Information

  • GOOGLE G SUITE

    The Missoula County Public Schools utilizes the Google G Suite for students, teachers, and staff. These online software tools are used to support your child’s digital skills and engage them in quality and safe learning.  As with any educational endeavor, a strong partnership with families is essential to a successful experience.

    In order for students to use these programs and services, your student’s first and last name will be provided to Google. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires these websites to provide parental notification and obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under the age of 13. The law permits schools to consent to the collection of personal information for non-commercial purposes on behalf of all of its students, which eliminates the need for individual parental consent given directly to the website or software application operator.

    The following services are available to students and hosted by Google as part of the MCPS online presence in the G Suite:

    • Drive – Google’s core suite of products including a word processing (Docs), spreadsheet (Sheets), presentation (Slides), and calendar toolset that is very similar to Microsoft Office
    • Mail – an individual email account for school use managed by the Missoula County Public School District (grades 3 – 8 only)

    Using these tools, students collaboratively create, edit, and share files for school related projects and communicate via email with other MCPS students and teachers. These services are entirely online and available 24/7 from any internet-connected computer. Examples of student use include showcasing class projects, building electronic portfolios of school learning experiences, and working in small groups on presentations to share with others.

    Guidelines for the responsible use of the G Suite by students:

    1. Official Email Address: All students in grades 3 – 8 will be assigned a student email account pending parent permission. This account will be considered the student’s official MCPS Gmail address until such time as the student is no longer enrolled with the Missoula County Public School District.
    2. Prohibited Conduct: Please refer to Board Policy 3612 District Provided Access to Electronic Information Services and Networks and Board Policy 3630 Electronic Devices.
    3. Access Restriction: Access to and use of student email is considered a privilege accorded at the discretion of the Missoula County Public School District. The District maintains the right to immediately withdraw access and use of these services, including email, when there is reason to believe that violations of law or District policies have occurred. In such cases, the alleged violation will be referred to a building Administrator for further investigation and adjudication.
    4. Security: Missoula County Public Schools cannot and does not guarantee the security of electronic files located on Google systems. Although Google does have a powerful content filter in place for email, the District cannot assure that users will not be exposed to unsolicited information.
    5. Privacy: The general right of privacy will be extended to the level possible in the electronic environment. Missoula County Public Schools and all electronic users should treat electronically stored information in individuals' files as confidential and private. However, users of student email are strictly prohibited from accessing files and information other than their own. The District reserves the right to access the student email systems, including current and archival files of user accounts, when there is reasonable suspicion that unacceptable use has occurred.

    IMPORTANT: Opting out refers to the District not consenting on your behalf regarding the collection of your student’s personally identifiable information (PII).  If you choose to opt-out, your child will not have access G Suite or be able to use Chromebooks and an alternate will be offered.

    Extended Digital Curriculum Resources

    The Missoula County Public Schools utilize various digital curriculum resources for students, teachers, and staff. These online software tools are used to support your child’s digital skills and engage him/her in quality and safe learning.  As with any educational endeavor, a strong partnership with families is essential to a successful experience.

    In order for students to use these programs and services, certain personally identifiable information (PII) must be provided to the website or software application operator. This is generally the student’s name and District-issued email. The District will provide only the minimum information required to access the educational materials and applications. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)[1] requires these websites to provide parental notification and obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under the age of 13. The law permits schools to consent to the collection of personal information for non-commercial purposes on behalf of all of its students, which eliminates the need for individual parental consent given directly to the website or software application operator. The District will not consent on your behalf to websites or applications collecting personal information regarding your child for commercial purposes. COPPA requires that a website or application seeking to collect personal information for a child under 13 years of age must obtain consent directly from the parent or guardian. 

    Montana Law HB745. This law applies to students in grades K – 12 and requires the District to enter into agreements with each vendor/operator that collects personally identifiable information (PII). Vendors/operators are prohibited from: (a) (i) engaging in targeted advertising on the operator's K-12 online application; or (ii) targeting advertising on any other site, service, or application when the targeting of the advertising is based on any information, including protected information and persistent unique identifiers, that the operator has acquired because of the use of the operator's K-12 online application; (b) using information, including persistent unique identifiers, created or gathered by the operator's K-12 online application to amass a profile about a pupil, except in furtherance of K-12 school purposes; (c) selling a pupil's information, including protected information.

    Teachers in the District may only use software/apps in the classroom that has been approved by the District. Approved software/apps all have agreements with the District that meet Montana law. A short list of the programs can be found below. Please click on the software/app name to view the company's privacy policy.