RCS uses Securly content filtering to keep students safe online. Sometimes a website that a teacher needs for a lesson gets blocked. This guide explains how to request that a site be unblocked for educational use.
Why Are Websites Blocked?
Securly automatically categorizes websites and blocks those that fall into restricted categories — such as gaming, gambling, social media, anonymous proxies, and adult content. This filtering applies to all student devices and student accounts on campus.
Sometimes a legitimate educational site gets caught by the filter because it shares a category with restricted content. When that happens, you can request an exception.
How to Request a Website Be Unblocked
Option 1: Email IT Directly (Fastest)
Send an email to itsupport@redlandschristian.org with the following information:
- The full website URL (e.g., https://www.example.com — not just "example.com")
- Your name and campus (Lower School, Middle School, or Upper School)
- The class or subject it will be used for
- A brief explanation of the educational purpose
- Whether you need it unblocked temporarily or permanently
Option 2: From a Student's Securly Block Page
When a student hits a blocked site, Securly shows a block page. Some block pages include a "Request Access" button that sends a notification to IT automatically. These show up as "Request to access" tickets in our system. However, these automated requests don't include the educational context — so following up with an email to IT helps us process the request faster.
What to Include in Your Request
| Info to Include | Why We Need It |
|---|---|
| Full URL of the blocked site | We need to whitelist the exact domain |
| Your name and campus | Helps us route the request and apply the right policy |
| Class or subject | Provides context for the educational purpose |
| Educational purpose | Required for approval — a brief sentence is enough |
| Temporary or permanent? | Temporary unblocks are scoped to a date range; permanent unblocks stay in place |
What to Expect
- Response time: Most requests are reviewed within 1 business day.
- Approval: IT reviews the site to make sure it's safe and appropriate. Most legitimate educational sites are approved quickly.
- Denial: If a site is denied, IT will explain why and suggest alternatives if possible.
- Scope: Unblocks are typically applied to the student policy for your campus (e.g., "Upper School" policy). They apply to all students on that campus, not just your class.
Sites That Cannot Be Unblocked
Some categories are blocked by policy for all students and cannot be unblocked, regardless of educational context:
- Gambling and betting sites
- Anonymous proxy and VPN services
- Adult content
- Malware or phishing sites
If you need content from one of these categories for a lesson, consider finding the content on an alternative site, or showing it from your own (teacher) device via the Promethean board or projector.
Teacher Internet Access
Teachers are on a separate filtering policy that is less restrictive than the student policy. If a site is blocked for your teacher account (not a student's), email itsupport@redlandschristian.org and note that it's your teacher account that's affected. Teacher policy adjustments are handled differently from student requests.
RCS Information Technology · IT Help Center
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