Any staff member or campus administrator requesting a new software tool or application must submit a request through the software approval form on Eduphoria Fromspace. This is the required entry point — no software should be deployed or purchased without going through this process first. This applies whether the software is free or paid.
What Gets Evaluated
Once a request comes in, the Technology Department reviews the product for several key factors. The primary concern is data privacy compliance — the team assesses whether the software handles student or staff data in accordance with FERPA, COPPA, and Texas Student Data Privacy requirements. They also determine whether the tool requires integration with existing district systems (like Skyward or ClassLink), and whether the vendor has a solid security track record. The form will also be reviewed by the Curriculum and Instruction Department and the Finance Department for compliance and sustainability.
For "free" tools, additional scrutiny is applied around the vendor's business model, since "free" platforms often monetize through advertising or data sharing, which can create compliance issues.
Data Privacy Agreement
Any software that collects or processes student or staff data must have a Data Privacy Agreement (DPA) signed with the vendor before it can be approved and deployed. This is a non-negotiable requirement.