Common Sense, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of media and technology, has recognized Eagle Point School District 9 as a Common Sense District. Our schools have demonstrated their commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing their students to think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate while limiting the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying. The recognition acknowledges our commitment to creating a culture of digital citizenship.

"We applaud the faculty and staff of Eagle Point School District 9 for embracing digital citizenship as an important part of their students' education," said Liz Kline, VP, Education Programs, Common Sense Education. "Eagle Point School District 9 deserves high praise for giving its students the foundational skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st-century workplace and participate ethically in society at large."

Eagle Point School District 9 believes that digital citizenship skills have become essential for students, especially in schools like ours that are using technology to transform learning. The ISTE Standards for Students indicators for digital citizenship serve as a framework for developing these skills:

• Students will cultivate and manage their digital identity and reputation and be aware of the permanence of their actions in the digital world.
• Students will engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property.
• Students will manage their personal data to maintain digital privacy and security and are aware of data-collection technology used to track their navigation online.

Direct instruction will be provided to K-12 students using Common Sense Education curriculum.