Tech Adoption

The Sequoia Union High School District uses the process included here for technology app and program requests.

Data Privacy

The overarching reason for this process is to ensure we are only using apps that maintain the safety and security of our students' online data.  This is an important responsibility for all of us.  Ultimately, each of us is liable if we don't take proper precautions.  

When using technology apps and tools, especially free web tools, it is important to make sure that they are safe for our students, and that we are in compliance with student data privacy laws such as COPPA, SOPIPA, and FERPA.  For more information about student data privacy law, please check out this post from Common Sense Education.

California Education Code Section 49073.1

A third party who enters into a contract with an LEA for digital educational software or services, and/or for the digital storage, management, and retrieval of pupil records, must agree to contractual provisions related to student data privacy.

Some of the main areas we look for in terms of data privacy are whether or not the tool collects data and what the vendor does with the data.  We also look to see if a tool hosts ads.

The following are red flags that will likely lead to a request getting denied due to data privacy concerns:

• Collecting user information for targeted advertisements

• Ads hosted on the platform, itself

• Privacy policy is hard to find

• Students not allowed to use school email to create accounts

• Age restrictions

• Social media

• Use of student images

Often, free tools and apps are the most risky.  If a site is not asking for money to use it, that means they are likely selling user data to make a profit.

The general steps for the tech adoption process are outlined below.  

1. Check to see if the tool you want to use is already approved.  Please check the lists included on this page to see if your tool is already included.  

2. Discuss the app or program you wish to use with your department chair.  They may know of an existing tool already in use that fits the same needs.  As well, this opens the conversation among department members about new and exciting instructional strategies.

3. Once you're ready to submit your request, please use the Tech Adoption Request Form included here.

Students Log In

Any time you ask your students to log into a website or tool, you need to be sure that it is not collecting and selling your students' data or targeting ads towards them.  This includes free apps as well as Chrome extensions and add-ons.  This also includes resources your students will need to download or install on their device.

Please be sure to only use approved tools for anything that asks students to log in or install.

Teacher Generated Logins

Some sites allow you to create a set of usernames and passwords for your students.  These sites do not collect data about your students, since they are logging in with fake names.  In general, these are safe to use with students.  It's best to submit a request for these types of tools just to be on the safe side.

No Student Logins or Access

If your students will never interact with a tool, there is no need to have it approved for use with students.  This might include a worksheet generator (like Kuta for math) that you use as a teacher, but your students never see.