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 prior to 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 that are not included in the standard district-funded software list.
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 | Intended Use | Grade Levels | Restrictions on Use | Certificate Number |
List of Provisionally Approved Instructional Software Resources
The following ISR which was already in use at the time that the board approved this process can be used through the 2022-2023 school year while the district completes a thorough review process:
Instructional Software Resource | Intended Use | Grade Levels | Restrictions on Use | Certificate Number |
ABC-CLIO (via Databases button) |
Research database, emphasis on history and social sciences | 9-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0001 |
Aktiv Learning | Online chemistry learning website and mobil app | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0037 | |
Blooket | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0038 | ||
Book Creator (website) |
Students can create original e-books incorporating images and text. | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0002 |
Bookshare | Provide digital text and audio access of written literature/textbooks to students with IEPs or 504 plans | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0039 | |
BrainPop | Video lessons, quizzes, games, and supplemental activities | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0040 | |
Clicker | Adaptive word processing program. | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0041 | |
Co:Writer (website) |
Word prediction, inventive spelling aware | 6-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0003 |
Conjuguemos | TWI program so students can practice their verb conjugations and grammar. | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0042 | |
Desmos (Teachers and Students) |
Interactive math modeling software | 6-8 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0004 |
Destiny Library (website) |
Access to ebooks and audiobooks as well as print books | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0005 |
Dibels | “Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills” is a set of procedures and measures for assessing the acquisition of literacy skills. | TK-2 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0006 |
DocHub | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0043 | ||
duolingo | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0044 | ||
Edpuzzle (website) |
Creates video-based lessons & assessments | 6-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0007 |
Encyclopedia Britannica (website, or Research button K-5) |
Articles, biographies, videos, images. Also available in Spanish | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0008 |
Flocabulary | Math, Language Arts, Social Science, Science | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0046 | |
Frax Math | Practice fraction fluency. | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0047 | |
FOSSweb (website) |
Full Option Science System, science curriculum including teaching resources and student activities | K-8 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0009 |
Gizmos (website) |
Interactive math and science virtual labs and simulations | 9-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0010 |
Geogebra | Explore graphs of functions in Math | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0048 | |
Gimkit | Gaming apps used to practice Spanish | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0049 | |
Google Workspace for Education (website) |
Google Calendar, Classroom, Docs, Drive, Jamboard, Mail (for grades 6 and up), Meet, Sites, and more. | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0011 |
Gradescope | Grade student papers. | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0050 | |
iBooks | Digital Book Access | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0051 | |
IXL | Targeted skill practice in Math and Language Arts | 6-12 intervention students |
Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0012 |
Kahoot! (website) |
Game-based learning platform | 6-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0013 |
Kami (website) |
PDF and Document Annotation and Markup Tool. Works with Google Drive and Google Classroom | All BUSD | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0014 |
Learn-Biology.com | AP Biology curriculum | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0053 | |
LessonPix | Create visual supports for students. | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0054 | |
Lexia | Reading Support | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0055 | |
Logger Pro 3 | Collecting data with probes | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0056 | |
Mystery Science (website) |
Open-and-go Science lessons | K-5 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0015 |
Newsela (website) |
High interest nonfiction articles with adjustable reading levels | 3-8 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0016 |
Noodle Tools (website) |
Research and citation tool | 6-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0017 |
Padlet Backpack (website) |
Online bulletin board, portfolios, and discussions | 3-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0018 |
Pages (Apple) | Design scientific posters to print. | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0057 | |
Pear Deck (Pear Deck for Google Slides) |
Interactive presentation software | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0019 |
Pixton | Storyboarding and writing support | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0058 | |
Prodigy | Practice math in the content area and at the grade level of the teacher’s choice | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0059 | |
ProQuest (Teacher Guide, K-5 via Research button) |
Databases of articles, images, videos at multiple levels for student research | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0020 |
Quizizz | Gamified formative assessment tool | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0060 | |
Quizlet | Gamified skill practice | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0061 | |
Raz-Kids and Raz-Plus ELL (website) |
Interactive, leveled ebooks | TWI K-5 only | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0021 |
Read 180/System 44 (BUSD portal) |
Reading intervention program | 6-8 intervention students |
Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0022 |
Reflex Math | Practice math facts and fluency | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0062 | |
Remind (website) |
Communication tool for connecting with families | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0023 |
Scanner App | Convert homework into pdfs | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0063 | |
Scholastic News | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0064 | ||
Snap&Read (website) |
Read aloud (TTS) accessible and inaccessible text (OCR) | 6-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0024 |
Sora (via website or Sora app) |
Audiobooks and E-books in partnership with BPL | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0025 |
STAR Assessment (Renaissance) (BUSD portal) |
Standardized, computer-adaptive assessments for math and reading | 3-8 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0026 |
ST Math (website) |
Visual math program used for intervention | 6-8 intervention students |
Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0027 |
Tales2Go (website) |
Streaming audiobooks, multiple simultaneous users | TK-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0028 |
TCI – Teacher Curriculum Institute (Staff) |
Core history curriculum, access to full textbooks and supplemental materials | K-8 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0029 |
TeachingBooks.Net (website) |
Database of resources about authors, illustrators, and books | K-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0030 |
Teen Health & Wellness (website) |
Info and self-help tools about mental health, drugs, nutrition, fitness, etc. | 6-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0031 |
TrueFlix (via Research button) |
Nonfiction ebooks, short video introductions & read-aloud | K-5 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0032 |
Typing Club (via Typing button) |
Typing lessons | 3-6 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0033 |
Vernier Graphical Analysis | Collect data from probes | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0065 | |
Vernier Spectral Analysis | Collect data from probes | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0066 | |
WeVideo (website) |
Online video editor | 6-8 STEM classes | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0034 |
World Book Encyclopedia (website) |
Digital encyclopedia | 2-12 | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0035 |
YouTube | Video repository for many instructional resources | All BUSD | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0069 |
Zearn | Provide lesson and fluency support for ASOU; | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0068 | |
Zoom (website) |
Video conferencing platform | All BUSD | Temporary Authorization through June 2023 | T0036 |
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 in order 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.