Google Service Restrictions: What Students Need to Know

By Julia Welter

Starting Monday, March 3rd, students in the Irvington Union Free School District (IUFSD) will no longer have access to certain Google services due to compliance requirements with New York State Education Law 2-D, which protects student data privacy. The district’s Director of Technology and Innovation, Jerrod Blair, recently announced these changes in an email to faculty and staff.

“Google has recently made it difficult for schools to comply with this law (New York State Education Law 2-D) regarding its Additional Services, including services like YouTube, as they will no longer meet the privacy standards outlined by the state,” states Blair. 

The restrictions will apply to various Google Additional Services that are not covered under the statewide Data Privacy Agreement (DPA). While many of these services may not significantly impact students’ daily routines, some of the more frequently used tools, such as YouTube, Google Translate, Google Maps, Google Earth, and Google Arts and Culture, will no longer be accessible through student accounts.

The most notable change for many students will be the loss of direct access to YouTube. However, teachers can still share YouTube videos with students in controlled ways, such as embedding videos in Google Classroom, Google Slides, Google Forms, and EdPuzzle.

Additionally, while students will no longer have access to Google Translate as a standalone service, they will still be able to use the translation feature within Google Docs.

The restrictions will only apply to student accounts, meaning that teachers and staff will still have full access to these services. Teachers are encouraged to utilize the approved workaround methods for sharing educational content with students.

Blair declares, “Students will not be affected when it comes to accessing educational content, as videos assigned by teachers can still be viewed on platforms like Google Classroom and Google Docs, which comply with the necessary privacy regulations.”

While these changes may be inconvenient, they are designed to protect student privacy and ensure compliance with state law. If students or teachers have any concerns or need support adjusting to these restrictions, they can reach out to Dr. Stephanie Burke, the district’s Instructional Innovation Coach, or their building’s Technology Support Teacher.

As March 3rd approaches, students and teachers alike will need to adapt to these new limitations, but with alternative methods in place, the impact on learning should be minimal.