Network/Internet

GoGuardian Content Filtering

As part of the Colorado Internet Safety & Digital Responsibility initiative, ECSD is required to provide a safe and secure internet environment for students to work in and learn. To maintain that type of environment, ECSD selected GoGuardian 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.

Finally, YouTube and Google Safe Search are enabled by default on district 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, we communicate expectations around classroom management to our staff. Teachers also incorporate digital citizenship lessons into students' curriculum. However, active monitoring while communicating expectations and boundaries clearly with children is the best way to keep them safe online.

If you find a site that needs to be blocked/unblocked, for educational purposes, please fill out a help request to provide us with the site and necessary change.

Details on the various GoGuardian block pages and their meanings can be found here.

In order to protect your privacy as well as student data privacy, prevent malicious attacks, and ensure we are in compliance with all legal policies (CIPA, FERPA, COPPA,HIPAA, CDA), the technology department has made some changes over the summer. We had several discussions about each change regarding whether or not it is necessary to best support and protect our staff and students without interfering with the learning experience. Many changes you will not even notice, however, we wanted to make you aware of some of the changes that may be more noticeable to you:

• Google Chrome will be the only browser enabled on all district-owned devices in Fall 2021. Consider migrating your safari or internet explorer bookmarks now. Here are Bookmark Migration Instructions.

  • • By utilizing one browser, we can seek to mitigate compatibility issues as well as provide the highest security settings. All district software and resources have been tested and verified to work on Chrome.

• Due to increased issues with cybersecurity hacks, malicious software, and data sharing laws, starting in Fall 2021, only IT specialists will have admin access to your device.

  • • Requests for additional software beyond our approved list will need to be submitted for security review.

• ECSD Filtering

  • • Staff accounts are now filtered on and off-campus

    • The Acceptable Use Policy (signed by all staff members) stipulates "Use of the Network must be in support of education, research, and Eagle County School District operations and be consistent with the educational objectives of the School District."

      • • This statement will be used to evaluate all requests for website access throughout the District. Websites used for personal reasons (banking, classifieds, house hunting, shopping, email, etc) do not directly support educational purposes.

    • ECSD-owned devices are managed and filtered 24/7 regardless of what network they are connected to

    • Personal devices are not filtered by ECSD unless they are connected to the ECSD Network OR have a Google Chrome Profile with an ECSD account signed in and synced (read more about Chrome profiles here: Google Chrome Profiles)

      • • On personal devices, ECSD only filters @eagleschools.net and @ecschools.me profiles

        • With profiles, you can keep all your Chrome info separate, like bookmarks, history, passwords, and other settings. Profiles are ideal for:

        • Sharing a computer with multiple people.

        • Keeping your different accounts, like work and personal, separate.

As part of our continuing effort to follow legal regulations for computer usage by students AND to also put only quality educational content on these devices, the following changes will be made to filtering on STUDENT ACCOUNTS…

• Streaming Services

  • Approximately 50% of our school's total bandwidth is consumed by streaming of non-educational materials. Sites like Netflix, Hulu, HBO will be blocked for students moving forward. Access to these sites WILL still be available on teacher accounts as we fully understand you may use these websites to support your curricula. The full list of blocked sites is listed below and is evolving daily. Youtube/PBS/Educational sites with streaming will still be available.

• Social Media

  • Social media websites do not comply with federal regulations for content filtering. We will evaluate opportunities to allow specific social media pages (school/sport/club-specific pages), but otherwise, these websites will be blocked on student accounts. We seek opportunities to engage with teachers on how best to approach this topic in the classroom. Social media will not be blocked on teacher accounts, however teachers must consider that objectionable content may pop up in sidebars even if not requested on the page.

• Non School-Based Email

  • Emails through Hotmail, Yahoo, Exchange and other websites will no longer be allowed for students. Students in grades 6-12 can still receive and send to these email addresses, but we cannot filter and observe objectionable content and cyberstalking when students use non-ECSD email accounts.

• Chat Websites

  • Chat websites will be blocked for students. These also include anonymous texting services. We've seen an uptick in students using adult chat websites, which is inappropriate for a school device. If you have an educational need for a specific platform (pen-pals or otherwise), please reach out to our Tech Help Desk.

• Blocked Sites on Student Accounts:

  • Streaming Websites: Hulu, Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, Starz, Disney Plus, Vimeo, Sports Streaming, TV streaming service providers

  • Social Media: Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat

  • Chat Websites: All except Google Meet / Google Chat

Eagle County schools provides a guest Wireless Network called ECSD-CourtesyWIFI. It is a free service intended for use by visitors requiring short-term access to the wireless network to perform general Internet activities. It is an unsecured connection and should not be used to send or receive sensitive information.

• All traffic is monitored, logged, and is treated with Quality of Service rules based on educational needs.

• Once you click/tap "connect to Internet" your device will be granted access for 24 hrs at that site (You may want to check your device settings to auto join this network but will need to click/tap "connect to Internet" every 24 hrs for Internet)

• Traffic allowed:

  • Web - Http/Https

  • Email - POP/IMAP/SMTP

  • WiFi Calling

Click on this SITE STATUS DASHBOARD to verify the availability status of our commonly used applicaitons.

District computing devices are configured to allow connections to home and public WiFi networks. The ECSD Technology Department is unable to provide support for home networks.

How to connect an ECSD Chromebook to your home WiFi network:

1. Turn on the Chromebook

2. Connect to WiFi

   1. In the bottom right corner of the screen, click the time.

   2. Select Not Connected underneath the WiFi symbol .

   3. Your Chromebook will list available networks, including your home WiFi network.

3. Select your home network and connect

   1. Select your home WiFi network. Type the WiFi password, if needed.

4. Select Connect.

Here are a few basic troubleshooting steps you can try before checking with your ISP or network hardware manufacturer’s website for support links.

1. Restart your computer or mobile device.

2. Try connecting to your home WiFi network again.

3. Ensure that you are entering the correct WiFi password.

4. Try connecting to another wireless network such as a coffee shop WiFi network or public library WiFi network and see if you can connect successfully.

If you are still unable to connect to your home WiFi, please check with your ISP or network hardware manufacturer’s website for support links.

Support Links to Local Internet Service Providers (ISP)

• Comcast / Xfinity

  • Free Home Internet for 60days with Comcast Internet Essentials

• CenturyLink

• Visionary Broadband

Support Phone Numbers to Common Device Brands

• Apple 800-275-2273

• ASUS 888-678-3688

• Dell 800-624-9897

• Lenovo 877-453-6686

• Samsung 800-726-7864

Support Links to Common Network Hardware Manufacturers

• ASUS

• D-Link

• Google Nest Wi-Fi

• Linksys

• Netgear

• TP-Link

Comcast

• • Free Home Internet for 60days with Comcast Internet Essentials

CenturyLink

• • Low Cost Internet Options