What is CIPA and what does it require?
The Children’s Internet Protection Act, commonly known as CIPA or the CHIP Act, mandates that schools and libraries receiving E-Rate discounts for “Internet access, Internet services, or internal connections,” or education technology grants like STAR Schools or Technology Innovation Challenge Grants under the Department of Education or Library Services and Technology Act funds, put into place Internet safety policies that include installation and use of Internet filtering software or services preventing access to “visual depictions” of material that is obscene, child pornography, and, when minors are using the computer, material that is harmful to minors. Schools must also monitor student Internet use, and E-Rate recipients must implement detailed Internet Safety Policies.
