Student Technology
Students at South Valley Academy will use a Google Workspace for Education account to complete a considerable amount of their coursework. All student accounts are managed by SVA and allow students to access SVA-specific versions of the Google Apps. These include:
- Gmail
- Google Calendar
- Google Classroom
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and Keep
- Google Meet (students cannot start their own meetings and can only join one started by a teacher)
- Educational Android apps as allowed by SVA
SVA's preferred student device is the Chromebook. We are using a 1:1 model and every student is issued a school Chromebook. These small, lightweight computers allow us to give students access to the resources they need while ensuring that their data is securely managed. Chromebooks integrate with Google Workspace to provide an easy and effective way for students to access their schoolwork.
Technology Ethics and Responsibility
All students agree to the technology ethics and responsibility policy when signing their Student Handbook during registration. To read the full policy, reference our Student Handbook.
South Valley Academy uses Bark (bark.us) to monitor student activity on all SVA G Suite accounts. Bark automatically scans student accounts for inappropriate or potentially unsafe behavior which mentions the following:
- Cyberbullying, violence, and weapons
- Sexual content
- Hate speech and profanity
- Drugs and alcohol
- Emotional wellness: anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies
- Threats of physical or emotional violence
- Self harm or medically concerning behavior
Bark will alert the Dean of Students if issues arise, and the issue will be referred to the appropriate SVA social worker or outside authorities if needed.
SVA uses GoGuardian to filter and monitor internet browsing activity on school-owned Chromebooks. It is our goal to supplement existing content filtering, normally provided by our APS-managed Wi-Fi network, in a remote setting where your home connection may not offer any filtration.
GoGuardian Admin allows SVA staff to monitor browsing activity, observe trends, and filter inappropriate content.
GoGuardian Teacher will allow classroom teachers to observe student screens during remote learning, redirect them to classwork, and also restrict browsing habits to keep students on track.
GoGuardian Parent will allow you to observe and track your student's data from your smartphone. The Parent app will also allow you to restrict internet access on the school-owned device during off hours.
Security and Privacy: Data and Video Conferencing
- SVA Google Workspace data is owned by South Valley Academy and contained within our SVA Google domain. Data contained within this domain is restricted to those who have an SVA account.
- Both Google Workspace and Bark maintain FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) compliance.
- Teachers are encouraged to record their Google Meet and Zoom classes for the benefit of students who are absent or cannot join the class because of technical difficulties.
- Confidential meetings, such as IEPs and social work consultation, will not be recorded.
- These recordings will not be made public and will not be accessible outside of SVA's Google Workspace domain.
- Photos, screenshots, or secondary recordings of video calls is not allowed.
Broadband Assistance: Mobile Hotspots and the Affordable Connectivity Program
SVA will provide a T-Mobile 4G LTE hotspot to students who do not have broadband internet access at home. Students should see their Advisor for more information.
The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program provides financial assistance for families who qualify. The ACP provides up to $30 per month toward broadband internet service and also a $100 discount on a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. For more information, visit affordableconnectivity.org.