability to effectively perform the duties of their role, impair the school system’s ability to function, impact student’s ability to gain benefit from HCPSS programs, services and/or supports, and/or compromise working relationships within HCPSS schools and offices.

      1. Employees are prohibited from knowingly communicating with current students through personal social media, messaging applications, or otherwise through electronic means without parental permission.

      2. Employees will not use profane, pornographic, obscene, indecent, lewd, vulgar, or sexually offensive language, pictures, or graphics, or communication that could be reasonably be anticipated to cause a substantial disruption to the school environment.

      3. Employees will not use social media posting to libel, defame, or attack the Board, individual Board members, students or other school employees.

      4. Employees will not post on social media content that negatively impacts their ability to perform their jobs.

      5. Employees will be held to the same professional standards in their public use of social media and other electronic communications as they are for any other public conduct.

      6. As role models for the school system’s students, employees are responsible for their public conduct even when they are not performing their job duties as employees of the school system. Failure to abide by Board Policy and the Implementation Procedures in use of social media, and impacting ability to meet the expectations of an employee’s position, will be grounds for discipline, up to and including termination.

    2. Employees assigned an HCPSS mobile technology device for use will adhere to the provisions outlined in the HCPSS Mobile Technology Duties and Obligations Notice. An HCPSS Mobile Technology Device includes laptops, iPads, and cell phones. This does not include desktop computers.

    3. Prior to using supplemental digital tools with students, employees will:

      1. Check to ensure the supplemental digital tool is on the HCPSS approved list of digital tools.

      2. Notify parents of the supplemental digital tool and provide parents the opportunity to opt their student out of using the digital tool.

      3. Provide alternative materials for those students whose parents have opted them out of using the digital tool.

    4. When using digital resources, employees will:

      1. Make appropriate judgments about locating and using information that matches the learner’s instructional level and the learning objectives of an assignment.

      2. Differentiate among types of information sources and assess the appropriateness of using the internet as a resource for a specific learning activity.

      3. Evaluate resources to ensure that they meet the curricular needs of students and are appropriate for the developmental level of the students.

    5. When using social media to incorporate external resource speakers, employees will:

      1. Configure privacy settings of the social media to limit the visibility of the content to the intended audience. Access by the non-HCPSS individual will be terminated after the educational purpose has been fulfilled.

      2. Provide the name and organization affiliation of the speaker(s) and notify students and parents of the social media being used, how students will participate, expectations for appropriate behavior, and collaboration guidelines.

      3. Adhere to Policy 8060 Resource Speakers.

    6. When creating and/or using an HCPSS social media account, employees will:

      1. Use an HCPSS email address to create the HCPSS social media accounts.

      2. Not delete inactive HCPSS social media accounts. Employees should create a post stating that the account is no longer used and provide details where users can find information.

      3. Adhere to Policy 3060 Student Data Governance and Privacy, Policy 7010 Personnel Records, and Policy 9050 Student Records.

      4. Verify parents have provided permissions for media release (photo approval) and/or student creative work release prior to posting photographs or creative work.

      5. Moderate the account for compliance with this policy, and document and delete comments that are not compliant.

  3. Student Responsibilities

    1. When using technology, students will adhere to all school rules, regulations, and directives of school employees.

    2. During the school day, personal technology devices should be set to silent with notifications turned off.

  4. Use of Recording Devices

    1. Employees will adhere to parent media release consent regarding photographs, videos, or audio recordings intended for a public audience.

    2. Instructional staff will notify parents at the start of each school year if photographs, videos, or audio recordings will be taken as part of HCPSS curriculum and how they will be used. Staff also will provide a process for parents and/or students to opt-out of these recordings.

    3. Volunteers and visitors must have the permission of the school administration prior to photographing and/or video or audio recording during the school day, HCPSS-sponsored programs, and field trips. This does not include extracurricular activities or events open to the public.

III. Violation of Policy

  1. Any individual who suspects a violation of this policy or these implementation procedures will report the alleged violation to the appropriate administrator or supervisor for investigation.

  2. The administrator or supervisor will report the suspected violation to the Superintendent/designee for further investigation and potential disciplinary action.

  3. In cases that may be criminal in nature (threats, stalking, harassment, etc.) or that may pose a safety threat, an investigation will be conducted in consultation and cooperation with the Superintendent/designee.

  4. In cases of probable or potential harm to an individual, appropriate follow-through and communication with the individual in danger and others who are in a position to protect that individual from harm including, but not limited to law enforcement, if necessary, must be undertaken by the individual who discovers the probable or potential harm.

  5. The following progression of consequences will be administered for any student who violates the policy related to personal technology devices (Section I V.E.4. of the policy):

    1. Consequences for general violations of policy.

      1. First Incident: The personal technology device is confiscated until the end of the student day. Students should turn off or lock devices prior to confiscation. A device that is confiscated during the final period of the student day will be confiscated for the entire next student day. The student may retrieve the device at the end of the day it was originally confiscated to take home but must provide it to the front office upon arrival on the next student day.

      2. Second Incident & Beyond: The personal technology device is confiscated until it is retrieved by a parent. Students should turn off or lock devices prior to confiscation.

    2. Consequences for violations of policy by students who may use personal technology as part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or Health Plan.

      1. First Incident: A phone call to the student’s parent/guardian.

      2. Second Incident & Beyond: Required conference between the school administrator and parent, and level 3 responses aligned to the Student Code of Conduct at the school administrator’s discretion.

IV. Monitoring

Policy 8080 implementation procedures will be overseen by the Division of Schools.

V. Definitions

Within the context of these implementation procedures, the following definition applies:

Confiscation/Confiscated – Taking a device from a student by an Authorized Searcher as defined in HCPSS Policy 9260 Student Search and Seizure.

VI. References

HCPSS Mobile Technology Duties and Obligations Notice

VII. History

ADOPTED: November 26, 2002

REVIEWED: February 24, 2022

MODIFIED:

  • July 11, 2019

  • August 18, 2020

  • February 26, 2026

REVISED:

  • January 21, 2003

  • May 10, 2007

  • March 11, 2010

  • June 27, 2013

  • June 9, 2016

  • June 25, 2020

  • March 3, 2025

EFFECTIVE: February 26, 2026

Policy History Key

  • Adopted-Original date the Board took action to approve a policy
  • Reviewed-The date the status of a policy was assessed by the Superintendent’s Standing Policy Group
  • Modified-The date the Board took action to alter a policy that based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee did not require a comprehensive examination
  • Revised-The date the Board took action on a that policy based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee needed a comprehensive examination
  • Effective-The date a policy is implemented throughout the HCPSS, typically July 1 following Board action.