Online Accounts

The Orchard Farm School District will provide students access to Google Apps for Education (GAFE). GAFE includes a suite of web-based programs providing email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, calendaring, research, and collaboration tools for all OFSD students and teachers. The effective use of these tools will help prepare and engage our 21st century learners.

We believe that the tools provided by GAFE suite neatly align with international standards for technology integration. While a full suite of tools will be available for all OFSD schools, each school will determine which specific ones are most appropriate for their individual educational setting.

GAFE runs on an Internet domain purchased and owned by the Orchard Farm School District and is intended for educational use only. As a cloud-based suite, GAFE will be available at school and at home via the web.

Even though a strict content filter will be in place while students are in school and off-campus (and an email filter is in place at all times), there is always a chance students will be exposed to inappropriate content. School staff will monitor students’ use of GAFE. Parents are encouraged to monitor their child’s use of GAFE when accessing programs from home. Students are responsible for their own behavior at all times and their strict adherence to OFSD’s Acceptable Use Policy is expected.

Because the Orchard Farm School District is providing these services, we want to make you aware of some of the safety and educational features Google Apps for Education provide:

Parents will have access to their student’s Google Apps account (login information will be provided by contacting the district's technology department).

The following safety features will be in place:
Filters to block SPAM, viruses, and inappropriate content
Parent and administrator ability to review all student e-mails

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (effective 4/21/2000) requires websites to gain parent permission for users under the age of 13 and/or 18 before creating individual online accounts. Many educational sites used by the Orchard Farm School District now require such permission. These sites go through an administrative approval process to ensure the educational value for students. Students will only set up accounts when directed to do so by their teachers. There will be no cost to parents for participation in such sites. The school does not accept responsibility for accounts that students create on their own, not directed by their teachers.

C.O.P.P.A. rights do not apply to websites not requiring individual accounts.

Parents who do not want their child to participate must notify the school in writing.

For more information about the Orchard Farm School District's Google Apps for Education and Chromebook Policy and FAQ please click here.

Additional Information
Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

The Orchard Farm School District’s schools are required by CIPA to have technology measures and policies in place which protect students from harmful materials including obscene and pornographic. This means that student email is filtered. Mail containing harmful content from inappropriate sites will be blocked.

-- CIPA - http://fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

COPPA applies to commercial companies and limits their ability to collect personal information from children under 13. By default, Google advertising is turned off for Apps for Education users. No personal student information is collected for commercial purposes. If parents do not opt out, the school has permission to act as an agent for parents in the collection of information within the school context. The school may only use student information for education purposes.

-- COPPA - https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions-0

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA protects the privacy of student education records and gives parents or legal guardians rights to review student records. Under FERPA, schools have the right to disclose directory information (name, phone, address, grade level, etc...) but parents may request the school not disclose this information.

Accordingly, the Orchard Farm School District commits:

- Not to publish confidential education records (grades, student ID #, etc...) for public viewing on the Internet
- To adhere to the Parent/Guardian Media Consent form and to appropriately limit public access to student work and/or photographs
- To provide OFSD parents or legal guardians with the ability and right to investigate the contents of their student’s email account and Google Apps for Education files.

-- FERPA - http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa

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Online Accounts