The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
The key federal law affecting Information and communications technologies ICT (Information and communications technologies) use in schools. The law requires any school district that receives E-Rate funding to filter or block visual depictions that are obscene, that contain child pornography, or material harmful to minors. The policy is required to address the following five components:
1. Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web;
2. The safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications (including instant messaging);
3. Unauthorized access, including so-called ‘hacking,’ and other unlawful activities by minors online;
4. Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors; and
5. Measures designed to restrict minors’ access to materials harmful to minors.