Ayden Guzman

School computer displays the filter system message. The filter system blocks many different sites, such as Cool Math Games.

A computer filter system is in place at Grand Junction High School and the entire district to protect students from harmful or distracting content.

The filter system consists of two components: Content Keeper and Aristotle. Mesa Valley School District 51 is responsible for giving the filter systems categories that they block, such as social media, adult content, and gaming. D51 is currently in the process of switching from Content Keeper to Aristotle while keeping both active. This sometimes results in more websites being blocked than usual.

Both students and teachers have voiced concerns this Fall about how much the systems block websites that would help with teaching and learning.

“It’s really annoying. Like, say you’re trying to Google something important for school, not even a game, it will block it for some unknown reason,” said GJHS junior Noah Sanchez. 

There is a way to unblock a website if the right conditions are met. If a student feels that a website is unfairly blocked, they can request it be unblocked by asking GJHS librarian Pamela Middlemas or another teacher, or contacting the D51 Tech Help team to review it to determine if the site is appropriate. The district’s IT department can review it and re-categorize the website so that it can be accessed if it is approved.

“Is this actively doing what we want to, or is it becoming a hindrance for teaching?” said GJHS math and engineering teacher Jacob Rankin. 

Access to certain websites are different depending on the grade level. For high school students, more categories are open. For adult staff members, they get a separate system that’s the least restrictive. Even with that, it makes it difficult for teachers to perform their jobs effectively online, particularly when teaching students through educational websites, such as those related to slavery and other historical content, and AI websites like ChatGPT.

When a blocked site is searched, a message pops up saying: “RESTRICTED: You have been restricted by the district’s internet filter policy. Acceptable Use: The site you have requested has been blocked because it does not comply with the filtering requirements as described by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).” A 

 According to the FCC’s website, who are the people who regulates radio and television, etc., for any school in the country to receive E-rated Funding, which helps schools access high-speed internet and telecommunications at affordable rates, they must comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). The CIPA was enacted by Congress to address harmful content to minors on the internet. Schools must apply and implement an internet safety policy to address and prohibit any inappropriate and harmful material, as well as any unlawful activities, such as hacking, by minors.