Learner safety is our top priority.
One critical step in protecting our classroom community and in promoting open and positive communication is to ensure that each participant is, in fact, a child (ages 3-18). To confirm that only children are enrolled in our classes, we require that each learner join the class with video enabled so they can connect in person with the teacher at least once at the beginning of each class.
This visual check-in procedure allows the teacher to confirm that the learner is, in fact, a child. With that confirmation from the teacher, your learner may elect to participate with the camera disabled (unless expressly noted by a teacher in their class description).
Learners without cameras, anyone refusing to turn on cameras, or individuals experiencing technical difficulties who cannot check in with a teacher in person will not be admitted to class; they will be put in the waiting room.
We want Outschool to be accessible to all learners; thus, we understand that not all families have video access for such confirmation (or may not want to enable video for many reasons). So, fret not: we have an Alternative Child Learner Verification process! Please email verification @ outschool.com if you have any questions about the program.
If you are ready to proceed, you and your child can also schedule a private in-person screening meeting with a Trust & Safety team member to verify your learner through this program. Parents and children must attend this private online meeting together using an active camera device for verification purposes; this Alternative Learner Verification process can take up to a week to schedule, so please email us well before your class.
This one-time yearly verification program bypasses our standard camera check-in protocols. Outschool does encourage all learners to engage with their teachers and classmates with their video enabled for a quality experience; however, we do not require cameras on past check-in to participate. Most classes only need a camera after an initial check-in; still, since teachers make their own classroom rules, learner families should always carefully read a class description and check with a teacher before signing up to see if cameras must be used to participate fully. Due to the subject matter, certain classes and teachers may choose to require cameras to be on for educational (face-to-face debate or private dance lessons) or safety purposes (like learning knife skills or working with chemistry equipment). If a teacher has a mandated camera policy for a specific class, it will be listed in the class description. If an on-camera mandate is not mentioned in a class description, learners may turn off their cameras once they visually check into class.
Access to Outschool Classroom Video:
Outschool wants to maintain the same security and safety standards in keeping all class recordings private and ensuring only enrolled learners and their families can view videos of classroom instruction. In addition to the regular class check-ins during each session, all learners must periodically check in to their live classes to have continued video access videos (only released at a teacher's discretion). Students who have regularly missed class (or have not been in attendance for a long time) must attend a live for a recheck, OR they can apply to receive an Alternative Learner Verification, which will permit them to view those videos (if released by a teacher)