At Outschool, we prioritize our learners' safety and privacy, and we know that our educators share this commitment. Online platforms for children under 13, like Outschool, must inform parents about the data we collect from their learners, how it is used, and how parents can access or delete it. Providing accurate information is critical so parents can make informed decisions about their children's online interactions. To ensure compliance with legal requirements like COPPA, our class approval process carefully considers learners' privacy rights when determining the appropriateness of third-party teaching tools, including websites and learning management systems.

We build safety and security into our learners’ experiences to protect their data while fostering strong communities at Outschool. Transparency is key, and educators must indicate any third-party resources they plan to use in their class descriptions, especially for learners under 13. This allows parents to assess whether they want their children to access these websites and provide the necessary consent. We've refined our processes to help educators choose enriching and approved resources for their classes, ensuring our platform remains a safe and trusted space for young learners.
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Of note: teachers may share educational resources and relevant third-party tools as resources directly with parents for educational purposes. In those cases, teachers should always do so in context and through the "Parent Conversation Tab" (never with a minor learner) to determine the relevance for their own family. Links must be educational or provide supplemental enhancement to classroom learning. All Communication Standards and Safety Policies must be followed, including sharing personal information for educational purposes. Violations of this policy may result in restriction or removal from the Outschool Platform.

When using external websites or LMS platforms that learners will visit, you'll need to list them in the External Resources section of your class listing so families can make informed decisions about third-party data use. Below is a list of tools we’ve identified as compliant (safe for learners under 13) or non-compliant (prohibited for learners under 13).

All tools listed in the External Resources section will be highlighted to families upon enrollment, giving parents time to provide consent before class starts. For tools not on our compliant or non-compliant lists, educators must review the resource’s privacy policy, ensure COPPA compliance, and take necessary steps to protect learners. With third-party tools and off-platform communication, safety is paramount; instructors should adhere to privacy standards and protect boundaries by not sharing Personal Information (PI).

If you have suggestions for third-party services you’d like us to review, please fill out this form.

Reviewed Third-Party Tools

Non-compliant resources are only prohibited if you direct learners to these external websites. In some cases, you may share those resources with parents directly through the Parent Communications Tab on the messaging system. You can use materials like Vimeo in your classroom presentations and lectures if you don't provide links or allow learners under 13 to access these sites directly.

*While YouTube isn’t intended for children under 13, Outschool allows educators to use YouTube videos in a compliant way by embedding links directly into the classroom.

Once you've met the requirements, disclose the resources you’ll use when setting up your class listing by adding each one separately.