GAFE

GoogleGoogle Apps for Education (GAFE) in Texans Can Academies (TCA)

Please review this information regarding the difference between general Google Accounts and Managed Google Apps Accounts like the ones used in Texans Can Academies

https://support.google.com/a/answer/139019?hl=en&vid=1-635757540871056338-2850739412

 

The District has standardized on Google Apps for Education for all teachers and students in grades K-12 as a suite of web-based programs providing email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, calendaring, research, and collaboration tools for 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 the Google Apps for Education suite closely align with international standards for technology integration as well as with our State and District standards.For instructional and administrative purposes, students are automatically given access to Google Apps for Education accounts on the first day of school. In TCA, Google Apps for Education runs on an Internet domain owned by TCA and is intended for educational use only.

As a cloud-based suite, Google Apps for Education will be available at school and at home via the web. TCA uses a robust content filter, but, with all online activity, there is always a chance students could be exposed to inappropriate content. School staff will monitor students’ use of Apps when students are at school. Parents are responsible for monitoring their child’s use of Apps when accessing programs from home.  TCA internet filters DO NOT filter or restrict internet traffic when not at school.  Students are responsible for their own behavior at all times and their strict adherence to TCA’s Code of Conduct is expected.  TCA monitors all student email (which is limited to student to staff only) and the contents of student created Google Documents in Google Drive.

Communications are not considered confidential. TCA reserves the right to access and review content in the Google Apps for Education system at any time. TCA complies with all state and federal privacy laws.  The District provides the opportunity for parents to opt out of student participation in Google Apps for Education via the Permission form in Section III.  Note: parents must submit an updated permission form each year.

GOOGLE’s Statement for Security and Safety:

  • Since we launched Google Apps for Education — a cloud-based productivity suite that helps teachers and students connect and get work done from anywhere on any device — our goal has been to create a safe, beneficial learning tool. There are more than 30M Google Apps for Education users worldwide using our services for free, saving them millions of dollars every year.
  • Gmail for consumers and Google Apps users runs on the same infrastructure, which helps us deliver high performance, reliability and security to all of our users. However, Google Apps offers additional controls for schools, businesses, and government users.
  • Ads in Gmail are turned off by default for Google Apps for Education and we have no plans to change this in the future.

There is no processing of information stored in Google Drive or Docs (or Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms) for advertising purposes.


  • Here’s the security & privacy information on our Google for Education web page

Concerning Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/coppafaqs.shtm  COPPA limits the ability of companies to collect personal information from children under 13. No personal information is collected for commercial purposes in our GAFE domain. The permission form allows the school to act as an agent for parents in the collection of information within the school context.