Keystone Oaks Mandates Transparency for Student Data | The Locally Times
By April 22, Keystone Oaks will launch a searchable online database, detailing privacy policies for every digital tool students use and how their data is protected.
Parents in Keystone Oaks School District will soon have unprecedented insight into how their children's digital data is handled. By April 22, the district is set to launch a comprehensive, searchable online list of every digital tool students use, a direct response to updated federal privacy regulations for children under 13. This new database will include links to each company’s privacy policy, aiming to significantly strengthen student privacy and enhance transparency around learning applications. The move comes as the district emphasizes its responsibility to be transparent about student data, especially since schools often select and require these digital tools. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) mandates that companies offering online services to children under 13 clearly state their information collection and usage practices, and obtain parental consent. ## Google Workspace: What Data Is Collected? Keystone Oaks School District currently provides students with Google Workspace for Education accounts, offering a suite of “Core Services” like Assignments, Calendar, Classroom, Drive, Gmail, and Google Meet. Beyond Google's own offerings, the district permits students to access other third-party services via their Google accounts, with school administrators enabling access and authorizing data disclosure as needed by those services. For further details on these third-party integrations, families can contact the Keystone Oaks Technology Department. When a student account is created, Google collects personal information including name, email address, and password. Students may also provide additional data directly, such as a telephone number for account recovery or a profile photo. During the use of Google Core Services, Google gathers activity information, which includes content viewed, communication details, usage patterns, settings, applications, browser and device information, and location data derived from IP address or GPS. Google states this personal information from Core Services is used primarily to deliver the services to schools and students, as well as for service improvement, technical support, security, and legal compliance. For Additional Services, Google may use information to personalize and enhance user experience, though personalized ads are explicitly not shown to K-12 users. Google’s policy also confirms that student personal information from Core Services is not used for advertising. ## Parental Control: Opt-Out Options and Data Sharing Parents and guardians in Keystone Oaks retain significant control over their child's use of Google Workspace for Education services. Families can opt out by contacting their school principal or the Technology Department, though doing so will disable the child’s account and prevent access to these essential learning tools. Parents also have the right to request account deletion or manage personal information by contacting Technology Director Aaron Smith, or by accessing "My Account" while their child is signed in. Google’s policy outlines several scenarios for disclosing personal information: with Keystone Oaks School District administrators and authorized resellers, with explicit parental consent, with affiliates or trusted third parties for processing, or when legally required by valid government requests. It's also important for families to note that features within Google Workspace, such as Google Docs and Sites, allow students to share content with others or publicly. Once shared, content may persist if copied by others. The district's forthcoming online list of approved digital tools, set for full compliance with updated COPPA requirements by April 22, will serve as a crucial resource for families to review privacy practices and understand how student information is safeguarded across all platforms. ## What Parents Need to Know Now * **Online Tool List:** By April 22, the district will publish a searchable online list detailing all approved digital tools, complete with links to each company's privacy policy. This resource will clarify how student data is handled across all platforms. * **Google Workspace Opt-Out:** Parents can opt their child out of Google Workspace for Education services by contacting their school principal or the Technology Department. Be aware that opting out will disable the child's account and access to these learning tools. * **Contact for Privacy Concerns:** For any questions regarding student data privacy or to manage your child's personal information, contact Aaron Smith, Technology Director, or the Keystone Oaks Technology Department.