Speakable's Commitment to Student Privacy
At Speakable, we take student data privacy seriously. We are a member of the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) and align with the standards of the Access 4 Learning Community (A4L). This means we’ve committed to strong privacy and security practices, including:
Collecting only the data we need to provide educational services
Never selling or sharing student data for marketing or advertising
Supporting schools and districts in complying with privacy laws like COPPA and FERPA
Signing data privacy agreements (DPAs) to formalize our responsibilities
To review our privacy practices, visit the Speakable Privacy Center.
District-Level Approvals and DPAs
In many school districts, new educational technology tools must be reviewed and approved before they can be used with students. This process often includes signing a Data Privacy Agreement (DPA) that outlines how student data will be protected.
Our Preferred Method: SDPC (A4L Community)
We encourage districts to use the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) to initiate or review a National Data Privacy Agreement (NDPA) with us. Speakable is a registered vendor in the system, and many states have pre-signed agreements on file.
This process is often faster, standardized, and ensures alignment with national privacy best practices.
Alternative: District-Provided DPA
If your district prefers to use its own DPA template, we are happy to review and sign it — pending legal review. Please send your district’s agreement to hello@speakable.io, and our team will follow up.
Parent Consent Requirements
Speakable is designed for educational use, and we follow COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) requirements. If you’re using Speakable with students under the age of 13 outside of a district-approved environment, you must collect parental consent before assigning student work.
If your school or district has signed a data privacy agreement (DPA) with Speakable, parental consent is typically handled at the district level. If not, please make sure you have a process in place to collect it before students begin using Speakable.
Steps for Teachers
If you’re a teacher looking to get Speakable approved in your school or district:
Check with your tech coordinator or curriculum lead
Ask if your district uses the SDPC and whether Speakable is already approved. If not, they can request a new agreement or approval through that platform.Request a DPA review
If your district uses its own process, send a request to your tech or data privacy lead and copy hello@speakable.io. We’ll be happy to provide documentation or review their DPA.Ensure parent consent (if needed)
If your district hasn’t signed a DPA with Speakable and you teach students under 13, be sure to collect parental consent before students create accounts or begin assignments.
Need help getting started?
We’re happy to walk you through the process. Email hello@speakable.io and let us know where you’re located and who we should contact in your district.