Digital Citizenship & Wellness
Jeffco Public Schools views the ideals of digital citizenship and wellness as a partnership with students, families and the community. Through the one-to-one TechforEd program, students, schools and staff are provided tools and resources to foster digital literacy and support them as creators, collaborators and innovative problem-solvers.
- Family Supports
- Cyberbullying
- Screen Time
- Privacy Filtering and Internet Security
- Guidance for Families
- Additional Resources
Family Supports
Jeffco partners with Common Sense Media to provide a framework for teachers, families and students to build the skills and have the conversations essential to creating digital learners, leaders and citizens of today and beyond.
In the fall, winter and spring of the school year, the district will provide resources around specific digital citizenship topics that may be incorporated into learning opportunities and family conversations.
Cyberbullying
The following resources can help ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff when it comes to cyberbullying.
- District policy JICDE Bullying Prevention and Education
- Safe2Tell helps students anonymously report any threatening behavior that endangers them, their friends, family or the community. Call 877-542-7233 to get help.
- Bullying, Harassment and Internet Safety Resources for Parents from Colorado School Safety Resource Center, Department of Public Safety.
Screen Time
The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages healthy media habits through the creation of personalized family media use plans. A plan can include screen-free zones, screen-free times, device curfews, safety expectations and other guidelines.
Templates to help get you started:
Common Sense Media also provides family media agreements and device contracts, which highlight a healthy media diet, focusing on what kids do, how much time they spend doing it and making age-appropriate content choices.
The Family Online Safety Institute offers online safety agreements that families can print and review together.
Privacy Filtering and Internet Security
Colorado legislation, specifically House Bill 16-1423 Student Data Collection Use Security, provides clear expectations for how student personally identifiable information (PII) is used by the Colorado Department of Education, school districts and vendors. Jeffco’s policies and procedures are created to be in compliance with this legislation.
Families can visit their school's website to view a list of digital tools being used for instruction.
- Access school websites by clicking on “Select a School” in the top left corner of this webpage.
- View a list of digital tools that have been vetted through the district for use by schools.
District web filtering
As part of the Colorado Internet Safety and Digital Responsibility, Jeffco is required to provide a safe and secure internet environment for students. To maintain that type of environment, Jeffco selected the Palo Alto firewall to monitor, filter and block restricted websites on all district computers, while connected to the district network and on devices that go home with students.
Jeffco also uses Securly, which provides web filtering support at home (or on other public Wi-Fi networks) for district Chromebook and iPad devices. Securly is activated once a student logs into their device using their district Google log-ins. In March 2020, Jeffco rolled out the SecurlyHome app with which families can monitor activity on these devices.
Finally, YouTube and Google Safe Search are enabled by default on district TechForEd devices. The Safe Search feature cannot be disabled by the students.
No filtering system is perfect. They utilize rules or patterns to look for inappropriate content in words or images online. Sometimes medical pictures, references and dynamic content make their way through filters. Because of this, Jeffco communicates expectations around classroom management to all staff. Teachers also incorporate digital citizenship lessons into students' curriculum. Active monitoring while communicating expectations and boundaries clearly with children is the best way to keep them safe online.
Guidance for Families
By teaching students about internet safety, being aware of their online habits and guiding them to appropriate sites, parents can make sure that children become safe and responsible Internet users. Help your students become good digital citizens with these tips for privacy and security on the Internet.
1. Be web wise
Remember the Internet is a public resource. It can be an easy way for people to misrepresent themselves or their motives. Don't believe everything that you read online. Verify the authenticity of information before taking any action.
2. Keep a clean machine
- Keep security software current.
- Automate software updates.
- Always use a firewall.
- Disconnect from the Internet when idle.
- Use a pop-up blocker.
- Back up your data regularly.
- Protect all devices that connect to the internet. This includes computers, smart phones, and gaming systems.
- Scan USB and other external devices for viruses and malware.
- Wipe your hard drive before you dispose of an old computer.
3. Connect with care
- Encrypt your Wi-Fi connection.
- When in doubt, throw it out. Links in emails, tweets, posts and advertisements are often used as means to compromise your device. Best to delete or mark as junk if something looks suspicious.
- Check to be sure sites are security-enabled when banking and shopping. Look for web addresses with 'https://' or 'shttp://'. 'http://' is not secure.
4. Conduct safe Internet transactions
- Secure your accounts. Many providers offer additional verification beyond passwords, use them.
- Make passwords long and strong (see next section).
- Use separate passwords for every account.
- Own your online presence. Set privacy and security settings on websites to your comfort level of information sharing.
5. Choose strong and varied passwords
Do...
- Create a password using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols.
- Use one password for your computer login and different passwords for websites.
- Give your password and credit card number only while on a secure connection on a website.
- Change your password periodically.
- Use different passwords for different websites.
Don't...
- Use your address, birth date, phone number, common words, or pet's name.
- Share your passwords.
- Write down any passwords near your computer or where someone can easily access them.
- Carry your passwords in your purse or wallet.
- Give your password or credit card number via email.
6. Be aware when using social networks
- Be mindful of bullying, predators, and privacy issues.
- Only accept 'friends' you already know.
- Avoid giving out private information.
7. Set parental controls
Parental controls are available on most Internet-enabled devices. Read more about the different kinds of filters and tools available or find links to additional information about protecting kids online.
8. Protect your mobile devices
- Use a strong passcode to lock your phone.
- Review privacy policies and understand what data applications can access before you download.
- Only give your number to people you know and trust.
- Disable geotagging.