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Software Vetting Process

We all know there are thousands of online and digital resources that can help students and teachers with the learning process. Many of these tools are great additions to the classroom but some can put staff, students, and families at risk. The Jeffco Educational Technology and Information Security teams have created a process to vet software titles commonly used throughout the District.  


The process has been created to accomplish the following goals:
  • Increasing transparency for families and community members.
  • Measuring how software protects student data and metadata.
  • Encouraging conversations around data use, security, and privacy.
  • Ensuring we are compliant with state legislation.

The process is also flexible giving schools choice: 
  • All software titles, subscriptions, and textbooks with digital content costing over $3500 per school need to be vetted.
  • Schools have choice for titles costing less than $3500
    • Schools can choose to play it safe and stick with the District vetted list.
    • Or schools can explore new titles and review security/privacy policies on their own.


Remember it is all about transparency 

As partners, we can continue to build trust with our parents by proactively communicating what technology tools are being used in your classroom and what you are doing to protect student data. Show that we are using the right tools, gathering the right data, using that data correctly, and keeping it safe!!

There are many ways in which you can communicate with parents such as: websites, Friday folders, and SchoolMessenger updates. The following information should be included to inform parents, in whatever method you choose.

Software Vetting Process Outline

A Quick Look at the Process

You basically have to answer three questions to navigate through the Jeffco software vetting process:
  1. Will the software cost over $3500 for your building?
  2. Has the software already been vetted?
  3. Are you willing to take training and review risk on your own? 
Depending on how you answer the questions:
  • You will be guided through the new and improved vetting process for software costing your school over $3500
  • Or you can choose from a list of safe District vetted tools that would typically cost a school less then $3500
  • You can also choose to manage risk for titles costing under $3500 on your own by taking software vetting Schoology course and reviewing your titles privacy policy
You will need to help Jeffco increase transparency by communicating tools used in your classroom or school for any of the paths you choose. Remember we are here to help. Ask us a question in the "Data Privacy & Security" Schoology group (Access Code 5QJDZ-JJ6SB)
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