SEXTING

SCHOOL POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES

DefinitionWhat is it?

SEXTING - is a term intended to define

a specific type of activity involving

youth, sexually explicit photos or

text, and electronic devices that take

and transmit photos and text.

Sexting – School Policies and Procedures Survey Results, 2009The Pew Internet & American Life Project

800 – teens (ages 12 to 17) and reported that 15% had received nude or nearly nude photos by phone

The reasons they were shared: As part of or instead of sexual activity As a way of starting or maintaining a

relationship with a significant other Passed to friends for entertainment or

as a joke

Communities, parents, guardians, school

administrators, law enforcement, and

policymakers have become concerned about an

activity known as "sexting” and its impact.

The media has reported instances where

children have been charged with a violation of

child pornography laws for self-producing and/or

distributing these photos.

CNN

Schools can’t look the other way and pretend that they don’t have a role to play Child Internet Protection Act - 2002 Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act –

2008 Summary statement

As educators, our job is to report harassment when we see it, know and enforce relevant laws and policies, as well as locate and use the social and educational resources available

What are schools doing?

Vermont – is considering making sexually explicit text messages shared between teenagers legal – in order to avoid having teenagers classified as sex offenders for sending nude or semi-nude photos

Houston ISD and Mesquite ISD became one of the first large districts in the nation to officially ban sexting.

Question:

Using the examples from Vermont – Houston ISD and

Mesquite ISD:

As we develop an AUP, Student Code of Conduct or local

board policy to reflect new technology in schools what are

the recommendations for the language we include to protect

students and the school district?

Round Table Discussion PanelBrent Weaver – Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department

Tanner Hunt – Attorney – Specializing in School Law

Detective Jimmie Curl– Beaumont Police Department – Cybercrimes

Pat Knauth– District Attorney’s Office

Jared Fountain – Principal Hardin County JJAE - Probation Officer