August 30, 2022 —— Along—a teacher-student connection builder provided for free by Gradient Learning, with support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative—has been assessed and awarded the iKeepSafe FERPA and COPPA Privacy badges in recognition of its alignment with iKeepSafe’s best practice guidelines surrounding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). As part of this achievement, Along will display the iKeepSafe Privacy badges to show that the product has been proactively and independently assessed by an experienced privacy protection organization.
iKeepSafe Privacy Assessment badges help schools easily identify websites, apps, data management platforms, and other technology products that are in compliance with various privacy laws governing student data. Products that carry the iKeepSafe seal provide educators and parents with the assurance that the product meets iKeepSafe’s standards in the areas of privacy, safety, and security.
“We congratulate Along for undergoing iKeepSafe’s comprehensive privacy assessment,” said Amber Lindsay, iKeepSafe CEO and President. “Protecting student privacy is essential for keeping youth safe in the digital age. By completing our assessment, Along has demonstrated a commitment to the safety of their users.”
“The protection of children’s personal information is a critical component for any student tool. That’s why when we created Along, we designed it to keep student information safe, secure, and private—and we prioritize this in everything that we do,” said Samia Zaidi, program director for Along. “As a teacher-student connection builder, Along is built to foster authentic one-on-one conversations directly between a teacher and their students. We are proud to earn certification from iKeepSafe, particularly during back to school season as educators are exploring ways to build connections with their students using trusted tools.”
Products participating in the iKeepSafe assessment program must undergo annual re-evaluation to continue displaying the iKeepSafe badge. For the evaluation, an independent privacy expert reviewed Along,its policies, and their data governance practices.
For over a decade, iKeepSafe has been a trusted resource for schools and parents looking for balanced information about safe and healthy use of connected technologies.
For more information about Along, visit https://www.along.org/. To learn more about Along’s core commitments to data privacy, visit https://www.along.org/trust-safety/.
To view iKeepSafe’s list of assessed products, visit https://ikeepsafe.org/products/.
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About iKeepSafe
The Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe) certifies digital products as compliant with state and federal requirements for handling protected personal information. We help organizations achieve and maintain compliance through product assessments, monthly monitoring, annual training, and assistance with remediation.
Governors, First Spouses, and State Attorneys General from throughout the United States joined with law enforcement agencies, and child safety advocates in the formation of the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe) a national effort promoting the safe and healthy use of technology. iKeepSafe was founded by Jacalyn S. Leavitt, former First Lady of Utah, in 2005. Over the past decade, iKeepSafe has evolved into a leading organization trusted internationally by families, educators, and industry.
About Along
Along is a first-of-its-kind teacher-student connection builder provided at no cost by Gradient Learning, a nonprofit organization founded and led by educators who are driven to bring communities, schools, and families together in pursuit of meeting the needs of every student. Using simple, yet powerful, reflection questions, Along helps to solve the connection gap between teachers and their students by fostering authentic conversations. Along was named a 2022 ‘Best Tool for Back to School’ by Common Sense Education, an independent and trusted source that educators turn to for advice about technology to use in the classroom. With the support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Gradient Learning partners with communities, schools, and educators to create solutions—such as the Summit Learning program and Along—to meet the holistic needs of every student while fostering success for all.