Digital Citizenship

The district’s decision to include Digital Citizenship as a core focus of the Instructional Technology Plan was driven by a clear and consistent message from multiple data sources: while students are highly connected and increasingly confident using digital tools, their understanding of responsible, ethical, and long-term online behavior is uneven. Findings from the district’s instructional technology audit conducted in Spring of 2024 and stakeholder feedback highlighted inconsistencies in digital citizenship instruction across grade levels and an increase in concerns related to online behavior, cyberbullying, privacy, and misuse of technology. Simply put, access to devices is no longer the challenge; ensuring students know how to navigate digital spaces safely, thoughtfully, and responsibly is now essential.

As a result, the Instructional Technology Plan prioritized a structured, K–12 approach to Digital Citizenship focusing on online safety, digital footprint and reputation, ethical technology use, digital communication, cyberbullying prevention, privacy and security, and foundational technology literacy skills. To better understand how these issues are currently experienced by students, the district administered an initial Digital Citizenship survey to students in grades 6–12. The summary that follows presents key findings from that survey and serves as a baseline to inform instruction, professional development, and ongoing improvement efforts to ensure that future digital citizenship initiatives are targeted, data-informed, and responsive to actual student needs.