District Approved Apps

Third-party apps are used extensively in K-12 school districts for various purposes including:

• Teaching and learning: offering interactive materials and games

• Collaboration and communication: enabling project collaboration and resource sharing

• Assessment and grading: facilitating assessment creation and administration

• Classroom management: aiding in classroom management and parent communication

Potential Risks

Despite their benefits, these apps pose potential risks, particularly regarding student data privacy and potential security vulnerabilities. Students may be required to share personal information which can then be shared with the app developer or other parties. Additionally, these apps may contain security vulnerabilities which could expose student data or result in malware installation.

Recommendations

To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to thoroughly evaluate each app before implementation and establish policies for student data protection and third-party app use.

To request a review of an app, please fill out this form.

Once an app submission is received, the Information Technology Department evaluates it based on:

• Data usage: What types of data the app is harvesting and utilizing

• Privacy: The app's privacy policy specifics

• Security: Implemented security measures of the app

Data agreement: The developer's readiness to sign a data processing agreement