Everything K-12 teachers need to know about using AI tools safely — without risking student privacy. Guides, checklists, and honest comparisons.
AI is transforming how teachers create lessons, worksheets, and assessments. But with that transformation comes a critical question: what happens to student data when you use these tools?
FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and COPPA (the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) set the rules. But the rules are written for lawyers, not teachers. This hub translates them into practical guidance you can use today.
Every article below is factual, non-alarmist, and focused on what you actually need to do — not what you need to worry about.
Start here. These guides cover the core privacy laws and how they apply to AI tools in K-12 classrooms.
The complete FERPA checklist for evaluating AI tools. What the law requires, what to look for, and how to protect student records.
If you teach students under 13, COPPA matters as much as FERPA. This guide covers what it requires and how to evaluate tools.
Factual, fair reviews of popular AI teaching tools — focused on data practices and FERPA compliance.
SOC 2 certified with student-facing features. What their data model means for your district.
A Chrome extension in Google Workspace. What that means for student data and privacy.
100+ resource types, teacher-focused design. How its privacy model compares.
Answers to the questions teachers actually ask about AI and privacy in the classroom.
When you need permission, when you don't, and how to start using AI tools today.
A step-by-step guide with the 5 rules for FERPA-safe AI use in your classroom.
A 10-point checklist to evaluate any AI tool's privacy practices before you commit.
Most AI tools try to comply with FERPA — managing student data carefully, signing DPAs, getting SOC 2 certified. TeachTools takes a different approach: we eliminated the problem.
Students create accounts → Students interact with AI → Student data is collected → Vendor must comply with FERPA → DPA required → Ongoing compliance management
Teacher uses AI → AI generates content → Teacher distributes to students → No student data enters the system → Nothing to comply with
No student data collected. No account required to try.
It depends on the tool and how it's used. AI tools where only the teacher interacts with the AI and no student data is collected have the simplest FERPA compliance path. Tools where students interact directly with AI require a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) and careful evaluation of data practices. The safest approach is choosing tools that architecturally prevent student data from entering the system.
Yes. The key is choosing AI tools that keep students out of the AI loop. When a teacher uses an AI tool to generate a worksheet and then distributes the finished document to students, no student data enters the AI system. This is functionally equivalent to using a word processor — and creates zero privacy risk.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects student education records from unauthorized disclosure. When AI tools collect student data — names, grades, writing samples, or even student prompts — they become subject to FERPA requirements. Schools must designate vendors as 'school officials' through Data Processing Agreements before sharing student data with them.
Not all of them. Teacher-only tools like TeachTools generate worksheets without collecting any student data — the teacher enters a topic and grade level, and students receive the finished document. Other tools that let students interact directly with the AI, or that process student work, do collect student data and require FERPA compliance measures.
A DPA is a legal contract between a school district and a technology vendor that specifies how student data will be handled, stored, protected, and eventually deleted. It's the standard mechanism for FERPA compliance when sharing student data with third-party services. If an AI tool processes student data, the district should have a signed DPA before deployment.
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