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Student Data Privacy & District Approvals

Learn how Speakable protects student data and how your school or district can complete the approval process quickly and securely.

Austin Meusch avatar
Written by Austin Meusch
Updated this week

Overview

Most public school districts—and many private schools—require a signed Data Privacy Agreement (DPA) before educational technology tools can be used with students, especially if any student data is collected or processed.

Speakable supports multiple fast, compliant options for completing a DPA. While not every school may require one (for example, small private high schools or teachers using the platform without student accounts), a signed DPA is the most reliable and widely accepted way to ensure:

  • Legal compliance under FERPA, COPPA, and state privacy laws such as SOPPA (Illinois)

  • Use with students under 13 without requiring individual parental consent

  • Smooth procurement for school- or district-wide adoption

This article explains what a DPA is, why it matters, and how your district can get one in place quickly.

Why Use Speakable in Schools?

Speakable is designed for K–12 educational use and offers significant instructional and operational benefits:

  • AI-powered feedback helps students build confidence and fluency in speaking and writing

  • Curriculum-aligned assessment tools support ACTFL/WIDA standards and proficiency tracking

  • Rubric auto-grading and instant feedback save teachers hours of grading time

  • Privacy-first design ensures data is never sold, shared, or used for advertising

Speakable qualifies as a school official under FERPA, operating under the direct control of schools and districts, and using student data exclusively for educational purposes.

What Is a Data Privacy Agreement (DPA)?

A Data Privacy Agreement (DPA) is a legal contract between Speakable and a school or district. It defines:

  • What student data is collected

  • How that data is used, stored, and protected

  • How privacy regulations (FERPA, COPPA, SOPPA, etc.) are followed

  • The responsibilities of both parties

Why a DPA matters:

  • Ensures legal compliance under federal and state law

  • Documents that Speakable is authorized for use with students under 13

  • Allows schools to provide consent on behalf of parents under the COPPA school exception

  • Reduces administrative burden by eliminating the need for individual consent forms

Even when not legally required, many schools sign a DPA to follow best practices and ensure student privacy is fully protected.

Speakable’s Compliance Commitments

Area

Our Practice

FERPA

Compliant as a school official under district control

COPPA

Compliant using the school authorization model

Parental Consent

Managed through the district once a DPA is signed

Advertising

Not permitted under any circumstance

Third-party Sharing

None without a written contract

Data Usage

Limited strictly to educational purposes

Data Security

Encryption, access control, and audit logs in place

Speakable never sells or shares student data for marketing or advertising.

DPA Options: Choose What Works Best for Your District

Speakable supports three easy methods to complete a DPA, depending on your district’s process:

1. Sign via the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) — Recommended

Speakable is a registered vendor in the SDPC via the A4L Community, which allows districts to sign a National Data Privacy Agreement (NDPA).

This method is:

  • Fast and standardized

  • Widely accepted by states and school systems

  • Fully compliant with FERPA, COPPA, and SOPPA

2. Use Speakable’s Standard DPA

We provide a legally reviewed, pre-written agreement that meets national privacy standards. This is ideal for districts not currently using SDPC.

To request our standard DPA, email hello@speakable.io.

3. Submit Your District’s Custom DPA

If your district requires its own DPA format, we’re happy to review and sign it (pending legal review). Send the document to hello@speakable.io and our team will follow up.

Using Speakable With Students Under 13

To comply with COPPA and related privacy laws:

  • Your district must sign a DPA authorizing the use of Speakable and allowing the school to act as the agent providing consent

  • Speakable may not be used with students under 13 until this DPA is in place

  • Once signed, the DPA satisfies federal COPPA consent requirements—no separate parental forms are needed

If you're not sure whether your district already has an agreement in place, we can help check.

For Teachers: How to Start the Approval Process

  1. Ask your tech coordinator, curriculum lead, or privacy officer if your district requires a DPA and whether Speakable is already approved.

  2. Share this article or forward a request to hello@speakable.io.

  3. Confirm approval before assigning Speakable to students under 13.

  4. If your district does not have a signed DPA, and you are teaching students under 13, you must collect parental consent before students create accounts.

We’re happy to help with documentation or contact your district directly to speed things along.

Need Help?

We work directly with school and district teams to:

  • Provide a sample DPA

  • Sign SDPC Exhibit E

  • Review custom district agreements

  • Explain our privacy and security practices

Contact us:
Email: hello@speakable.io
Schedule a call: Book a meeting

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