Beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, Illinois state law (105 ILCS 5/27-13.3) requires school districts to teach students how to be safe when engaging in online activities.

Included among the topics to be covered are:

• Safe and responsible use of social networking websites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards, instant messaging, and other means of communication on the Internet.
• Recognizing, avoiding, and reporting online solicitations of students, their classmates, and their friends by sexual predators.
• Risks of transmitting personal information on the Internet.
• Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive communications received online.
• Recognizing and reporting online harassment and cyber-bullying.
• Reporting illegal activities and communications on the Internet.
• Copyright laws on written materials, photographs, music, and video.