As we prepare for the 2025–2026 school year, we would like to inform you about a change we’re making to support student safety, privacy, and focus during the school day.
What’s Changing?
Starting this fall, students will no longer have direct access to YouTube.com or other Google “Additional Services” (like Google Earth, Translate, and others) through their school accounts and Chromebooks.
Why This Change Is Being Made
These services fall outside of Google's core education tools (like Google Docs or Classroom) and are not covered under the same privacy protections. They also collect user data and may show targeted ads, especially when it comes to minors.
This past spring, we implemented a parental/guardian consent-based approach, requiring parents or guardians to provide consent for access to these services. Despite our efforts, hundreds of students never received permission, resulting in inconsistent access across classrooms and making it harder for teachers to plan lessons fairly and effectively.
What This Means for Learning
Don’t worry, students will still have access to high-quality educational videos. Teachers can embed pre-approved academic video content directly into Google Classroom or Slides, ensuring that students stay focused on learning without the distractions of general YouTube browsing.
What’s Next?
As always, we’ll provide support and guidance to help families and teachers navigate these changes. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students safe, focused, and ready to learn.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s building administration and/or Luke Callahan, Director of Technology and Digital Learning, at lcallahan@gdrsd.org.