Classroom management tools and the Texas SCOPE Act

Learn how classroom management tools and the Texas SCOPE Act helps schools ensure online safety.
Classroom management tools and the Texas SCOPE Act
Classroom management tools and the Texas SCOPE Act

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Keeping children safe online is the ultimate goal of the SCOPE Act. This state-wide legislation  emphasizes communication with parents and families of students so they have more visibility into the online activities of their minors and the threats associated with those activities.

Texas school districts are required to comply with the SCOPE Act by ensuring that devices and applications provided to students meet the standards set by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The stakes are high with steep penalties for non-compliance for schools located or based in Texas.  

This blog outlines SCOPE Act requirements for schools and recommendations for meeting this legal obligation. It also takes a deep dive into the role of classroom management as a foundational support for student safety.

What is the SCOPE Act? 

The SCOPE Act, short for the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act, was designed to protect minors from harmful content and data collection practices when using digital services and electronic devices in Texas schools. Texas House Bill 18 went into effect on September 1, 2024 for school districts all across the state. 

The law requires school districts to take action to prevent children from becoming victims of harmful, deceptive or unfair trade practices associated with the use of certain digital services, and to provide enhanced data privacy protections. Service providers are obligated to limit student access to content online that is harmful or dangerous. It also requires that parents provide consent for the use of such software and are kept better informed of the potential risks.

Key components of the SCOPE Act

The SCOPE Act can be broken down into the following key components:

Parental empowerment and protection 

The SCOPE Act aims to give parents more control over their children’s online experiences while ensuring schools and digital service providers take steps to protect students from harm. 

Data protection and consent 

Schools are required to minimize data collection on students and obtain direct and informed parental consent for the use of certain software applications. Likewise using or sharing personally identifiable information of minors is limited. The bill requires digital service providers to obtain parental consent prior to any agreement with users who are minors and to implement protocols that verify the identity of parents.

Transparency and disclosure

Providers of digital services used in classrooms are required to provide clear disclosures about their student data collection practices. Transparency about any use of data related to personal information is required.

Harm prevention 

The law places a duty on digital service providers to prevent minors from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, bullying and sexual exploitation. 

Age verification 

For digital services that allow users to create public profiles and content, the SCOPE Act may require age verification, especially for any services with a high proportion of harmful content. 

School compliance 

Schools must ensure that electronic devices transferred to students have defined periods of inactivity and implement appropriate cybersecurity measures, including internet filters. Prior to using any social media application for an educational purpose, schools must determine that no alternative application that’s more secure and provides the same educational functionality is available.

What do schools need to do for compliance? 

The following steps are recommended for schools and districts to ensure that they are compliant with their obligations under SCOPE legislation. 

1. Familiarize themselves with legislation requirements 

Understanding the specifics of what the law requires will help assure that schools prevent any consequences that would stem from any violation of this act. 

2. Review current practices

Examine how the digital services currently in use at your school or district currently collect and use student data. If any of these are questionable, communicate with the company. Ensure that you have parental consent where required.

3. Communicate with parents and families

Keep parents informed about the changes brought about by the SCOPE Act so they understand their responsibilities and rights. Parts of HB 18 have been challenged in the political arena as has been the case with similar laws in other states. Be prepared to address concerns coming from students and their families by providing resources and current information in a way that is supportive and builds trust.

4. Work with Digital Service Providers

Collaborate with your digital service providers to ensure they are in compliance with the SCOPE Act. This may involve updating agreements or implementing new safety features.

What tools can support teachers and schools in Texas? 

Here are some of the best tools to help schools be compliant and protect their students while promoting positive learning experiences. 

Effective classroom management

Classrooms that are well structured, where expectations are clearly communicated and   activities engaging provide safety for students. Effective classroom management helps make that ideal a reality. It is built on educator preparation, developed through practice, training and genuine caring. Common strategies range from setting rules that are fair and specific to fostering interaction and providing regular feedback.  

Web filtering software

Internet filters which help schools create a safe and productive digital learning environment by blocking access to harmful content are requirements for schools under the SCOPE Act. Filters with AI technology automatically assess online content including images, video or text and immediately block pages that are harmful or inappropriate. 

Some filtering companies on the market, such as Gaggle, also offer a student wellness tool that sends self-harm notifications to designated school administrators or school teams. They can then immediately notify the student’s parent, if a student accesses inappropriate or concerning content. Specifics of what content falls into these categories may vary depending on school policies. 

A screen monitoring tool in the classroom

Screen monitoring is a tool that helps educators keep learners safe and focused while they are online. Below are details on how actual teachers are managing their digital classroom while helping learners gain the skills they need to work toward online independence. Hāpara Highlights, a screen monitoring tool, can be used strategically to support teachers and schools with differing classroom management methods. 

Cybersafety instruction 

Instruction in cyber safety is an important protection that helps learners understand the importance of making responsible choices and potential consequences of imprudent action. Along with the other tools designed to protect them, this knowledge and practicing digital citizenship within a supportive school setting helps provide students the ability to protect themselves while online. Such skills may help minors learn how to take care of themselves and others as they grow into adults and function in the real world.

Technology tools to support classroom management 

Safety comes from sound practices in the classroom that are backed up by quality technology partners. Classrooms where teachers have rapport with students and are able to engage them in active learning tend to be less risky for students, schools and families. As veteran teachers know, engagement pivots on good classroom management. 

In classrooms where technology is a key component of teaching and learning, teachers are dealing with a new level of classroom management. They are asking for tools designed to support that new level according to actual school IT support professionals. 

Consistent real-time visibility into what learners are doing online helps schools that use Hāpara keep learners on track. Not only can teachers guide student browsing and open websites onto their devices, Hāpara’s Chat feature allows for one-on-one conversations that individualize learning. Features like the ability to view learners’ Google Drive files to check in on progress  empower Hāpara teachers to manage their digital classroom effectively while supporting students on their path to responsible digital citizenship.

Visibility into learning on Chrome browsers

Hāpara Highlights gives educators across grade levels visibility into what their learners are doing in their Chrome browsers during class. They can pull up Highlights on one screen, while teaching from a second screen, which allows them to conveniently manage their digital classroom. 

Opening websites directly onto learners’ screens

With online distractions, getting students where they need to be can be challenging especially at the elementary grade levels. Teachers can open websites directly onto learners’ screens with Hāpara Highlights, helping learners as they develop their executive functioning skills. 

Keeping students’ attention when on devices

The Pause Screens function is helpful when learners are focused on something on their devices but instructors need to quickly get their attention to give additional instruction or information. This Hāpara Highlights feature pauses student screens for five minutes, allowing the teacher to provide clarification or instructions, but also giving learners the chance to return to work quickly. 

With the “Share links” feature teachers can easily send learners a website link. This can be used to complete a Google Form or take a quiz, for example.

Striking the perfect balance in Texas classrooms

Schools in Texas, like others around the nation and world, need multiple strategies to keep minors safe while they engage in learning. Not all revolve around technology. Hāpara provides tools that help strike the ideal balance between technology and the real people it’s meant to serve. Excellent educators paired with user-friendly technology that supports them promotes student success in the digital classroom.

Explore how schools use a web filter and screen monitoring to keep students safe and teach digital citizenship.

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