COPPA & CIPA
What You Need to Know
What is CIPA?
CIPA is the Children's Internet Protection Act, which went into effect on April 20th, 2001. This law requires that K-12 schools and libraries in the United States have Internet safety policies and use Internet filters to protect children from harmful online content as a condition for federal funding and e-rate money.
What is COPPA?
COPPA is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. This law requires website operators to obtain verifiable parental permission to collect personal information from children younger than 13. This law went into effect on April 21, 2000 and states:
- Children younger than 13 cannot be required to give out more information "than is reasonably necessary" to participate in a site's activities.
- Website operators must ontain parental permission to collect personal information from children younger than 13.
- Parents have the right to know what personal information being collected and how it will be used.
- Parents have the right to review any information collected, determine whom it can be given to, and/or have the information deleted.
- Parental permission must be verifiable.
What Does This Mean For Teachers?
1. Use sites that you know are already approved by the District.
2. For new sites: Review website Terms of Service and follow them.
3. Or, seek out your Digital Learning Coach to help you verify compliance.