LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY BULLETIN

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1 TITLE: NUMBER: LAUSD Website Development and Management Policy ROUTING All Employees All Locations ISSUER: Ronald S. Chandler, Chief Information Officer DATE: August 14, 2012 POLICY: MAJOR CHANGES: BACKGROUND: The Internet provides a powerful and cost-effective way to share data and information with wide audiences. The District is leveraging modern Internet technology, including new content management systems that facilitate collaboration and data sharing and allow seamless integration with social media and other means of real-time communication (functionality known as Web 2.0). This bulletin replaces BUL from 2006 and describes new services and guidelines for schools and offices related to creating, maintaining, and using web pages and Internet tools. All technical services related to web pages and applications use are governed by ITD Web Services, part of the Enterprise Applications Group, housed in the Information Technology (IT) Division. The Office of Internal Communications, housed in the Office of the Superintendent, governs policies and procedures related to presentation of information on the District s web site (known as LAUSDnet). ITD Web Services provides schools and offices with the tools necessary to collaborate and share information online using the best tools available. The group manages all technical resources needed to carry out the District s communication and data sharing needs as directed by the Office of Internal Communications. During the school year, ITD Web Services is working to update the hundreds of web applications used by the District for increased performance and improved integration. As of the publication of this bulletin, a menu of services is available to all schools and offices related to web and online services. Revisions to this document will be made available in a timely manner as new resources become available. Page 1 of 5 August 14, 2012

2 PROCEDURES: Creating and/or Maintaining a Website on LAUSD.net Every location currently has one of three options to have a web presence on the LAUSDnet Home Page known as LAUSDnet 1. Default Oracle Portal Pages Every location by default has a page on LAUSDnet built on the Oracle Portal platform. These pages "pull" basic data about your location (such as the name of your head administrator and your contact information) from a central database and displays them in real time on a page that is delivered whenever anyone seeks your location from a tool such as Find a School or the Offices directory listing. We can grant access to staff members in your location to upload your own content such as announcements, text information, images, or downloadable files. To request access or assistance with an Oracle Portal page, contact ITD Web Services at itdweb@lausd.net. 2. School Loop Free Web Service School Loop is a company that offers a basic tool kit for schools and school district offices to create a web presence with basic information and tools without the need for any programming skills. Its drag-and-drop functionality makes it simple for personnel to maintain a site for their location and use basic customization (i.e., adding logos, school colors, etc.). For examples of pages built using School Loop see To take advantage of this free service, complete our service request form found at 3. Third-party Web Services Although the above options are available free-of-charge, your location may have an interest in having a site developed with more sophisticated functionality. Many of our schools use services such as edlio or School Loop Plus, which are third-party companies that provide services such as content management and hosting for reasonable fees. Currently, using such services is done by independent agreement between the location and the entity, and locations are free to budget for these services and take advantage of what they have to offer. If your location chooses to do so, understand that the IT division cannot provide direct technical support for the sites; however, most agreements include some level of technical support from the company. Page 2 of 5 August 14, 2012

3 If you do go this route, it's a good idea to contact us so we can make sure there is a link to the site of your choice on LAUSD.net, so families, students, and others can find your page easily. Also, make sure that the company with which you contract is aware of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines for public websites (more information below). Discontinued Services As the District is moving toward a common platform, we are phasing out some of the older systems used to create pages for schools, offices, or District initiatives (for example, stand-alone "static" pages or those built with open-source systems such as Drupal). If you own a page that falls into this category, we will continue to provide the support necessary until we are able to assist you with developing a new page on a platform that we are better able to support. For assistance with using other types of services, please contact us at itdweb@lausd.net and let us know how we can help you. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 mandates that websites used by an agency that receives government funding ensure that the content is universally accessible, including by those with disabilities, including blindness, deafness, limited cognitive functioning and other disabilities. Anyone responsible for managing content for any page affiliated with the District s website should be familiar with the guidelines set forth by the ADA when it comes to website design. These include, but are not limited to: Ensuring that frames and other frame elements are recognizable by assistive technologies Include text-only alternative pages whenever there are moving images or color elements that may be difficult for users with certain types of visual impairments to use Ensuring that images providing direction or information use an alternative tag that is available to text readers Including captions or subtitles for audio used providing direction or information For additional guidance on making websites more accessible, we recommend reviewing guidelines distributed by the United States Access Board: - (j) Page 3 of 5 August 14, 2012

4 ASSISTANCE: For assistance, contact ITD Web Services at You can also contact the IT HelpDesk at or at (213) for direct technical support. Page 4 of 5 August 14, 2012

5 RESOURCES: ITD Web Services - U.S. Department of Justice information on Americans with Disabilities Act governance of public websites - CONTACTS: For additional information about Web Service for schools and offices, go to You can also write to itdweb@lausd.net with any questions or service requests you may have. For individual technical support, contact the IT HelpDesk using either of two options available. See Page 5 of 5 August 14, 2012