In accordance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), HCPS makes every reasonable effort to filter access to internet content that is obscene, depicts pornography, or is harmful to or deemed inappropriate for minors. HCPS employs Lightspeed as an internet filtering solution. Occasionally, legitimate educational sites may be inadvertently blocked by this filter. If this happens, teachers can request a site review by clicking on the link on the Lightspeed screen that appears for a blocked site.Be sure to include why the site should be unblocked. Remember that there must be an educational use.  Teachers also have the ability to temporarily override a block side.

It is important to check sites at school before planning to use them with students. Just because it works at home doesn't mean it is unblocked at school. It may take a day or so for the site to be unblocked.

Important Points:

  • HCPS purchases a filtering solution, Lightspeed™, that blocks websites based on categories, such as pornography, spyware, games, gambling, hate speech, etc.
  • If a teacher encounters an appropriate site that is blocked, he/she may request a change in the filtering status.
  • Only requests that include a valid HCPS email account and a description of the educational use willl be considered.
  • The division network and access to the internet are provided with the purpose of facilitating learning and enhancing educational information based on school division curriculum and instructional goals.

The Process

  • Teachers may submit requests to unblock a site based on educational use of the site.
  • Network administrator reviews the site for inappropriate content.
    • If inappropriate content is present, the site will not be unblocked
    • If the site is obviously educational in nature and content is appropriate, the site will be unblocked.
  • If there are questions about the site, it is referred to the instructional technology supervisor and may also be reviewed by members of the division technology committee.
  • Decisions are based on how the site may be used throughout the division and not just in the particular teacher’s classroom.

The following sites will not be unblocked:

  • Email sites - HCPS provides all employees with an email account.
  • Sites that are blocked due to pornography.
  • Sites that are blocked due to spyware.
  • Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook (students)
  • Gaming/gambling sites such as Fantasy Football.
  • Streaming internet radio or TV and non-educational video
  • YouTube (students)
  • Parked Sites - These are sites whose domain has expired and no longer exist.