Media Limitations at School
Media Consent: Please say “Yes”!
During online DCSD Express Check-In process each year, we encourage all parents to consider saying “YES” to media consent for their American Academy students. We will respect your choices whatever you decide, but if you DO want to say “yes” you can do that by simply leaving the opt-out boxes unchecked in the Media Consent section of the DCSD Express Check-In system.
The media consent selection parents make during the DCSD registration is the media consent directive American Academy must follow throughout the year. Want to change your mind mid-year?
tps://form.jotform.com/aak8/medialimit_chgrequesJust email the registrar and let us know about it!
DCSD Express Check In Registration - Media Consent Page
Why say "Yes?"
We really like bragging about your kids. Truly, that’s it. Just good stuff! While the district (DCSD) doesn’t use American Academy photos or information almost ever, American Academy does -- think student activities, photos in our weekly newsletters, updates on grade-level web pages, our front page, and our Facebook page. It’s how we stay in touch with you to share what’s going on in school, and to show you their good work and their challenges and their smiles so you in turn can share those with your family and friends. And while American Academy loves to share photos, we will not publish students names on our website or social media pages unless given written permission by parents.
What do the different media consent choices in DCSD'S registration mean?
By law, DCSD and its schools may publish information that is “generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy without written consent…” for the usual school publications including yearbooks, newsletters, websites, social media, playbills, team rosters and honor rolls. DCSD has created 3 (only 2 that apply to American Academy) levels for opting out of this default consent. PLEASE read the three opt-out definitions below carefully and keep this handy as you go through online registration so you understand what you are choosing.
1. MEDIA COVERAGE
Internal media OK, but no publicly-viewable media is allowed.
Internal media OK, but no publicly-viewable media is allowed.
No: American Academy website
No: American Academy social media
No: Outside newspapers or TV interviews
No: Publicly-viewable or accessible online classroom projects, sites or videos
Yes: American Academy yearbook (portrait, name, celebration photos)
Yes: Class/group photos
Yes: Student posters in the hallways
Yes: Classroom bulletin boards
Yes: Internally (IN SCHOOL) distributed or posted publications such as playbills, flyers and posters
Yes: Password-protected photo-sharing sites (such as classroom Shutterfly)
No: Outside newspapers or TV interviews
No: Publicly-viewable or accessible online classroom projects, sites or videos
Yes: American Academy yearbook (portrait, name, celebration photos)
Yes: Class/group photos
Yes: Student posters in the hallways
Yes: Classroom bulletin boards
Yes: Internally (IN SCHOOL) distributed or posted publications such as playbills, flyers and posters
Yes: Password-protected photo-sharing sites (such as classroom Shutterfly)
2. MEDIA BLACKOUT
No publicly-viewable media of any kind is allowed, including yearbook.
No publicly-viewable media of any kind is allowed, including yearbook.
No: American Academy yearbook (portrait, name, celebration photos)
No: Class/group photos
No: American Academy website
No: American Academy social media
No: Outside newspapers or TV interviews
No: Internally (IN SCHOOL) distributed or posted publications such as playbills, flyers and posters
No: Publicly-viewable or accessible online classroom projects, sites or videos
Yes: Student posters in the hallways
Yes: Classroom bulletin boards
Yes: Password-protected photo-sharing sites (such as classroom Shutterfly)
No: Class/group photos
No: American Academy website
No: American Academy social media
No: Outside newspapers or TV interviews
No: Internally (IN SCHOOL) distributed or posted publications such as playbills, flyers and posters
No: Publicly-viewable or accessible online classroom projects, sites or videos
Yes: Student posters in the hallways
Yes: Classroom bulletin boards
Yes: Password-protected photo-sharing sites (such as classroom Shutterfly)
3. INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA - Does not apply to AA
All instructional media is secure at American Academy for every student!
This option applies only to the student use of unsecured media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Livestream, etc.) in the classroom, and is not related to the permissions for the school to publish your student's image or name. Whether or not you check this box is up to you, but this option really doesn’t apply to American Academy students. By default, your student will not have access to unsecured media or unapproved online applications of any kind for anything during the school day at American Academy.
This option applies only to the student use of unsecured media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Livestream, etc.) in the classroom, and is not related to the permissions for the school to publish your student's image or name. Whether or not you check this box is up to you, but this option really doesn’t apply to American Academy students. By default, your student will not have access to unsecured media or unapproved online applications of any kind for anything during the school day at American Academy.
Media Limitations Exceptions
Due to the optional and very public nature of STEM trips, extracurricular activities (ECAs) and Athletics, any media coverage opt-outs, including Media Blackout/Basic Student Information, are VOID. This means American Academy may use student photos and basic student information pertaining to those activities in outside publications and school media. Additional notice of this media opt-out void will be noted in the registration for that activity.
Parents Taking Pictures in the Classroom
Media limitations exist to give parents some say in how and when the school may use student photos and information (for good news!). They are also designed to protect students whose parents have very serious security concerns.
Using the information each parent gives in the DCSD Express Check-In Registration each year, American Academy knows which student may or may not be photographed and we follow this list carefully. However, parents themselves often love to take photos at classroom parties, classroom events, and on field trips. Because parents do not know which students have media limitations, and because FERPA law does not allow the teacher or the school to share that information with parents, all parents should refrain from taking group photos of students during classroom parties, classroom events, and on field trips.
This applies to other students parents may know well -- even those parents may have elected to withhold media permissions (and the school can't tell you). Parents may take photos of their OWN students during classroom parties, classroom events, and field trips. However, if another student appears in a photo, plan to crop the image or consider deleting, and please do NOT publish on social media. Thanks for helping us to protect the privacy and safety of all of our students!