Online Student Accounts - Permission & Restrictions

Due to the COPPA law, many websites require users under the age of 13, and sometimes under the age of 18, to obtain their parent's permission before creating an individual online account. The sites listed below require such permission. Depending on the site, the Terms of Use generally may ask that the permission come in the form of signed forms, credit cards, etc. Because many sites have great educational value and because asking parents to repeatedly submit permission forms is burdensome, the Shelby County Schools' Student Code of Conduct now contains a provision for school administrators to authorize the use of certain sites without each student obtaining parental permission. Teachers may request that additional sites be added by completing this form Request Form .

Parents who do not want their child to set up an account on any of the following sites, must notify the school in writing. Generally, students will only set up accounts when directed to do so by their teacher or because they find the site useful in completing a school assignment.

Teachers and parents should note that some sites do not allow children under the age of 13 to create accounts regardless of parental permission

Approved Sites

Sites	Suggested Site Usage	Age Restrictions	Privacy Policy
Anchor	Podcast option	For students over the age of 13.	https://anchor.fm/privacy
Animoto	Make Great Videos easily	13+  (No students under 13, unless teacher creates account)	https://animoto.com/legal/privacy_policy
AncestryK12	Research ancestry, access to primary sources (old newspapers, military records, etc.)	Must have written permission from parents for students 18 to 13 years of age. No one under 13 may use the site.	Privacy Policy link:  https://www.ancestryk12.com/K12/Privacy/
Bookadventure.com	great website for engaging reluctant readers	Teachers should create an educator account and class. Student accounts should be made in the teacher's class. Student usernames should be first name + first initial of last name. Individual student accounts should not be created, only as part of a class with the teacher educator account.	https://bookadventure.com/privacy-policy/
Booksource Classroom	Classroom library organization	Student accounts are not created. The teacher makes the account and then adds students. Use First name and Last initial only for student accounts.	https://classroom.booksource.com/files/privacyPolicy.pdf
Animoto for Education	Video creation	Age 13+ only Teacher must create accounts	https://animoto.com/legal/education_terms
Brainzy.com (Paid teacher version)	Reading and Math	Ages: 3+	Privacy: https://www.education.com/privacy/
Bubbl.us	Brainstorming made simple	All	https//bubbl.us/help/privacy
CalculationNation	Math and Geometry Games and Contests	All	Privacy: https://www.nctm.org/terms/
Canva	Graphic Design, new way made simple	All Ages	https://about.canva.com/terms-of-use/
Class Dojo	Way to encourage students to share best moments with parents	All ages*	https://www.classdojo.com/privacy/ *Teachers should not display individual student rankings to the entire class, only groups. Teachers should use this to reward and encourage good behavior and participation in accordance with Positive Behavior Supports.
Code.org	Students way of learning Computer Science	Any	https://code.org/privacy
Codecombat.com	An hour of Code	Age 13+	Recommend parent approval Privacy Policy
Coggle.it	Collaborating Ideas	All	https://coggle.it/privacy
CommonLit	Reading - Fiction & Non-Fiction	Grade 5 - 12	https://www.commonlit.org/privacy.html
CS2N.org	Computer Science step-by-step	Any  - Computer Science Student Network	https://www.cs2n.org/privacy
Desmos Online Graphing	Math	Middle & High	Privacy: https://www.desmos.com/privacy
Digital Passport/Common Sense Media	Digital Citizenship	Ages: Grades 3+	Privacy Link: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-mission/privacy-policy
DuoLingo	Learning a new Language	All Ages	https://www.duolingo.com/#terms Note all work submitted may be used or shared by DuoLingo. The terms caution users not to use DuoLingo to translate confidential information.
Easy Bib EDU	EasyBib EDU is a powerful citation and research management tool	High School only	Privacy Policy
Edmodo	Great way to Track Students Learning Progress	Any	Privacy Policy
Edpuzzle	Add personal touch to making videos, and teachers can track students understanding	Any age - must be Invited by their teacher to join	Users should always click box that prohibits site from using account for marketing. https://edpuzzle.com/privacy
EduClipper	Collaborating work with other teachers and with students	Any
EduCreations	Share video lessons, built for digital classroom	All Ages.	https://www.educreations.com/privacy/ If you are a student, please do not send any Children's Personal Information about yourself to us, other than what we request from you when you sign up for the Service.
Emaze	Online presentation software, will create slideshows, video, and 3D presentations	No restrictions	https://www.emaze.com/terms-of-use/
Epic!	Online books	Ages K-5, Teachers create accounts for students	Privacy: https://www.getepic.com/privacy
Flipgrid	collaborating with teachers and students using a video platform		Privacy Policy - https://legal.flipgrid.com/
FreeRice.com		All Students Teacher must create account	Purpose: Quizzes on different subjects. Earn free rice for hungry people around the world. Teacher Directions: http://freerice.com/teachers
Freckle (formerly) Front Row	Math and ELA	All Ages	Privacy Link: https://www.renaissance.com/privacy/
Gamestar Mechanic	Learning to Design Video games	All Ages	https://gamestarmechanic.com/about/privacy Under 13, teacher should create class account https://gamestarmechanic.com/teachers/license_agreemen
Glogster EDU	Creating multimedia Posters, Great digital storytelling	Any	http://edu.glogster.com//terms-of-use/
Google	Access Google email, apps	Shelby Ed.org Google Apps for Education accounts only	https://www.google.com/edu/privacy.html https://cloud.googleblog.com/2014/04/protecting-students-with-google-apps.html
GroupMe	Group messaging, share photos- Works with any device	13+ years of age	https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement/default.aspx Teachers should have students sign a consent form which notifies them that all text message charges are their responsibility and affirms that they have their parent's permission for the app to be used.
How the Market Works	Purpose: Understanding the Stock Market, Financial Literacy, and Math	Grades 4 - 12	Privacy: https://education.howthemarketworks.com/privacy-policy/ Notes: Teacher must set up student accounts. The teacher must opt out of getting solicitations and should not use their social media accounts or student email accounts when setting up their classes.
Sutori.com	History, Timelines, etc.	Age: All	Students under 13 must use unidentifiable usernames for accounts Privacy: https://www.sutori.com/terms-of-use
Kakooma Math	Math Games	All Ages	Students should be careful to opt OUT of any checkboxes which might subject them to advertising within the program.
Kahoot	Class activities	All Ages but student should use pseudonyms	Terms: https://kahoot.com/privacy-policy/
Khan Academy	Online learning what you choose and at your own pace- Math, History, Computer Science, test prep, Economics and finance, art, etc.	All*	May use freely if no individual student accounts are created. If individual students accounts are wanted, then the teacher must establish those accounts for students. (Parents may also individually authorize their children to create accounts if they wish.)
Kid Blog	Safe & Simple Blogs for Students	Any, but teacher must create the account and then add student accounts	https://kidblog.org/home/privacy-policy/
Kodable	Learn computer coding	K-5 Teachers must create accounts for students.	Privacy: https://www.kodable.com/privacy
LearnZillion	Cloud-based curriculum	Any, provided teacher or school admin creates the accounts, not the student	https://learnzillion.com/privacy
Lino	Web Browser Collaboration for sharing photos, ideas, discussions	14 and up ONLY	https://www.asteria.com/jp/en/privacy/ Users should Opt Out of receiving emails. Users should not use social media accounts to sign up.
LooseCanon	Book recommendations/ Reading	Grades - All	Privacy: https://loosecanon.com/privacy-policy/
Lyrics2Learn	Reading taught with music	K-5	https://www.lyrics2learn.com/privacy
Matific	Interactive math mini-games	All Ages	https://www.matific.com/us/en-us/home/privacy/
Memrise	Foreign Language Skills	13+ Only	Notes: Create a new account, do not use Gmail or Facebook to create an account. Privacy: http://www.memrise.com/privacy/
Microsoft Touch Develop	Computer programming	N/A	Privacy:https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/intellectualproperty/copyright/default.aspx
MinecraftEDU	Educational version of the original game, teaches working together and uses the game to teach history, math, art, programming, creative writing, science, music, digital citizenship	All Ages	https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-US/privacystatement
MobyMax	Way to build up from the ground up on Common Core Standards	All Ages	https://www.mobymax.com/privacy-policy
NewsELA	Great way to build reading comprehension with current events	Any	https://newsela.com/privacy-policy/
NoRedInk	Helping to improve grammar and writing skills	Grades 5-12	https://www.noredink.com/terms
OpenEd.com (Now ACT Academy	Build assessments and homework for every common core	All	K-12 Lessons, Games, and Quizzes Privacy Policy: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/privacy-policy.html
Padlet	Brainstorming corkboard collaboration tool	All	Privacy: https://padlet.com/about/privacy
Piktochart	Infographic creation tool	Any, prefer 13+	Privacy: http://piktochart.com/piktocharts-privacy-policy/
PlayPosit	Site for creating interactive videos using their database of video clips and teacher-made questions placed throughout the video.	6th grade and above, must be 13 years old	Privacy: https://learn.playposit.com/privacy/
Powtoon	Create animated videos and presentations	Grades 8-12	This site does not allow users under the age of 13 even for education accounts. Students should immediately Opt Out of mailing lists in order to avoid receiving promotions via email. Students should not use their private social media accounts to sign in. Student work may be publicly visible. https://www.powtoon.com/blog/privacy-policy/
Prezi		Great for Visual Storytelling and conversational presenting	13+ (No students under 13, regardless of parental permission)	http://prezi.com/privacy-policy/
Prodigy	Curriculum based math website for home and school use to determine students understanding in math concepts and needs presented in a standardized test format.	Recommended for 1st-8th grade. Teacher creates the account and then students are under that account.	https://www.prodigygame.com/Privacy-Policy/
Quia	Create activities, quizzes, calendars, surveys for students and get results	Any	https://www.quia.com/web/privacy_policy.html
Quizlet> Quizlet Teacher Acct.	Study tool that can be used for any device. Flashcards, test, study games	All student accounts created to use with class activities should be created as if they are under the age of 13*	*Quizlet disables the Facebook/Twitter components on accounts for users under 13. Teachers should have All students enter birth dates that will indicate that the student is 12 or younger. This will require a parent email address. Instruct students to use the teacher's Google email address, not their parent's email address to create the account. Then the teacher should approve each child's account. Students should NOT use their SCS Google account to sign up.
ReadWorks	Purpose: Reading Comprehension of Non-Fiction	Grades: Elementary - Middle	Privacy: http://digital.readworks.org/privacy
Reflex Math	Purpose: Math Fluency	Ages: 7+	Privacy: https://accounts.explorelearning.com/reflex/privacy
Remind	Way to communicate with students and parents- Sending out quick reminders	Any Ages	https://www.remind.com/privacy-policy Teachers should have students sign a consent form which notifies them that all text message charges are their responsibility and affirms that they have their parent's permission for the app to be used.
SAS Curriculum Pathways	Interactive curriculum resources by grade levels, courses	Any Ages	Any Age, but teachers must set up account and provide students with code. Students should use their Google Account to sign in. https://www.curriculumpathways.com/portal/popup#/privacy
Scootpad	Math & ELA Personalized Learning	All Ages	Privacy: https://www.scootpad.com/about/privacy SCS MoA
Scratch from MIT	Program your own interactive stories, games and animations	All Ages	https://scratch.mit.edu/privacy_policy/
SeeSaw.Me	Document learning with online creations and portfolios	All Ages	Privacy Terms: https://web.seesaw.me/privacy
SkoolBo	Fun program to help with reading and math.	All Ages	http://www.skoolbo.com/terms
Socrative	Student engagement, formative assessment, student feedback	All Ages	Privacy: https://socrative.com/privacy/
Tackk	Engage Students in Collaboration	13+ years of age	https://www.tackk.com/mentions-legales
TeachMyMonsterToRead	To combine technology skills and reading skills. Engaging students with learning games.		Student accounts should be made that are nonidentifying https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/legals
Tinker Cad	3D design and engineering	Must have permission from parents for students 13 and under. Educators may obtain appropriate consent.	https://www.autodesk.com/company/legal-notices-trademarks/terms-of-service-autodesk360-web-services/terms-of-service-for-tinkercad
TypingWeb	Typing Curriculums, Games and Test	All Ages	Students to create username and password, but do not have to use email other other personal data to use the site.
Voice Thread	Collaborate on images with drawing and voice recordings.	All Ages but teacher must create accounts using the K-12 option.	Privacy Terms: https://voicethread.com/howto/student-privacy-pledge/
Voki	Managing classes and lessons	13+ years of age	http://www.voki.com/privacy
education.weebly.com (Weebly)	Great way to keep parents up-to-date; accept homework assignments online	All Ages*	*Accounts for students under 13 must be created by the teacher, not the student. All student websites, regardless of age, but must be created on education.weebly site, not the general Weebly site which incorporates targeted advertising into its Privacy Policy. All Weebly websites must be for students. Teachers must maintain their websites on our blog server or other Shelby Ed server approved by the Tech. Department. Education Privacy Policy: http://education.weebly.com/privacy/