Data Privacy & Security

At GDRSD, we go to great lengths to protect our students. This is clear in many ways: secure entrances, background checks for staff, and regular drills to prepare for emergencies like fires, intruders, and other potential threats. It’s just as important to us that you know we also care deeply about protecting our students digitally. We work hard to ensure that students' online interactions are safe and appropriate, that the data we collect about them throughout their time at school is securely protected, and that we are helping students develop good digital habits even when they are not under our direct supervision.

While these digital efforts may not be as visible as our physical security measures, we want to increase awareness of the essential steps we are taking to protect students online every day at GDRSD.

Federal Statutes

There are many “layers” of digital protections that follow your students as they go through their day. It is easier to understand them if we break them down by layers of protection and caring. We will start with Federal statutes that protect all children and their data in America.

FERPA

Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act
20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99

This law protects the privacy of student education records and applies to all schools that receive funds from programs of the U.S. Department of Education.

Learn more about FERPA

COPPA

Children’s Online
Privacy Protection Act
20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 16 CFR Part 312

This policy requires operators of online services that collect personally identifiable information from children under 13 to comply with requirements.

Learn more about COPPA

CIPA

Children’s Internet
Protection Act
47 U.S.C. § 254

Schools need to have a web content filter limiting children’s access to obscene or harmful content and a plan to educate students on digital citizenship.

Learn more about CIPA

Student Data, Online Instructional Applications

We may share student data with vendors that provide online instructional applications that students use, which are institutional functions or services. Most software and curriculum-related vendors sign a student data privacy agreement with our school district or other Massachusetts-based public school districts, found at the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC). Please review our existing Student Data Privacy Pledge here.

Groton-Dunstable Regional School District has established an internal vetting process to ensure new vendors are onboarded only after their privacy agreements have been thoroughly reviewed and fully executed. We are considering signing a contract with The Education Cooperative (TEC) to formalize our student data privacy. 

Also, it is essential to note that the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District has transitioned to the IJND—Access to Digital Resources policy for our students, faculty, and staff. This policy provides a high-level overview of digital citizenship, data privacy, and data security, ensuring technology's responsible and safe use across our district.

Apptegy Privacy Policy

Apptegy partners with GDRSD, supporting nearly all communication methods in our community, from websites to mass communication emails. Apptegy only uses student information to provide Thrillshare to you and your users. The data collected by GDRSD and shared with Apptegy is necessary for that limited purpose. GDRSD always directly controls the use and maintenance of all student information. Please see Apptegy's Privacy Policy for more detailed information.

students work on a chromebook

Google Workspace for Education Privacy Policy

Students will use their Google Workspace for Education accounts to complete assignments, communicate with their teachers, and learn 21st-century digital citizenship skills.

Further, we allow students to access additional third-party services with their Google Workspace for Education accounts. Starting March 31, 2025, students under 18 need parental consent to access certain Google services, such as YouTube, Google Earth, and Google Maps. GDRSD requires parents to consent through each year's handbook policy agreement to comply with Google's Terms of Service.

Looking ahead, parental consent for these services will be included in the school handbook acknowledgment process for the 2025-2026 school year.

Google provides information about the information it collects and how it uses and discloses the information it collects from Google Workspace for Education accounts in its Google Workspace for Education Privacy Notice. You can read the Google Notice Online for more details.

ClassLink Privacy Policy

ClassLink partners with GDRSD to provide staff and students with access to curriculum software via a management portal. ClassLink LaunchPad provides our entire institution with quick SSO access to a personalized portal of digital apps and resources from anywhere. Secure multi-factor authentication protects sensitive data. Please see ClassLink's Agreement with GDRSD for more detailed information.

Addtional Software

In addition, GDRSD is also affiliated with various curriculum-related software. Some more readily used vendors and privacy policy details are listed below.