Scope Act
Below is a brief overview of two important regulations regarding your child’s online safety and
privacy that may apply to the digital platforms and services we use.
1. Texas Scope Act (SB 8): The Texas Scope Act, a new state law, imposes certain requirements
on businesses that collect personal data from minors. This law aims to ensure greater
protection of children’s privacy and establishes stricter standards for obtaining parental
consent for data collection. As part of our commitment to safeguarding your child’s privacy,
we adhere to these regulations and have implemented measures to ensure that your child’s
personal information is handled responsibly.
2. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): COPPA is a federal law that protects the
privacy of children under 13 years old. It requires that websites, apps, and online services
must obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children.
This law also provides parents with the right to review and delete any personal information
collected from their child. We ensure that any platforms your child uses in connection with
our services comply with COPPA requirements.
Below is a link to a list of commonly used websites, apps, and services used by the district.
Approved Apps
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and that the list may change over time.
While we will always err on the side of caution when it comes to the safety and security of your child
and their privacy, there are notable exceptions to both regulations.
1. Texas Scope Act (SB 8) - exceptions
Non-Interactive Websites and Services: If a website or app does not collect personal
information from minors or is not designed to interact with minors (for example, static
informational websites), it may be exempt from certain provisions of the Texas Scope Act.
Services for Educational Purposes: If a website or app is intended for educational purposes and
complies with specific privacy protections under laws like FERPA (Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act), it may be exempt from certain requirements.
Third-Party Advertising Platforms: While they must comply with certain privacy rules, some
third-party advertising platforms may not be subject to the same parental consent requirements
if they aren't directly collecting personal data from minors.
2. COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) - exceptions
General Audience Websites: If a website or app is not directed at children under 13 and does
not collect personal information from children, it does not need to obtain parental consent
under COPPA. For example, if a website is aimed at a general audience or adults, and it does not
specifically target or knowingly collect data from children, COPPA does not apply.
Internal Use: Websites or apps may not require parental consent if the collected data is used
only for internal purposes and is not shared with third parties or used to create a profile about
the child. For example, if a website collects data for purposes of managing a child’s experience
on the site (e.g., maintaining a user account) but does not use it for advertising or tracking, this
may not trigger the need for parental consent.
First-Party Data Collection for Certain Educational or Research Purposes: Certain educational
platforms, like those used for learning, may be exempt if they use data strictly for educational
purposes and comply with other federal laws, like FERPA, which ensures privacy for student
information.
Temporary Data Collection: If data is collected temporarily and is deleted within a short time
frame (usually under 24 hours), COPPA may not require parental consent. This applies to apps or
websites that briefly collect information without retaining it for extended periods.
Our goal is to provide a safe and secure online experience for all students. If you have any questions
or concerns about the Texas Scope Act, COPPA, or how we manage your child’s data, please don’t
hesitate to contact Russell.fenton@communityisd.org