Keystone Oaks to Launch Student Data Privacy Database | The Locally Times
By April 22, 2026, Keystone Oaks will launch a searchable online database, giving parents unprecedented insight into how their children's digital data is collected, used, and protected.
Your child's digital footprint at Keystone Oaks is about to become a lot more transparent. By April 22, 2026, the district is set to launch a comprehensive online database, detailing exactly how every digital tool used in classrooms handles student data. This move comes as Keystone Oaks School District races to meet a federal deadline for updated Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) requirements, aiming to significantly increase transparency regarding student data collection and usage. As The Locally Times previously reported, this searchable database will be a central resource for families. The core of the district's compliance strategy involves publishing an online list of all approved digital tools, complete with direct links to each company's privacy policy. This initiative directly addresses COPPA's mandate for companies serving children under 13: clear disclosure of collected information, its usage, and the necessity of parental consent. Recognizing that schools often select required digital tools for learning, the district emphasizes its responsibility to be transparent about application usage and data handling. This upcoming searchable list promises to empower families, allowing them to easily review privacy practices and understand precisely how student information is safeguarded as Keystone Oaks works towards full COPPA compliance. ## Google Workspace: What Data is Collected? When Keystone Oaks School District creates student accounts for Google Workspace for Education, it may provide Google with personal information like a student's name, email address, and password. Beyond this, Google can directly collect additional personal information from students, such as a telephone number for account recovery or a profile photo. As students engage with Google's core services, the tech giant gathers further data, including account details, activity within those services, settings, app, browser, device information, and even location data via IP address or GPS. These Google Workspace for Education Core Services — a suite including Assignments, Calendar, Classroom, Drive and Docs, Gmail, Google Meet, and more — are central to student learning. Google clarifies that it uses student personal information from these Core Services primarily to deliver and enhance the services, provide support, ensure security, and fulfill legal obligations. Crucially, Google explicitly states it does not display ads in Core Services, nor does it leverage personal information from these services for advertising purposes. Students might also access other Google services, like YouTube and Google Maps, or third-party services enabled by school administrators; details on these are available from the Keystone Oaks Technology Department. ## Your Options: Opt-Out and Data Management Parents retain significant control over their child's engagement with Google Workspace for Education services. The district's notice outlines a clear opt-out process: families who prefer their child not to use these services can contact their school principal or the Technology Department. Opting out will disable the child's account, effectively preventing access to these digital learning tools. For existing accounts, parents can also request account deletion or manage personal information by contacting Technology Director Aaron Smith directly, or by visiting "My Account" while their child is signed in. It's important to note how Google may disclose personal information. This can occur with Keystone Oaks School District administrators and authorized resellers, with explicit parental consent, with affiliates or trusted third parties for processing, or in response to legal reasons or valid government requests. The foundational Core Google Workspace for Education services are governed by the Google Workspace for Education Agreement and the Cloud Data Processing Addendum. Ultimately, the district's forthcoming online list aims to offer families a transparent overview of these complex practices and the privacy policies for *all* approved digital tools. ## Your Questions Answered **When must Keystone Oaks comply with new privacy rules?** The district must comply with updated Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) requirements by April 22, 2026. **How will parents access information about digital tools?** Keystone Oaks is launching an online list of all approved digital tools, complete with links to each company's privacy policy, to boost transparency. **Can parents opt their child out of Google Workspace for Education?** Yes. Parents can opt out by contacting their school principal or the Technology Department, which will disable their child's account and access to these services.