Online Safety
It is the responsibility of all of us – students, parents, and school district employees – to ensure students exhibit responsible online behavior at all times, and that they are protected from inappropriate content.
DIGITAL LEARNING safety:
Our school district has detailed policies to set expectations for the appropriate and safe use of technology. Our district also has a 1:1 Device Agreement that all parents must sign in order to accept a district-issued device. Digital learning is an integral part of a student's school experience, and it is important that we all read and are familiar with these policies and agreements.
We request that parents and students review these resources to learn more about keeping students safe and productive online.
Student Data Privacy Matters
Needham Public Schools is committed to ensuring data privacy to safeguard student safety and student information. Protecting students from harm such as identity theft, harassment, and unauthorized data collection, is a critical concern. As educators, it is our job to ensure our students are protected in this manner.
In an increasingly online world, there is an amazing choice of online learning tools that support teaching and learning. The advancement in these tools is extraordinary and they provide potential to improve student outcomes. Along with this explosion in the growth of online learning tools, comes the inherent risks around student data and understandable concerns over student privacy.
ADOPTED DIGITAL TOOLS
Needham Public Schools is a participating member of the Student Data Privacy Alliance. As a partner in this alliance we have developed a standard Massachusetts Data Privacy Agreement, and the alliance facilitates having software vendors sign this agreement with Needham Public Schools. In order to help teachers and students make informed decisions about digital tools, we have a standard core set of tools that we promote, support, and provide professional development and training in. In addition, we have a large number of vetted digital tools that are approved for use. The vetting process has us review the app from an educational perspective, looking at purpose alignment. We also look at the technical reliability of the solution - is it well-designed, easy to use, and reliable? We review terms of use, policy, and privacy documents. If the tool requires any personally identifiable information from the student, we work with the Student Data Privacy Alliance to have the software provider agree to the alliance’s agreement.
In student handbooks at all levels, there is a statement included about digital tools in our schools; please review our Core Set of Digital Tools to know more about what our students are using.