Committee reviews Google Classroom consent policy; staff to clarify opt‑out implications

Revere School Committee members on Oct. 21 reviewed a draft parent permission process for students’ use of Google education services (Google Classroom, Gmail and related Google Education platform tools). Staff said the approach is to send a clear, standalone letter to families via ParentSquare with a PowerSchool link to register consent or opt out, rather than bury the language in the student handbook.

Staff explained the district considered other approaches used by neighboring districts, including removing Google entirely or embedding consent in the handbook, but chose a focused parental notice so families receive the information in their home language and can act in PowerSchool. The consent form will allow parents to opt out; staff said they will provide alternatives (paper copies) for students whose families opt out but that opting out may affect a student’s ability to electronically complete or submit certain assignments.

Committee members asked staff to add explicit language describing the consequences of opting out — for example, that the student may not be able to submit digital assignments and that teachers would need to provide paper alternatives. Staff also recommended clarifying that teachers are not required to use Google Classroom and that usage may vary by teacher. Committee members agreed to include those clarifications before distributing the notice to families.

The committee indicated it was comfortable voting on the policy with those editorial clarifications; no vote tally appears in the transcript excerpt.