Student Social Media Guidelines

This policy ensures information shared by JPS staff and students is timely, accurate, and appropriate, and reinforces JPS's non-discriminatory practices in all online communication.
Applies to all students posting on school-sponsored AND personal social media — including social networks, blogs, wikis, photo/video sharing sites, and online forums.

• Be aware of what you post. Social media is very public and leaves a digital footprint — don't post anything you wouldn't want friends, enemies, parents, teachers, or a future employer to see.
• Follow Board Policy 7540.04 (Staff Education Technology Acceptable Use and Safety) when writing online. It's fine to disagree with someone's opinion — do it respectfully. Criticism should be constructive, not hurtful.
• What's inappropriate in the classroom is inappropriate online.
• Represent yourself honestly online. Never misrepresent yourself by using someone else's identity.
• Blog and wiki posts should be well written — use proper grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. If you edit someone else's work, do it in the spirit of improving the writing

• Never give out personal information — including last names, phone numbers, addresses, exact birth dates, or pictures. See onguardonline.gov for more on staying safe online.
• Don't share your password(s) with anyone besides your teachers and parents.

• Do your own work. Don't use others' intellectual property without permission — copying and pasting someone else's thoughts violates copyright law.
• When paraphrasing someone else's idea, cite your source with the URL or web address; hyperlinking your sources is good practice.
• Inbound linking to other websites to support your ideas is encouraged — but read the entire article first to confirm it's appropriate for a school setting.
• Images may also be copyright-protected. Verify you have permission to use an image, or that it's available under Creative Commons attribution.

• If you run across inappropriate or disrespectful material that makes you uncomfortable, tell your teacher right away.
• Report any incident of cyberbullying immediately to a teacher, parent, or counselor — it should always be taken seriously.
• You can also report anonymously to OK2SAY, Michigan's confidential student safety tip line, 24/7: call 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729), text 652729, email OK2SAY@mi.gov, or submit a tip online at OK2SAY.com.

Cyberbullying is conduct that disrupts a student's ability to learn and the school's ability to educate safely. It includes any act — online, on the internet, or through a device — that:

• Deliberately threatens, harasses, or intimidates an individual or group; or
• Places someone in reasonable fear of harm to themselves or their property; or
• Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school.

Students who don't abide by these guidelines may lose the opportunity to take part in the related project and/or access to future use of online tools.

Anyone who experiences or becomes aware of sex-based discrimination, harassment, or assault should report it to a Title IX Compliance Officer or use the district's online reporting page.

• Social media / cyberbullying reports: Tell a teacher, parent, or counselor immediately, or report confidentially through OK2SAY, Michigan's confidential student safety tip line, 24/7: call 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729), text 652729, email OK2SAY@mi.gov, or submit a tip online at OK2SAY.com.
• Title IX concerns: Contact a JPS District Compliance Officer or report online.
• Guideline questions: Kriss Giannetti, Assistant Superintendent, Communication & Community Relations — 517-841-2148, kriss.giannetti@jpsk12.org