On September 11, 2006, the superintendent approved new Regulation KBA-RB, Educational Purposes and Administration of the MCPS Web, providing a framework for the structure and content of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Web.
Regulation KBA-RB, Educational Purposes and Administration of the MCPS Web (PDF)
This FAQ provides a basic background to the new web regulation. If your question is not addressed here, please contact Web Services at webmaster@mcpsmd.org.
Why does MCPS need a web regulation?
School and office webmasters and administrators have over the years asked many questions about web content and staff roles and responsibilities. They have asked for a web regulation to provide guidance and clarity on these and other issues. Most school systems have official regulations guiding their public web sites. How was the regulation developed and by whom?
The regulation was drafted by a workgroup composed of students, parents, teachers, office staff, principals, administrators, community members, and webmasters. Later drafts were written based on feedback from legal counsel, principals, and administrators. What is covered by the regulation?
It applies to all public MCPS web sites created by staff and students in schools and offices in the course of instruction or school system operations. Who is responsible for implementing the regulation?
The Web Services Team implements the regulation under the supervision of the Director of Communications and Family Outreach When does the regulation go into effect?
The regulation was signed by the superintendent of schools and became effective in September 2006.
Every school and office should be represented on a MCPS managed site with contact information. Staff may create a web site upon the approval of their administrator. Students may create web sites under the direction of an MCPS staffer.
The school principal or office/department/division/unit administrator is the “site manager” who is ultimately responsible for all content on the school or office web site. The school or office “webmaster” is usually responsible for the actual creation and maintenance of the web site. It is also helpful to enlist a school or office colleague with strong understanding of the content, message, and audience to act as the “content manager,” reviewing content for accuracy and appropriateness for the webmaster.
All content on the MCPS Web should be hosted on MCPS-managed systems.
Contact Web Services so we can help transition your site to the appropriate server.
Web Services would be happy to redesign your site for you, given enough notice. Your new site could also be placed into our new web publishing system, which makes site updating easier and faster.
All MCPS web sites should be reviewed and updated at least annually to ensure that content is accurate and up to date.
All MCPS web addresses referenced in print and elsewhere should use this root domain: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org.
Example: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/web/
Yes, BUT only if the domain redirects to the site that is hosted on MCPS servers. MCPS sites, school and office, must be hosted by MCPS and within MCPS templates to provide and consistent experience for the web audience. If you wish to purchase a domain under these guidelines,
Contact Web Services for assistance migrating to a .org or .net.