Community High School District 128

Community High School District 128 recognizes that we live in a society that is highly focused on the use of digital communication tools.  While most students and some staff use these tools--such as Facebook, email, and text messaging--because they are dynamic and mobile, and their messages quickly reach their audiences, the District also knows that, as with any emerging technology, there is some caution that should be exercised when using these new media for staff-to-student communication.  The District further recognizes the educational benefits of communicating with students beyond the classroom to enrich teaching and learning.  In order to protect students, staff and the District,  the District developed a document entitled, "Community High School District 128  Expectations for Communicating Electronically with Students."  In this document, the District hopes to raise awareness of the acceptable ways for staff to use digital communication tools when communicating with students, and raise awareness of the positive and negative outcomes that may result when using these tools.

The document is based on what the District has named the TAP Test.  The test is a way for staff to reflect on how they are communicating and ask themselves if the communication is Transparent, Accessible and Professional.

"The expectations were written with the best interest of our students and staff in mind," explained Superintendent Prentiss Lea.   The District wrote the expectations after reading many professional journals urging districts to have expectations for staff in place.  "Many professional organizations have been asking for examples of such expectations, but no one has stepped forward with any," noted Lea.  The Expectations, written over the course of several months, were endorsed by the District 128 Board of Education at its March meeting and were released to staff today. 

Click here to read the complete Expectations document.