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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62812</law_id><section_number>22.1-70.2</section_number><catch_line>Acceptable Internet use policies for public and private schools</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-24.2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="22.1">Education</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="6">Division Superintendents</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Every two years, each local <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall review, <span class="dictionary">amend</span> if necessary, and approve the school division&#x2019;s acceptable use policy for the Internet. At a minimum, the policy shall contain provisions that (i) are designed to prohibit use by division employees and students of the division&#x2019;s computer equipment and communications services for sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading illegal <span class="dictionary">material</span> via the Internet; (ii) seek to prevent access by students to <span class="dictionary">material</span> that the school division deems to be harmful to juveniles as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/18.2-390/">18.2-390</a>; (iii) select a technology for the division&#x2019;s computers having Internet access to filter or block Internet access through such computers to child pornography as set out in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography; penalty" href="/18.2-374.1_1/">18.2-374.1:1</a> and obscenity as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="&quot;Obscene&quot; defined" href="/18.2-372/">18.2-372</a>; (iv) establish appropriate measures to be taken against persons who violate the policy; and (v) include a component on Internet safety for students that is integrated in a division&#x2019;s instructional program. The policy may include such other terms, conditions, and requirements as deemed appropriate, such as requiring written parental authorization for Internet use by juveniles or differentiating acceptable uses among <span class="dictionary">elementary</span>, middle, and high school students.
			Each school division&#x2019;s policy shall be posted on its website in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Standard 7. School board policies" href="/22.1-253.13_7/">22.1-253.13:7</a>. Additionally, each local school division shall certify compliance with these requirements annually to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Education. <a id="paragraph-228969" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-70.2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">superintendent</span> shall take such steps as he deems appropriate to implement and enforce the division&#x2019;s policy. <a id="paragraph-228970" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-70.2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In addition to the foregoing requirements regarding public school Internet use policies, the principal or other chief administrator of any private school that satisfies the compulsory school attendance <span class="dictionary">law</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Compulsory attendance required; excuses and waivers; alternative education program attendance; exemptions from article" href="/22.1-254/">22.1-254</a> and accepts federal funds for Internet access shall select a technology for its computers having Internet access to filter or block Internet access through such computers to child pornography as set out in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography; penalty" href="/18.2-374.1_1/">18.2-374.1:1</a> and obscenity as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="&quot;Obscene&quot; defined" href="/18.2-372/">18.2-372</a>. <a id="paragraph-228971" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-70.2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span> of Public Instruction shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> guidelines to school divisions regarding instructional programs related to Internet safety. <a id="paragraph-228972" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-70.2/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1999, c. 64; 2001, c. 269; 2006, cc. 52, 474; 2010, c. 61.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
