Listen to an audio version of this post:
Key takeaways
✔️ There are three main federal laws protecting children in a school setting.
✔️ The importance of student mental health cannot be overemphasized, and student wellness alerts provide a way for schools to support learners.
✔️ An all-in-one student safety and wellness solution is the best option for K-12 school districts.
As K-12 schools increasingly rely on digital resources in day-to-day instruction, online safety takes on new proportions. Web filtering for schools serves as a crucial tool to protect learners, staff and educators within the digital environment. However, with the widespread use of filtering and blocking software, it’s essential to understand the legal implications and benefits of these tools.
In this article, we’ll help you navigate these legal aspects and explore other ways filtering products support the school community.
Technology laws that protect children
While students are being educated in publicly-funded schools, it makes sense that government entities establish laws these institutions must follow. Technology solutions now support the task of enforcing laws that protect children and education communities. Content filtering for schools plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with these laws, particularly in the context of online safety.
There are three federal laws protecting children in the school setting. One covers personal information collection for marketing to children, while another protects student education records.
The third is the Children’s Internet Protection Act or CIPA. It helps prevent students from accessing inappropriate content while learning online and is administered by the Federal Communications Commission.
Why K-12 schools are required by law to filter the internet
Most people know that content filters help prevent students from accessing inappropriate content online. Certain types of content could have negative consequences for learners as they grow and develop. This is increasingly important as school 1:1 device use becomes more common in classrooms with younger learners.
CIPA requires schools or libraries eligible to receive discounts through the E-rate program to adopt and implement an internet safety policy. Most educational institutions in this category simplify their compliance by purchasing and using a web filter from a reputable company.
CIPA guidelines for content filtering
Under CIPA, public schools are required to follow guidelines to prevent minors from viewing harmful content online. This responsibility includes blocking or filtering access to inappropriate content. Content deemed inappropriate in CIPA guidelines are obscenity, child pornography and content harmful to minors. This also includes content that is violent, sexual or lacking in educational value.
CIPA guidelines cover:
- The safety and security of minors using email and other forms of direct online communication
- Unlawful activities by minors online such as hacking
- Using, disclosing and disseminating personal information regarding minors
Additionally, K-12 schools are required to monitor the online activities of learners with software such as Hāpara Highlights. Schools should also teach K-12 learners cyberbullying awareness and how to behave appropriately online. This includes how to interact appropriately with others on social media websites, email and the like, which falls under the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.
Beyond CIPA, increased cyber safety for schools
CIPA forms a legal backbone for student safety and well-being. Schools and districts are expected to fill in the rest. This includes having specific rules and guidelines tailored to the needs of their particular school community.
Implementing a school Acceptable Use Policy
Before they access the internet at school on either a school or personal device, learners are expected to sign an Acceptable Use Policy. This agreement must outline responsible use and the consequences if a learner fails to comply.
When school web filters are too restrictive
Restricting content that learners have a constitutional right to view is one of the cons of web filters in schools, according to the American Library Association. This can happen when criteria set by the school district are overly restrictive or the web filter misclassifies and blocks educational content.
Students’ ability to research and learn online can be negatively affected by overly restrictive policies. Additionally, overblocking prevents learners from accessing certain sites or certain keyword searches. Some searches have important consequences for student well-being.
How to integrate flexibility into school web filtering
CIPA leaves plenty of room for interpretation and school discretion. The degree of blocking depends on the web filtering product and implementation by the school. Yet determining what content falls into the three categories is not always clear cut. Many schools and districts block more than required by CIPA. For example, games are often blocked to keep learners on task.
To avoid extremes, it’s beneficial to find a web filter for schools that gives flexibility. When choosing web filtering software for schools, select one that does not over-filter content but instead allows the school plenty of room for customizing their own vision of what should and should not be blocked.
For instance, Gaggle Web Filter allows school technology teams to customize policies. Your team can adjust policies by organizational unit to support learning needs, grade-level requirements or school policies.
How schools can also support student mental health
Since 2021, the mental health issues affecting children and youth in the U.S. have drawn significant attention from the Department of Education. Situations related to mental health and wellness can build up under the surface for learners. Unfortunately, adults cannot always know what is going on for the young people they are responsible for.
For example, according to a 2023 survey, “Approximately 87 percent of young individuals had suffered from some mental health problem on a regular basis.”
In August of 2024, the CDC website shared, “”Considering the vital role schools play in promoting health and well-being, it is critical to address school-based violence and safety concerns.”
Wellness concerns can cover issues such as:
- Suicide and self-harm
- Cyberbullying
- Toxic language
Student wellness alerts can help schools provide learners with supports that help them navigate wellness challenges. They can also help K-12 school districts get visibility into early warning signs concerning behavior online.
A student wellness solution such as Gaggle Safety Management, uses machine learning technology to flag concerning content in a student’s school account, such as when students show evidence of possible self-harm or danger to others online. From there, the tool reviews and blocks content that is potentially harmful. In severe cases, district contacts will be immediately notified.
This allows staff to respond in a timely fashion, highlighting the potential of an all-in-one solution for classroom management, web content filtering for schools and student wellness to contribute to a safer and more supportive learning environment.
Explore how schools use a web filter and screen monitoring to keep students safe and teach digital citizenship.
