Online privacy at school

[freshsqueezed]

First, I thought I recall discussion on this in the past but can’t find anything now so if anyone can, feel free to link.

One of my son’s teachers sent out that she wants all the kids signing up for this program and getting it linked to their google account. I should be more on top of this privacy issue but I’m not and having a hard time understanding if I should be ok with these programs. I have to sign a form allowing this program. Even her email asking families to do this is difficult for me to follow (nevermind I follow now she is saying she just needs a response before she can use it)so I’m wondering if people have suggested reading on this or perhaps a way to break down these issues to me like I’m 5. I’m including her email which I’m unclear if I don’t sign up do I stop it from being used by everyone(clear on this now), just my child, or is there just no problem with this anyway as long as they don’t enter the optional privacy info??



Good afternoon,
Students receive access to a free program with their band book called "Essential Elements Interactive"- this is now able to be integrated with Google Classroom, making accessing and using the program easier and more user friendly. We WILL be using this program throughout the year, so it is highly recommended students use it.
The recent COPPA law passed restricts access to students under 13 from any website/program that collects data on students, thus in order to use the website, parents will need to fill out the Google Form
Please fill this out ASAP as I have to have all students accounted for before I can use the program.
EEI's COPPA policy is attached for you to review.
EEI gives the option to put in a child's address, phone number, email and date of birth. I do NOT put any of these details in, and students will be told not to either.
If you do not wish to give permission for this, please type in the signature area of the Google Form "I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION". We will not connect EEI with your child's google account. (Parents can sign their child up on their own at home if they still wish them to use the program).

[donutsmakemegonuts]

It doesn't look like you not giving permission will prohibit the rest of the class from using it. It seems like she's allowing people to "opt out" with the google form and the ability to sign "I Don't Give Permission". It seems that she is suggesting that students sign up for the program because she will be using it throughout the year, but it isn't mandatory. It also seems like she is allowing parents to sign up their own children at home if they want to use it and not have it go through the school.

[freshsqueezed]

Oct 18, 2024 13:15:02 GMT -5 donutsmakemegonuts said:

It doesn't look like you not giving permission will prohibit the rest of the class from using it. It seems like she's allowing people to "opt out" with the google form and the ability to sign "I Don't Give Permission". It seems that she is suggesting that students sign up for the program because she will be using it throughout the year, but it isn't mandatory. It also seems like she is allowing parents to sign up their own children at home if they want to use it and not have it go through the school.

Ok when she says everyone accounted for I guess she just means everyone has to opt in or out before she starts using. Seems to make it difficult for any parent to say no then if everyone around is using for class.

I’m just not clear if this is a privacy issue or not. Only an issue if they share that info or just an all around bad practice I’m struggling with here.

[dexteroni]

Oct 18, 2024 13:27:07 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

Seems to make it difficult for any parent to say no then.

I don’t think so. She just needs everyone’s yes or no replies before she can start using it.

But is there a specific concern you have with using this program? I don’t really see a reason not to give this permission, unless there’s something obvious that I’m missing. I would probably say yes to make it easier for my child to use it.

Also, since you don’t understand her email, whatever questions you have about it should probably directed to her rather than us, so she can make sure you have the correct information. Then if you have security questions about the program itself, she can answer those too. Like how long has it been in use, have there been any known data breaches, are most parents giving permission, etc.

[donutsmakemegonuts]

Oct 18, 2024 13:27:07 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

Oct 18, 2024 13:15:02 GMT -5 donutsmakemegonuts said:

It doesn't look like you not giving permission will prohibit the rest of the class from using it. It seems like she's allowing people to "opt out" with the google form and the ability to sign "I Don't Give Permission". It seems that she is suggesting that students sign up for the program because she will be using it throughout the year, but it isn't mandatory. It also seems like she is allowing parents to sign up their own children at home if they want to use it and not have it go through the school.

Ok when she says everyone accounted for I guess she just means everyone has to opt in or out before she starts using. Seems to make it difficult for any parent to say no then if everyone around is using for class.

I’m just not clear if this is a privacy issue or not. Only an issue if they share that info or just an all around bad practice I’m struggling with here.

What part would be a privacy issue?  

[freshsqueezed]

Oct 18, 2024 13:32:39 GMT -5 donutsmakemegonuts said:

Oct 18, 2024 13:27:07 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

Ok when she says everyone accounted for I guess she just means everyone has to opt in or out before she starts using. Seems to make it difficult for any parent to say no then if everyone around is using for class.

I’m just not clear if this is a privacy issue or not. Only an issue if they share that info or just an all around bad practice I’m struggling with here.

What part would be a privacy issue?  

There are issues with all programs and having them tracking the info of children. So that’s really what I’m trying to crowd source for info here as I know that’s been discussed in the past.

[donutsmakemegonuts]

Oct 18, 2024 13:34:38 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

Oct 18, 2024 13:32:39 GMT -5 donutsmakemegonuts said:

What part would be a privacy issue?  

There are issues with all programs and having them tracking the info of children. So that’s really what I’m trying to crowd source for info here as I know that’s been discussed in the past.

From her email it says that she is not entering the information into the system, just gathering the info on a Google doc, which you can refuse to do.  This is how I'm interpreting the email at least.

[freshsqueezed]

Oct 18, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Oct 18, 2024 13:27:07 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

Seems to make it difficult for any parent to say no then.

I don’t think so. She just needs everyone’s yes or no replies before she can start using it.

But is there a specific concern you have with using this program? I don’t really see a reason not to give this permission, unless there’s something obvious that I’m missing. I would probably say yes to make it easier for my child to use it.

Also, since you don’t understand her email, whatever questions you have about it should probably directed to her rather than us, so she can make sure you have the correct information. Then if you have security questions about the program itself, she can answer those too. Like how long has it been in use, have there been any known data breaches, are most parents giving permission, etc.

I’m saying it would seem to be hard if everyone is using it for someone to say no. This is for band.

My question is really about schools and these programs in general and the privacy issues so I was hoping maybe someone with more knowledge or working in the field might have some insight. I recall discussions before…may have been a spouse working in this field.

[dexteroni]

Oct 18, 2024 13:37:35 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

I’m saying it would seem to be hard if everyone is using it for someone to say no.

Oh yes I just saw your edit of that other comment. I get your point now. I mean, I would say try to find out more about it before you automatically reject it. And commenters here seem to be unclear on the teachers email (I kind of am too), so you won’t be the only one asking for clarification. And hopefully the person you’re thinking of will chime in.

[freshsqueezed]

Oct 18, 2024 13:36:10 GMT -5 donutsmakemegonuts said:

Oct 18, 2024 13:34:38 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

There are issues with all programs and having them tracking the info of children. So that’s really what I’m trying to crowd source for info here as I know that’s been discussed in the past.

From her email it says that she is not entering the information into the system, just gathering the info on a Google doc, which you can refuse to do.  This is how I'm interpreting the email at least.

It’s how I think, lol, I’m interpreting it too but I do think it’s just something I need to get better informed on, in general. What is ok and what isn’t and how to know the difference. None of this is going away. Thanks for sharing thoughts as it helps me to just be talking it through.

[janegold]

Not that it's entirely accurate - there are a ton of bad/inaccurate/outdated privacy policies out there - but this is the privacy policy for the program that describes what information of students may be collected and how it may be used or disclosed:

www.essentialelementsinteractive.com/EEI_COPPA_Privacy_Policy_Current.pdf
www.essentialelementsinteractive.com/EEi%20Cookie%20Policy%207-18.pdf

It indicates that the disclosures to third parties are limited, but the Google Analytics disclosures can sometimes be problematic. You can try to activate a Do Not Track signal on your browser or opt out of targeting/marketing cookies to limit the site's ability to engage in any tracking activity, if you choose to use it.

[imimahoney]

Oct 18, 2024 13:37:35 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

Oct 18, 2024 13:32:13 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

I don’t think so. She just needs everyone’s yes or no replies before she can start using it.

But is there a specific concern you have with using this program? I don’t really see a reason not to give this permission, unless there’s something obvious that I’m missing. I would probably say yes to make it easier for my child to use it.

Also, since you don’t understand her email, whatever questions you have about it should probably directed to her rather than us, so she can make sure you have the correct information. Then if you have security questions about the program itself, she can answer those too. Like how long has it been in use, have there been any known data breaches, are most parents giving permission, etc.

I’m saying it would seem to be hard if everyone is using it for someone to say no. This is for band.

My question is really about schools and these programs in general and the privacy issues so I was hoping maybe someone with more knowledge or working in the field might have some insight. I recall discussions before…may have been a spouse working in this field.

My district takes student privacy very seriously. We are not allowed to use any app or site unless it passes their privacy guidelines.

For example, quizlet used to be a very popular student and teacher review website. Their practices did not pass our districts threshold so it is now blocked by our district.

[whattheheck]

It reads to me as you can either give permission for your student’s school email to be connected or you can opt out and connect a personal email on your own but either way this is the program that is being used. I have some feelings about that.