Beyond the App Store: Building a District Framework for Digital Resource Vetting

Outline

Introduction and Context Setting (5 minutes)

Welcome and presenter introduction highlighting district technology leadership role and personal connection through daughter's lived experience
Interactive poll via mobile device: "What's your biggest challenge in approving digital tools?" (privacy, accessibility, teacher pushback, vendor pressure)
Brief overview of session outcomes

The Problem: Why Systematic Vetting Matters (5 minutes)

Real-world scenario: A teacher requests approval for a "free" app mid-lesson
Data breach statistics and accessibility lawsuit trends
The cost of reactive versus proactive approaches
Audience quick-share with neighbor: "Describe your current approval process in one sentence"

The Four-Dimensional Framework (15 minutes)

Data Privacy (4 min): Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, state laws; vendor agreement red flags
Accessibility (4 min): Web Content Accessibility Guidelines standards, state legislation requirements, authentic student perspective video clip from third-grader with low vision describing barriers
Interoperability (4 min): Learning Management System integration, single sign-on, data portability, avoiding vendor lock-in
Pedagogy (3 min): Curriculum alignment, evidence of efficacy, instructional design quality
Participants use provided QR code to access framework document on their devices

Hands-On Application: Guided Vetting of a Real Application (15 minutes)

Presenter demonstrates live vetting of sample vendor application materials
Participants follow along using evaluation rubric template on their devices
Decision matrix scoring exercise completed together
Discussion of findings, scoring rationale, and common decision points

Building District Systems (10 minutes)

Creating approved resource lists: Tiering systems with Essential and Supplemental categories
Integration with 1EdTech TrustEd Apps dashboard demonstration
Cross-departmental collaboration model: Technology, curriculum, special education roles and responsibilities
Stakeholder communication templates for teachers, families, vendors
Pair-share: "What's one barrier to implementation in your district and one potential solution?"

Compliance and Ongoing Monitoring (5 minutes)

Annual review cycles and triggers for re-evaluation
Documenting decisions for accountability and transparency
Managing vendor updates and terms of service changes
State accessibility legislation compliance tracking
Professional development for leaders and teachers

Tools and Templates Walkthrough (3 minutes)

Digital resource packet overview: Vetting rubrics, decision matrices, communication templates, approval workflow diagrams
Access instructions for downloadable materials

Q&A and Action Planning (2 minutes)

Open questions
Individual commitment: Participants write one action step to implement within 30 days
Contact information for follow-up questions

Outcomes

After this session, participants will be able to:
Develop and implement a four-dimensional vetting framework that evaluates digital resources across data privacy, accessibility compliance, interoperability, and pedagogical alignment with curriculum standards.
Apply practical rubrics and decision matrices to assess vendor applications systematically, using consistent, defensible evaluation criteria that can be shared across departments and with stakeholders.
Integrate district-approved resource lists with the 1EdTech TrustEd Apps dashboard, leveraging external validation while maintaining local control over technology decisions and ensuring ongoing compliance monitoring.
Build cross-departmental collaboration structures that bring together technology directors, curriculum coordinators, special education staff, and classroom teachers to create shared ownership of the vetting process rather than siloed decision-making.
Incorporate authentic student voice into accessibility evaluation, moving beyond technical compliance checklists to understand real-world barriers faced by learners with diverse needs.
Participants will leave with customizable templates, evaluation criteria documents, and stakeholder communication tools ready for immediate district implementation.

Supporting research

Sources
1. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). (2020-2023). Advancing Edtech Evaluation and Selection: Teacher Ready Framework. https://iste.org/edtech-product-selection

Comprehensive resource providing practitioner-oriented tools for evaluating and selecting edtech products based on pedagogical effectiveness and usability. The Teacher Ready framework includes five key domains: user interface and agency, learning design, digital pedagogy, inclusivity, and data and assessment. Offers free downloadable evaluation tools with standardized criteria grounded in learning sciences to help districts determine needs and evaluate solutions aligned to ISTE Standards and curriculum objectives.

2. Edutopia (George Lucas Educational Foundation). (2022). A Rubric for Effective Edtech Use in All Grades. https://www.edutopia.org/article/rubric-effective-edtech-use/

Practical rubric condensing the ISTE Standards for Educators into seven actionable categories (learner, leader, citizen, collaborator, designer, facilitator, and analyst) for K-12 teachers and administrators to evaluate technology integration. Provides progressive levels from novice to expert across each category, helping educators assess whether technology serves learning goals and content standards rather than becoming technology for technology's sake.

3. Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). (2023). Student Data Privacy Toolkit (Parts 1-3: Fundamentals, Partnering with Service Providers, and Transparency and Trust). https://www.cosn.org/tools-and-resources/resource/student-data-privacy-toolkit-1/

Comprehensive guidance for creating student data privacy programs, including federal privacy laws (FERPA, COPPA, PPRA), working with technology providers, and building community trust in data privacy practices.

4. U.S. Department of Education, Student Privacy Policy Office. (2014). Protecting Student Privacy While Using Online Educational Services: Requirements and Best Practices. https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/resources/protecting-student-privacy-while-using-online-educational-services-requirements-and-best

Seminal federal guidance addressing FERPA and COPPA compliance requirements and best practices for schools evaluating educational technology tools and applications.

5. CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology). (2024). The UDL Guidelines 3.0. https://udlguidelines.cast.org/

Comprehensive research-based framework for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in K-12 education, addressing inclusive design, accessibility, and learner variability through three principles: engagement, representation, and action & expression.

6. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) / Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). (2023). WCAG 2 Overview. https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/

Authoritative overview of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2—the international technical standards for digital accessibility, explaining conformance levels and application to educational technology.

7. U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). (2022-2023). Disability Discrimination: Technology Accessibility. https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/disability-discrimination/disability-discrimination-key-issues/disability-discrimination-technology-accessibility

Comprehensive resource on Section 504 and Title II requirements for educational institutions, including 20-part video series on digital accessibility (March 2022), case resolutions, and technical assistance for learning management systems and assistive technology.

8. 1EdTech Consortium (formerly IMS Global). (2019, continuously updated). Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) Standard. https://www.1edtech.org/standards/lti

Technical standard for seamless, secure integration of learning tools with Learning Management Systems, including LTI Advantage features for assignment/grade services, names/role provisioning, and deep linking.

9. 1EdTech Consortium. (2024-2025). TrustEd Apps Program Overview. https://www.1edtech.org/program/trustedapps

Comprehensive overview of the TrustEd Apps Program including TrustEd Apps Pledge, Product Vetting & Certification, Management Suite, and Certified Leader Program, helping K-12 districts build open, trusted, and innovative digital learning ecosystems through data privacy vetting and interoperability standards.

10. Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) / Friday Institute for Educational Innovation (NC State University). (2025). Empowering Inclusive Practices: Accessible Learning in K-12 Classrooms. https://www.cosn.org/empowering-inclusive-practices-accessible-learning-in-k-12-classrooms/

Introduces the "Accessibility Playlist" self-assessment tool for educators to evaluate and enhance accessibility practices, covering Universal Design for Learning (UDL), support for English Language Learners, and visual/auditory accessibility strategies in K-12 digital learning environments.