Overview of Internet Filtering

"Internet filtering" represents good classroom management. Teachers and librarians traditionally have had responsibility to assist students obtain appropriate materials from library collections and resource sites on the World-Wide Web. The nature of materials available on the Web has heightened concerns of parents and educators that students might be viewing materials that are not educationally suitable. However, because of its currency and wide scale availability of content materials, the World-Wide Web, commonly known as the Internet, is becoming integral to the K-12 curriculum. Current federal law (Children's Internet Protection Act: CIPA--passed in January 2001) now requires that schools receiving E-Rate funding must filter Internet content.

After a thorough evaluation of available materials, interviews with 10 other school systems regarding their Internet practices, and input from numerous focus groups in Fairfax County. An Internet filtering software product known as WebSense, was selected by FCPS as a technology-based solution for managing Internet use by students.

Use of WebSense software provides students in schools and centers with access to suitable resources of the Internet that are free from content known to be obscene, harmful to juveniles, child pornography (as defined in the Code of Virginia), or known to promote, encourage or provide the skills to commit illegal, violent, or criminal activities. Implementation was spread over five years so as to reduce risk in utilizing a new technology and to disperse the cost. During the last five years, DIT successfully implemented WebSense in over 200 schools, centers and administrative offices.

WebSense software allows institutions and schools several options for providing selective access to the Internet. FCPS chose to enact a blocking technology to screen inappropriate sites. This approach requires that humans, not computers, preview individual web sites (URL's). This is how the system works:

Normally, when a student accesses a web page, the browser sends a request over the Internet to the web site, which then returns the requested page to the student's browser. When WebSense software is being used, the request goes to a server before it is sent over the Internet. The server compares the address of the requested page to a list of pre-screened addresses. If the requested address is on the WebSense list, a message will be sent back to the student's browser stating that access is denied and listing the relevant category associated with the blocked web site. The student cannot reach that web page. Web sites change daily; so does the list of pre-screened addresses. Based upon input from its subscribers and its own research, WebSense updates the list nightly.

WebSense software offers a flexible approach to blocking or filtering inappropriate material. Individual staff members may request an employee account that allows them to override the blocking imposed by the software. The list of sites can be modified by individual schools to meet their individual curricular needs. Forms for these requests and some guidelines are available. After principal or designee verification, authorized school representatives can fax/mail the forms to the Technology Support Service Center to process the request. Schools/teachers should contact the IT Service Desk if inappropriate websites can be accessed by school workstations.

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IT Service Desk: (703) 503-1600 phone; 383-0236[Fax]; or IT Service Desk, 4414 Holborn Avenue, Annandale, VA 22003; ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu

Internet filtering software is meant to be an additional tool available to schools for monitoring student access to the Internet. Teachers and librarians still have primary responsibility to supervise students, as well as to educate them about responsible Internet use. The current Students Responsibilities and Rights (SR&R) form includes a section on use of network resources. Fairfax County Public Schools staff prepared a set of additional guidelines and educational materials that will help school staff manage responsible use of computer resources and the Internet. These are available through the School-based Technology Specialists (SBTS).

One additional resource that schools may want to use as a reference for parents concerned about their children using the Internet is the Parents Guide to the Internet, published by the U.S. Department of Education. It is available on-line at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/internet/.

Schools have permission to copy these materials.