Summary
In order to ensure that the Instructional Software Resources (ISR) used in BUSD classrooms are accessible for all students, provide necessary protections for student privacy and security, are aligned with the instructional program, and are compatible with student technology systems, BUSD is implementing a structured review and approval process for ISR. Approved ISR will be listed on this page. If you would like to use ISR which is not on this list, you must submit an Instructional Software Approval Request using our online form before purchasing or using ISR in the classroom. Further information can be found in the Background Information section.
Please note that approval for use in the classroom does not provide any required licensing. It is the responsibility of the school to identify funding and procure any necessary licenses for items not included in the standard district-funded software list.
What Software Needs to Be Approved?
An Instructional Software Resource is defined as an online resource which students must directly interact with in order to access their curriculum or which stores personally identifiable student information such as student names or student work. Only software that meets this definition must go through this approval process and will be posted on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for frequently asked questions about this process.
List of Approved Instructional Software Resources
The following ISR has been fully reviewed and approved for use in BUSD classrooms:
| Instructional Software Resource | Notes | Certificate Number |
| Aktiv Learning | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0018 |
| Beanstack | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0049 |
| Blooket | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0019 |
| Book Creator | S0001 | |
| CommonLit.org | S0045 | |
| Desmos | S0006 | |
| Dibels | The visual nature of the primary testing interface limits accessibility for visually impaired students. Appropriate accommodations, including a braille version of the test for visually impaired students, are provided for these circumstances. | S0026 |
| Edpuzzle | S0002 | |
| Encyclopedia Britannica | S0003 | |
| Entreculturas online textbook, published by WAYSIDE | S0041 | |
| Flat.io | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0032 |
| Flipgrid | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0044 |
| Freckle | S0037 | |
| Geogebra | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0020 |
| Google Colab | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0046 |
| Google Workspace for Education | Accessibility exception approved under Section 508 standards appendix A E202.7 | S0004 |
| Inquisitive | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0033 |
| IXL | Accessibility: Passed after revisions | S0029 |
| Learn-Biology.com | Accessibility exception approved under Section 508 standards appendix A E202.7 | S0038 |
| Lightsail | S0039 | |
| MyPath | Accessibility exception approved under Section 508 standards appendix A E202.7 | S0040 |
| Newsela | Approved for use on Chromebooks. This product should not be used with students on small-form-factor mobile devices such as cell phones. | S0027 |
| Noodle Tools | S0008 | |
| Norton Ebook Reader | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0034 |
| NWEA Map | S0005 | |
| Pages (Apple) | S0035 | |
| PebbleGo | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0050 |
| ProQuest | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0025 |
| Quizizz | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0051 |
| Read 180/System 44 | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0009 |
| Scholastic News | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0021 |
| Sight Reading Factory | Accessibility exception approved under Section 508 standards appendix A E202.7 | S0043 |
| Snap&Read | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0010 |
| Social Optics | S0022 | |
| Sora | S0036 | |
| Speechify | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0023 |
| STAR Assessment (Renaissance) | S0011 | |
| Swank Motion Pictures | Note: Teachers should only share content with students that does not contain flashing images. | S0042 |
| TeachingBooks.Net (website) |
Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0013 |
| Teen Health & Wellness (website) |
Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0014 |
| Thinklink/FOSSweb | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0007 |
| TumbleBooks | Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0048 |
| Tutor.com | S0024 | |
| Typing Club (via Typing button) |
Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0015 |
| Vernier Connections & Graphical/Spectral Analysis | Accessibility exception approved under Section 508 standards appendix A E202.7 | S0028 |
| Vista Higher Learning | S0047 | |
| WeVideo (website) |
Accessibility exception approved under Section 508 standards appendix A E202.7 | S0031 |
| World Book Encyclopedia (website) |
Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0016 |
| Zoom (website) |
Accessibility: Passed Privacy Agreement Pending – Authorization dependent on completion |
S0017 |
List of Instructional Software Resources Under Review
The following ISR is currently under review:
| Instructional Software Resource |
| ABC-CLIO |
| Adobe Creative Cloud |
| Avid – ProTools |
| BridgeAthletic – BridgeTracker app |
| Data Commons |
| Destiny Library |
| DocHub |
| Garbanzo.io |
| Khan Academy |
| Learning Genie |
| Logger Pro 3 |
| Nearpod |
| Quizlet |
| Remind |
| Scratch Addons |
| Studies Weekly |
| Vocabulary A-Z |
| Zotelo |
List of Disapproved Instructional Software Resources
The following ISR is not compliant with one or more requirements and may not be used in BUSD Classrooms. For details on accessibility failures, click on the link in the notes column. If you feel a particular software qualifies for an exception under applicable State and Federal law, you may submit an ISR Appeal.
| Instructional Software Resource | Notes |
| Abdo Digital Platform | Accessibility: Failed |
| Adobe Express | Accessibility: Failed |
| BrainPop | Accessibility: Failed |
| Brush Ninja | Accessibility: Failed |
| Canva | Accessibility: Failed (Note: Teachers may use teacher resources, but students may not be assigned activities that require direct interaction with this ISR.) |
| Checkology | Accessibility: Failed |
| CODAP | Accessibility: Failed |
| Codecademy | Accessibility: Failed |
| Conjuguemos | Accessibility: Failed |
| Duolingo | Accessibility: Failed |
| EduBlocks | Accessibility: Failed |
| Epic! | Accessibility: Failed |
| Flocabulary | Accessibility: Failed |
| Frax Math | Accessibility: Failed |
| Flippity.net | Accessibility: Failed |
| Gimkit | Accessibility: Failed |
| Kahoot! | Accessibility: Failed |
| Kami | Accessibility: Failed (Note: Teachers may use teacher resources, but students may not be assigned activities that require direct interaction with this ISR.) |
| Listenwise | Accessibility: Failed |
| Math Fact Lab | Accessibility: Failed |
| Mathigon.org resources | Accessibility: Failed |
| Onshape | Accessibility: Failed |
| Padlet Backpack | Accessibility: Failed |
| Pixton | Accessibility: Failed |
| Prodigy | Accessibility: Failed |
| Raz-Kids and Raz-Plus ELL | Accessibility: Failed |
| Science Buddies | Accessibility: Failed |
| Screencastify | Accessibility: Failed |
| ST Math | Accessibility: Failed |
| Tableau | Accessibility: Failed |
| TrueFlix | Accessibility: Failed |
| Twig Science | Accessibility: Failed |
| Zearn | Accessibility: Failed |
List of Restricted Use Instructional Software Resources
The following ISR has been approved for restricted use in BUSD classrooms, it may only be used within the restrictions specified:
| Instructional Software Resource | Notes |
| Bitsboard | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Bookshare | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Clicker | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Co:Writer | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Counting Bills and Coins | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Dexteria Jr. App | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Gizmos | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Kidsipration App | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| LAMP Words for Life | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Learn to Read, Write and Count App Bundle | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Letter School App | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Lexia | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Math Learning Center Apps | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Pear Deck | While this product primarily passes accessibility testing, two question format types do not meet standards. Product is authorized for general education use with the exclusion of “Draw” and “Draggable” question types. |
| Pictello | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| ProLoQuo2Go | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Readworks | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| TD Snap AAC | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Time Timer App | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| TouchChat HD with WordPower | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Word Wizard App | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
| Write My Name App | Prescribed Software: Approved only for use by individual students when prescribed by IEP or Assistive Technology need |
Requesting Approval for New Instructional Software Resources
You must submit an Instructional Software Approval Request using our online form prior to purchasing or using ISR in the classroom.
Challenging the Approval of an Instructional Software Resource
If you believe that an ISR was inappropriately approved, please submit this Google Form to let us know and our team will review it.
Background Information
ISR is defined as an online resource that students must directly interact with to access their curriculum or that stores personally identifiable student information such as student names or student work.
Content created on an unapproved ISR may be utilized if that content is accessed through an approved ISR. For instance, a teacher may use a program to create videos, and that program may have a video viewer that does not presently meet the necessary Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) requirements. However, teachers may create videos using this program and then move those videos to Google Drive, which has an accessible video player.
The use of ISR is subject to multiple state and federal regulations and California Education Code. These include:
-
- The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): Requires parental consent for use by minors before collecting personal information, school districts may provide the consent in lieu of parents and provide notification.
- The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA): Requires districts to shield students from obscene or harmful content.
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Protects and limits access to student records, which may include assignments and assessments completed by students through online systems.
- Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (SOPIPA): Outlines extensive privacy requirements for vendors marketing products used for K-12 school purposes.
- California Education Code § 49073.1: Requires vendors contracted by districts for ISR to have contracts in place guaranteeing compliance with security and privacy restrictions.
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities in services, programs or activities provided by the district.
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504): Prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities including accessibility of communications and websites.
- California Government Code § 7405 (Gov. Code 7405): mandates compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 for state and local government entities.
The process for the review and approval of Instructional Software Resources in Berkeley Unified School District was approved by the Board of Education on June 15, 2022.
Still have questions?
Please email softwareapproval@berkeley.net with any additional questions.
