Why Some Districts Initially Say No
Sometimes a district may flag concerns when reviewing a privacy policy—especially if they interpret language to mean that individual teachers are responsible for collecting parental consent. For example, this clause in our policy:
“You must keep all consents on file and provide them to us if we request them.”
is intended for school or district administrators, not for individual teachers. In practice, Speakable does not require or expect teachers to manage consent collection on their own.
Speakable’s Approach to Student Privacy
FERPA Compliance
Speakable qualifies as a school official under the FERPA school official exception. This means we:
Perform an educational service that the school or district would otherwise handle internally,
Operate under the direct control of the district,
And use student data only for educational purposes defined by the district.
These roles are clearly established in the National Data Privacy Agreement (NDPA) that we sign with each district. Speakable does not sell or use student data for advertising or marketing.
COPPA Compliance
Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), edtech companies that collect data from students under 13 must obtain verifiable parental consent, unless the service is being used exclusively for educational purposes with authorization from the school or district.
According to FTC guidance:
“If the operator limits use of the child’s information to educational purposes only, the school can provide consent in place of the parent.”
— FTC COPPA FAQ – Section N
Speakable follows this guidance exactly:
We use data only to deliver educational services.
We never use data for advertising, profiling, or third-party sharing.
We require formal district authorization for under-13 use.
What Needs to Happen Before Using Speakable With Students Under 13
1. The District Must Sign a Data Privacy Agreement (DPA)
To use Speakable with students under 13, your district must enter into a Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) agreement or equivalent DPA that:
Authorizes Speakable’s use with students under 13,
Designates the district as providing consent on behalf of parents,
Confirms compliance with FERPA, COPPA, and state privacy laws (such as SOPPA in Illinois).
Once this DPA is signed, no separate parental consent process is required. The district's authorization satisfies all federal COPPA requirements and is also aligned with standard K–12 edtech practices nationwide.
2. The Platform Should Only Be Used Once Approved
Teachers should only use Speakable with students under 13 after their district has:
Formally approved Speakable for use,
Confirmed that a signed DPA is in place.
If you're not sure whether your district has already approved Speakable, check with your technology or curriculum team, or contact us directly—we’re happy to check for you.
Our Privacy Commitments
Area | Our Practice |
Data usage | Educational purposes only |
Parental consent | Managed through school or district authorization |
Advertising | None |
Third-party sharing | None without a contract |
Data security | Encryption, access control, and audit support |
FERPA | Compliant via school official designation |
COPPA | Compliant via school consent model |
Need Help Getting Speakable Approved?
We’re happy to work directly with your district’s legal or IT team. We can:
Provide a sample DPA,
Review your district’s privacy agreement,
Walk through our privacy and security practices.
Contact us:
Email: support@speakable.io
Schedule a call: Book a meeting