Author: Bob Hand
Part of every educator’s duty is to ensure that learners don’t have access to harmful or explicit material. For as long as the internet has been a part of K-12 education, web content filtering technology has seen use in public schools. In fact, it’s a legal requirement; the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) mandates that schools use content filtering technology in addition to enforcing an internet safety policy and monitoring student activity.
Traditionally, districts have implemented content filtering through hardware solutions. In recent years, however, K-12 schools have begun to abandon web filtering appliances, relying instead on content filtering software. Given the shift to the cloud, this is understandable; when many users are accessing sensitive academic/student information on a wide variety of devices, hardware solutions can be too limited to adequately protect learners. For instance, school bus Wi-Fi programs require content filtering to protect students.
If your district hasn’t made the switch, you may be unsure where to start learning more about these applications. Here is an overview of four popular content filtering options:
Traditionally, districts have implemented content filtering through hardware solutions. In recent years, however, K-12 schools have begun to abandon web filtering appliances, relying instead on content filtering software. Given the shift to the cloud, this is understandable; when many users are accessing sensitive academic/student information on a wide variety of devices, hardware solutions can be too limited to adequately protect learners. For instance, school bus Wi-Fi programs require content filtering to protect students.
If your district hasn’t made the switch, you may be unsure where to start learning more about these applications. Here is an overview of four popular content filtering options:
