Outschool is committed to being the safest and most trusted online learning platform.
To ensure the safety and security of our community, we have established a mandatory ID Verification process for educators. This verification confirms the identities of our teachers, enhancing overall community safety and trust. It also helps us guard against the growing problem of identity fraud, ensuring that individuals controlling the accounts are who they claim to be and contributing to a secure learning environment for all.
Teacher Identity Verification (IDV) must be completed from one of Outschool’s supported teaching countries: the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, or Spain.
For other teaching requirements, please review "Becoming an educator on Outschool."
How Teacher Identity Verification (IDV) Works
We use a service called Persona to perform identity verification. Persona is a secure, industry-standard service for identity verification. You can learn more about their information security practices here.
Clicking on the "Verify" button in your teacher account settings will take you to Persona's website. Persona will initiate a verification process with 3 steps:
Scan the front of your ID document
Scan the back of your ID document
Take 3 selfies to verify "Liveness": one selfie facing forward and two selfies while turning your head from side to side.
Once you complete the verification through Persona, you will be brought back to Outschool's website.
If you are a U.S.-based educator, and you clear the verification, you will be automatically directed to begin your background check immediately after your identity is verified, so you can complete both steps in a single session. Educators outside the U.S. will be brought back to Outschool's website.
Accepted Identity Documents for IDV
Passport
Passport card
US or Canadian driver's license
National ID card
US state ID card or Canadian provincial ID card
Preparing for Identity Verification (IDV)
To prepare for Teacher Identity Verification, complete the following steps:
Confirm that you are completing the process from one of Outschool’s supported countries.
Have a physical copy of your ID available.
Make sure you have appropriate lighting so you can take clear photos and the information on your ID is legible.
Turn off pop-up blockers in your browser as they could prevent the verification process from opening.
Turn off any virtual private network (VPN) before opening the verification link; VPNs are not permitted during Identity Verification.
Handling an Expired Identity Verification Link
Identity Verification links remain active for 3 days. Complete the verification within this period before the link expires. If your Identity Verification link has expired, contact Outschool Support to request a new link.
Troubleshooting Identity Verification (IDV)
If you are having trouble completing Identity Verification, try the following:
Improve lighting and image clarity: Place your ID on a flat, dark surface and avoid backlighting from windows or other bright light sources. This will help Persona capture a clear and legible image.
Adjust the camera focus: If the ID image appears blurry, slowly move your ID toward the camera until it comes into focus.
Position your ID within the frame: Make sure your ID appears within all four corners of the frame.
Check your internet connection: Make sure you have a stable internet connection before continuing the verification process.
Clear your browser’s cache and cookies: This may resolve link-related issues such as timeouts or links that do not open. Recommended browsers are Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Try a different device or browser: If the issue continues, try completing Identity Verification using another device or a different supported browser.
Teacher Identity Verification (IDV) FAQs
IDV Timing and Frequency
How long does Teacher Identity Verification take?
Completing the Teacher Identity Verification process should take no more than three to five minutes.
How often will I need to complete Teacher Identity Verification?
Teacher Identity Verification is a one-time process. Background checks are annual because an individual's record could change over the course of a year, but their identity would not.
IDV Eligibility and Verification Results
What if my identification is already associated with another Outschool account?
Each educator is permitted only one individual teaching account on Outschool. If your identification is already associated with another individual teaching account, your identity verification will not clear.
You may teach with multiple organizations on Outschool. If your identification is associated with accounts for multiple organizations, contact Outschool Support so our team can review your verification submission.
Why was my Teacher Identity Verification rejected?
Teacher Identity Verification may be rejected for one or more of the following reasons:
Unsupported location: You attempted to complete verification from a country where Outschool does not currently support teachers.
Virtual private network (VPN) use: A VPN was active during verification, preventing Persona from confirming your location.
Duplicate Outschool accounts: Your identity is connected to more than one Outschool account. If you have a legitimate reason for using multiple accounts, such as teaching with multiple organizations, contact Outschool Support for assistance.
Expired identity document: The identity document you submitted has expired.
Age requirement: Teachers must be at least 18 years old.
Unclear images: Persona could not clearly read your identity document or verify your photo because of poor lighting, image quality, or camera quality.
Identity Verification vs. Background Checks
How is Teacher Identity Verification different from a Background Check?
A background check validates that there are no offenses on an individual's record that might risk the trust and safety of the Outschool community. Teacher Identity Verification confirms that the teacher completing the process is the same individual whose background check was completed.
IDV Privacy, Security, and Technology
How is my identity verification information used and stored?
We do not use this information for anything other than verifying your identity. The information you provide is encrypted and stored securely on Persona’s servers. Persona’s servers are certified for SOC 2 Type II, a leading global security framework.
How does Persona address bias in facial recognition technology?
Persona has built its technology to be mindful of human and societal biases in machine learning data sets. Persona compares your selfie with your own identity document rather than comparing your face with other users. Facial recognition software has historically shown more bias when comparing faces across different users.
Getting Help with Identity Verification
For additional technical help with the Persona verification process, visit Persona’s help center.
For Outschool-specific assistance, you can contact Outschool support.