Teachers find great tools every week, and most districts now ask that new apps be reviewed before students use them. This guide gives a plain-language overview of the main US privacy laws and a checklist you can use when you find a new tool. It is general information, not legal advice; your district’s policies and privacy office have the final word.
COPPA in brief
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act applies to websites and apps that collect personal information from children under 13. In general, they need verifiable parental consent before collecting it. In schools, the Federal Trade Commission has allowed schools in some cases to consent on parents’ behalf when a tool is used only for educational purposes, which is one reason districts review tools centrally.
FERPA in brief
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects students’ education records at schools that receive federal funding. When a vendor handles education records, schools generally need to keep control over how that data is used, often through a contract or data privacy agreement. Many states have their own student privacy laws on top of FERPA.
A checklist for any tool
Accounts: Do students need accounts? What information is required to create one? Data: What does the tool collect, and why? Is any of it sold or used for advertising? Ads: Are there ads or links to other sites? Sharing: Who else receives student data? Deletion: Can the school delete student data, and how? Agreement: Will the company sign your district’s data privacy agreement?
If you can’t find answers in the privacy policy, that is an answer in itself.
When you find a tool you like, it is worth sharing with colleagues along with your checklist answers. A shared, district-approved list saves everyone from reviewing the same tool twice.
Red flags
Ads aimed at children, social features that let strangers interact, requests for photos, location or real full names when the activity doesn’t need them, and vague privacy policies that say data may be “shared with partners”. Free tools deserve the same scrutiny as paid ones.
How AmuseMind approaches it
AmuseMind is designed to collect as little as possible. Students play without accounts and never type a name or email. There are no ads, no chat and no advertising trackers. The AI hint coach receives only the positions of the puzzle pieces. Class features are in early access, and we sign data protection agreements with schools that need them. See our Privacy Policy for the details, and share it with your district’s reviewers.
Talking with families
Families appreciate knowing which tools their children use and why. A short note at the start of the year, listing approved tools and linking to their privacy policies, builds trust. Explain what you check for, such as no ads and minimal data, so families know the thinking behind your choices.
Invite questions. Some families have strong views about screens or data, and a quick conversation often clears things up. Where a family prefers it, offer a no-screen alternative for the same activity, such as paper puzzles.
Finally, keep a simple record of the tools you use and when they were approved. When your district updates its policies, or a tool changes its terms, you will know what needs another look.
Questions teachers ask
What should I do if an approved app changes its terms?
Let your district’s technology or privacy office know. Terms and features change over time, and reviewing tools periodically, especially after major updates, is part of keeping student data safe.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a general overview. Check your district’s policies and talk to your privacy or technology office about any specific tool.
Does AmuseMind need student accounts?
No. Puzzles play in the browser with no student accounts or personal information.
Will AmuseMind sign a data privacy agreement?
We sign data protection agreements with schools that need them. Request a demo from our For schools page to start that conversation.
