DESE Website Policies

References to Resources

This policy outlines how the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) manages references and links to resources in both internal and external communications. References on this website or within internal or external communications to specific resources-including references to commercial products, or services, as well as the use of any trade, firm, or corporate name-are provided solely for the information and convenience of the public. Such references do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by DESE.

DESE does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information provided by resources that are not official departmental communications, nor of external sites accessible through links from this website. Users are encouraged to exercise discretion when using linked resources.

DESE may, at its discretion, link to or reference resources owned, operated, or sponsored by the following entities:

State, federal, and local government agencies or departments;
Associations of government professionals;
Private nonprofit organizations;
Internal DESE offices, programs, or initiatives.

DESE will not link to or reference resources that:

Are owned and operated by a commercial entity primarily for sales or marketing purposes;
Are overtly sponsored or supported by a commercial venture with no public educational purpose;
Are associated with political or advocacy groups supporting a political party, organization, or candidate for public office;
Promote or contain content that includes hate speech, bias, discrimination, pornography, libelous or otherwise defamatory material;
Promote any religion or religious viewpoint;
Represent personal blogs or individual homepages without institutional or educational affiliation.

However, DESE may make exceptions to include references or links to commercial entities when the use of their technology, tools, or platforms is necessary to support the delivery of educational services or public information.