What Are Google Core Services?

Core Services are the essential tools provided by Google Workspace for Education. These include:

These tools are fully compliant with Connecticut state privacy laws, FERPA, and COPPA, and do not require parent or guardian consent.

These tools are fully compliant with Connecticut state privacy laws, FERPA, and COPPA, and do not require parent or guardian consent.

What Are Google Additional Services?

Additional Services include a broader set of consumer-facing Google tools such as:

These services are not automatically compliant with student data privacy protections. However, Connecticut allows students to access these services if a parent or guardian opts in via consent.

LEARN will be collecting this opt-in consent via TalkingPoints, giving families a clear way to say yes or no to these services.

Teacher Access and Expectations

• Teachers retain full access to all Google services, including Additional Services like YouTube and Translate.

• Teachers may not input student data into Additional Services unless the student has been opted in.

• Teachers can embed YouTube videos or content from Additional Services within Core platforms (e.g., Slides, Classroom) as workarounds.

• Projecting content during whole-class instruction is allowed, even if students can't access the Additional Service directly.

How Families Will Opt In

• LEARN will share a message through TalkingPoints, which will:

  • Explain what Google Additional Services are

  • Describe the data they may collect

  • Allow families to respond with “Opt In” or “Opt Out”

• Only students whose families have opted in will be granted access to Additional Services.

Best Practices for Teachers 

• Design lessons with equity in mind: Ensure that non-opted-in students still have access to equivalent instructional content.

• Use Google Core Services as your foundation for content delivery.

• When using Additional Services, ensure any links or embedded content:

  • Does not require login

  • Is accessed through Core Services (e.g., Google Slides, EdPuzzle)

• Avoid any workarounds that involve bypassing login restrictions or exposing students to unmoderated content.

Privacy & Compliance Reminders

• Additional Services can only be used with opted-in students, even though they may appear in the Admin Console.

• The Google Admin Console at LEARN separates staff and students using Organizational Units (OUs) to control access accordingly.

• Chrome Extensions and Marketplace Add-ons may also be restricted unless privacy is verified. IT staff will confirm whether a tool uses or stores PII before assigning it to students.

Note on Embedded YouTube Videos

• Students who are not opted in can still view embedded YouTube videos in Google Slides, Classroom, or certain platforms like Nearpod or EdPuzzle.

• This is allowed because the student is not logged into YouTube directly, and there is no data exchange with YouTube.

Summary of Do's and Don'ts

Adapted from the New York State Regional Information Center’s Google Resource Hub