Protecting Learner Information: For Teachers

Protecting learner information is part of every class you teach and every interaction you have with a family. This article explains how to protect learner privacy and handle learner information. For guidance on running a live classroom, see Supervising Live Classes: For Teachers.

Do not reveal—or encourage a learner to reveal—personal information about themselves or their family. The Community Standards explain what counts as personal information.

You may ask learners to share their country or region, but make clear that answering is optional.

Get written permission from a parent before sharing a learner’s completed work publicly or with other students, such as an essay or art project. Parents may withdraw that permission at any time.

Do not share learner names, voices, faces, photos, or videos on social media or in another forum. Do not combine an Outschool class with a class or community hosted elsewhere. See the Teacher Social Media Policy.

Do not download, upload, or store an Outschool class recording. Recordings may be shared only with enrolled families or, within an organization, approved staff, teachers, and administrators.

Use caution when sharing recordings with learners who have not been verified, and contact Support if you are unsure.

If a learner exposes personal information on camera, such as a school logo or date of birth, turn off their camera or mute them and let them know privately through Zoom chat.

After class, hide the recording, notify the parent, and contact Support so the recording can be removed.

Any online game used during class must be included in the External Resources section of the class listing.

When a game uses multiplayer servers, use a private server limited to enrolled learners and keep it closed outside live class time. Do not leave learners unsupervised in servers. Avoid features that allow learners to interact with players outside Outschool.

If the game cannot be used without open team chat, unmoderated lobbies, or similar interactions, disclose that in the Parental Guidance section. Include any other relevant risks, such as required logins or in-game purchases.

If gamer tags are required, state that in the class listing and ask families to share them privately through direct messages rather than on the Classroom page. Monitor Classroom posts and remove any gamer tags or other personal information shared publicly.

Before using a tool that requires an account, create an account yourself and review its age restrictions. Never encourage a learner to misstate their age.

If the tool has a minimum age, disclose it in the class listing and explain when a parent must create the account. See Using Third-Party Tools with Learners for approved tools and requirements for learners under 13.

Keep your own personal contact information private as well. Follow Keep All Communication on Outschool.

Limited exceptions apply for needs such as class kits and recommendation letters. See When Teachers May Share Personal Information. That article also covers gifts between teachers and families.

When learners want to stay in touch after class, let them know their parents can message one another from the enrolled view of the Classroom page. Parents—not learners—should initiate that contact.

You are responsible for keeping your account secure. Do not share your password. Secure your devices and protect learner information and classroom links.

If your children use Outschool through your account, create separate learner logins for them.

No one else may access your teaching account or the learner information it contains, including family members, friends, or a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are permitted only through Outschool for Organizations and must complete the required approval process.

If you believe your account has been compromised, reset your password and contact Support immediately. Delayed reporting may result in suspension or a hold on payments.

To report spam or an unsolicited message, open the message and select the warning symbol in the upper-right corner. This stops messages from the sender and sends the account to Trust & Safety for review.

You cannot mark a thread you started as spam, and you can reverse the action from the Spam view. Use this feature only for unwanted mass messages—not to prevent active families from enrolling.

Report harassment, fraud, or suspicious behavior to Support.

Poor judgment involving privacy may result in a Trust & Safety strike or account restrictions or removal.

Parents and learners also have responsibilities. See Learner Safety and Privacy: For Parents.