1.What is Google Apps for Education?

Google Apps for Education is a suite of web-based programs providing email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, calendaring, online storage, research, and collaboration tools for all Maryville R-II students and teachers.

2.What programs are available through Google Apps for Education?

Maryville R-II's Google Apps for Education may include Gmail, Calendar, Docs, and Sites among others. Each School determines the tools that best suit their educational environment.

3.I thought only students over 13 could have access to email. Will Gmail and Google Apps be available to elementary students?

Yes and No.

Students under 13 ordinarily need parent permission to have email accounts, however COPPA allows Maryville R-II to act as the parents' agent and approve the accounts on their behalf. To be COPPA compliant, we must provide an opt-out process and have done that (see #10 below) so all students will have Google Apps accounts (including Gmail) built into Maryville R-II's private domain.
 
While all of these tools will be available to Eugene Field Elementary School students, access will be limited or disabled.

4.How will Google Apps for Education be used in my child's school?

Google Apps for Education aligns with the international standards for technology integration, as well as with the Maryville R-II District Technology Plan. A full suite of tools will be available for all Maryville R-II Students.
 
It is up to each school to decide which tools are most appropriate for its individual educational setting. Contact your school to learn more about how Google Apps will be used.

5.How will Maryville R-II's Google Apps for Education be accessed?

Google Apps for Education runs on an internet domain purchased and owned by the Maryville R-II School District and is intended for educational use only. As a cloud-based suite, Google Apps for Education will be available anywhere in the world via the web at https://www.google.com/a/maryviller2.com. 

6.Does Google Apps for Education filter content?

All internet traffic in the Maryville R-II School district is filtered for inappropriate content, however, there is always a chance students will be exposed to inappropriate material. While at school, staff will monitor use of Google Apps and other internet sites. Please monitor your students' use of Google Apps while off campus. At all times, whether at school or off campus, students are responsible for their adherence to Maryville R-II's Acceptable Use Agreement. (Click here to  view the agreement)

7.What types of safety and security measures are in place for Google Apps for Education?

Maryville R-II's Google Apps for Education complies with legal requirements for safety and security such as the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

In addition, Maryville R-II commits to the following regarding student privacy:
      1. Not to publish confidential education records (grades, student ID numbers, etc.) for public viewing on the internet.
      2. To appropriately limit public access to student work, photographs and/or videos.
      3. To provide Maryville R-II parents or legal guardians with the ability and right to investigate the content of their minor students' email account
           and Google Apps for Education files.

8.Will I have access to my student's email account?

The Google Apps for Education accounts are the property of the Maryville R-II School District. This means that the content in these accounts may be accessed or searched by delegated Maryville R-II employees (IT Staff, Administrators,etc.) in accordance with Board of Education Policy JFG.
 
As the provider of these services, the Maryville R-II School District has included several safety features in Google Apps for Education:
       1. Parents, guardians, and administrators will have access to their minor student's Google Apps account login information made available by
           TA teachers (MMS) or the High School Registrar. In the case of students who are 18 or over, access to accounts will be limited to
           designated District employees.
       2. Filters to block SPAM, viruses and inappropriate content.
       3. Parent, Guardian, and Administrator ability to review all student emails.

9.Can I contact my student using his or her Gmail address?

Absolutely! We encourage communication between parents and their children. Your child's email address will be their username@maryviller2.com. The username is usually the first 4 letters of their last name followed by the first 3 letters of their first name. For example, if George Washington was a student in the Maryville R-II School District, his email address would be washgeo@maryviller2.com. 

10.What if I am just not comfortable with my student having a Google Account? Can I opt-out?

We want you to be involved with your student's education. To discuss how Google Apps for Education will be used at your child's school, please call your child's school. A delegate from the school will be happy to answer your questions and help you to understand your options. You can also use the Comments/Questions button at the top of this page.
 
If you still feel it would be best for your child to not utilize these tools, the delegate will make sure that your student's account is closed. Please keep in mind, though, that the decision to disable your child's Google Apps for Education account may effect his or her daily interaction in the classroom. While we will make every effort to accommodate any student who is not using these tools, the full impact of a lesson or project may not be felt by a student as the lesson or project may have been built around Google Apps.

If you would like to review the opt-in/opt-out letter for Google Apps for Education that was sent home, click here. 

11.What happens if students misuse their Google Accounts?

The same expectations for acceptable use of technology (as outlined in the Student Acceptable Use Agreement) apply to Google Apps for Education accounts. Students who misuse their accounts will be referred to their school's administrator who will deal with any infraction on a case-by-case basis. Administrators may choose to suspend student access to Gmail (preserving access to Docs and other Apps for classroom use) or may choose to suspend a student's account privileges entirely for a length of time appropriate for the offence. Parents/guardians will be notified should their student's account access be altered or suspended.