Many Alabama K-12 educators use the instructional resources found via shared educational tools, such as school and division-wide computer networks and the Internet. The increased use of such resources requires that administrators, teachers, library media specialists, students, and parents take steps to ensure that they are used responsibly for K-12 instruction.
In response to these concerns, schools or school divisions are required to establish guidelines for the appropriate use of computer networks. Such guidelines are generally called an Acceptable Internet Use Policy or AUP. By definition, an AUP is a written agreement in the form of guidelines, signed by students, their parents and their teachers, outlining the terms and conditions of Internet-use. It includes definitions of acceptable online behavior and access privileges.