K-12 Guide to CIPA Filtering

At any given moment of any random school day, chances are high that your students are online. No big deal, right?

Think again. Internet access is just as dangerous as it is beneficial to your digital school system. Whether in the classroom or at the library, minors are only a few clicks away from inappropriate content, the likes of which could be a violation of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Even worse, students who access harmful content may be in danger — not only in terms of their personal information but also their physical and emotional well-being. With a risk as big as that, content filtering is absolutely essential. In fact, it’s the law.

This guide will connect the dots between CIPA compliance and content filtering. From where they overlap to how they work, we’ll give you everything you need to know about CIPA filtering and how you can start protecting children from harmful online content.

Understanding CIPA compliance

The Children’s Internet Protection Act is a law that impacts almost every public school district and library in the United States. Congress enacted the bill in 2000 to address concerns about minors accessing obscene or harmful online content. 

At the time, lawmakers were worried that pervasive exposure to explicit material (like a visual depiction of violence) could have lasting consequences on children’s mental and physical health — and they were right. Studies show a child who consumes harmful content is more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors and experience anxiety, depression, and self-harm

Given these implications, the United States government uses CIPA to ensure schools keep their internet connections safe and encourage responsible online browsing. 

CIPA requirements

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — the agency that oversees CIPA — schools must adopt an internet safety policy that addresses the following:

  • Inappropriate content: CIPA defines this as any harmful online content that could be considered obscene or illegal. That includes anything appealing to sex, nudity, violence, or lacking educational value.
  • Unlawful activities: Districts must also ensure students use the internet for lawful purposes. Examples of unlawful activities include hacking, which the FCC terms “unauthorized access,” or the distribution of child pornography, which may occur if students are “sexting” one another on school-issued devices and in school-provided technology (such as Gmail, Google Docs, etc.). 
  • Unauthorized disclosure: Schools must prevent the unauthorized use and dissemination of personal information regarding minors, whether it be due to a data breach or leak. Think of this as one step beyond unauthorized access.
  • Internet safety: The FCC says administrators are responsible for protecting children when using “electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communication.”

Another key requirement of CIPA compliance is that a school’s internet safety policy must include a technology protection measure to block or filter internet access. In other words, schools are legally obligated to implement a web filter to monitor and regulate students’ online behavior.

It’s also important to note that CIPA compliance is intertwined with E-rate funding. The E-rate program is one of several federal programs providing financial assistance to schools and public libraries. 

Run by the Universal Service Administrative Company, the initiative reimburses schools in exchange for discounted technology services, including internet access. Covered entities that violate CIPA regulations may lose their program eligibility, thereby losing their discounts, too

Bottom line: Whether you’re part of the E-rate program or not, all school districts must use filtering software of some shape or form. 

CIPA filtering 101

CIPA filtering — also known as content filtering, web filtering, or internet filtering — is a process of restricting access to particular types of internet content (in this case, anything deemed impermissible for a child). 

With a filtering solution, you can block particular websites or harmful material. Aside from protecting children, content filtering is also an important part of your school’s cybersecurity posture. 

Think about it: If someone browses a malicious website, they may download an attachment and unwittingly infect your district with malware. With an internet filter, you can stop hackers from obtaining your students’ personal information by rendering the incident impossible in the first place. 

How does content filtering work?

Filters work much the same way data loss prevention (DLP) tools do. They allow you to create a set of predetermined rules that dictate how your filtering software operates.

Based on these preferences, the tool will identify content patterns like text strings or specific objects within an image or website. Once a pattern is detected, the filter either blocks or screens the content according to your parameters. 

Most internet filtering solutions use a combination of the following methods:

  • Keyword filtering: The filtering software scans content for specific words and phrases associated with objectionable content.
  • URL filtering: URL addresses are checked against a database of blacklisted or whitelisted websites, blocking access to any that are prohibited.
  • Image analysis: Content filtering tools scan visual features and video metadata for certain qualities, such as nudity or violence.
  • Category filtering: Users can filter content based on categories deemed inappropriate, such as adult content, gambling, or social media.

What to look for in a web filter

It’s important to note that not all content filters are made the same. Some work better than others, which means you should deploy a solution that won’t fail when you need it most. 

Don’t worry — we’re here to help. When searching for the ideal platform, it’s best to keep a few things in mind. Here’s what you should look for when shopping for a content filtering solution:

  • Customization: One-size-fits-all filters simply don’t suffice. Ensure your service provider allows you to tweak rules according to your needs, as they’re sure to change over time.
  • Reporting and analytics: Look for a tool that empowers you to make the best decisions possible. How? Through robust reporting and actionable insights. The best solution will equip you with information to keep students safe and your district compliant.
  • Ease of use: What good is an internet filter with a lousy interface? None at all. Protecting children is hard enough without the frustration of a poorly designed platform. That’s why a seamless, frictionless user experience is essential. Find a tool that gives you everything you need in one single pane of glass.
  • CIPA compliance: CIPA compliant content filters take the pain out of managing your toughest regulations. Because compliance is baked into the design, you never have to worry about jeopardizing personal information or allowing harmful content to fall through the cracks.
  • Cloud security: Content filtering is a step in the right direction, but no school is safe without a layer of cloud security. Most schools operate in the cloud using Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, but few have resources dedicated to protecting cloud data. That means student information is more at risk than ever before.

Stay compliant with Content Filter by ManagedMethods

ManagedMethods is bridging the gap between internet filtering and cloud security. In addition to Cloud Monitor — a DLP platform made specifically for K-12 Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 — we provide the tool with all the capabilities you need to restrict internet access at scale. 

Content Filter by ManagedMethods is a browser-based solution. That means there’s no complex installation process, allowing you to get up and running without delay. Plus, it comes with out-of-the-box support for over 30 website categories, covering over 300,000 domains. Why? So you can start protecting children from day one. 

Unlike other tools, Content Filter isn’t just made for CIPA compliance — it’s also a school safety solution. With a blend of advanced techniques and artificial intelligence, it detects potential safety signals in online browsing, social media, and more. That way, you can identify students at risk of self-harm, suicide, sexually explicit content, cyberbullying, and violence from one simple dashboard. 

Remember what’s at stake here: Inappropriate content and malware are only a few clicks away. The good news? Our solution is even closer. Schedule a demo today to find out more about our content filtering and cloud security solutions.