August 31, 2020
Reminder: Facebook Live Update from Dr. Warren at 6 pm tonight
Join Dr. Ryder Warren for a Facebook Live chat at 6 p.m. Monday to get the latest updates on Remote Learning, plans to reopen for In-Person Learning and NISD's Health and Safety Protocols.
Recording & Photographing Zooms is Violation of Education & Privacy Laws
NISD has received questions from parents about the ability to record Zoom classes during Remote Learning, so we wanted to share why that is not permitted.

Parents and students may not record or photograph a videoconference class, just as they would not make a recording of an in-person class.

  • The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) makes student records confidential and protects students from unauthorized disclosure of educational records.
  • Texas Education Code § 26.009 requires that district employees obtain written parental consent before making a video or audio recording of a student, except in limited circumstances, such as video surveillance for safety in school hallways and buses or “a purpose related to regular classroom instruction.” 
  • The classroom instruction exception typically applies to assignments where making a recording is essential to the assignment, such as recording a newscast in a media class or making a commercial for a product in a foreign language class. 


Unauthorized recording of students cannot be permitted. 
The rights and privacy of all students in the class should be respected and protected at all times. By participating in a Zoom class, students (and their parents) do not consent to being recorded by strangers.

Likewise, students should not take screen shots or make secondary recordings of videoconference meetings, just as they would not make video or audio recordings of classes in a traditional classroom setting. 

NISD is committed to protecting student privacy and helping students feel comfortable asking questions in these settings, without worrying that a classmate might record the interaction and post it on social media to embarrass someone.
Q&A about Recording Zooms & Taking Screen Shots
Q: As a parent, can I record a Zoom session to re-watch the teacher's instruction to help my child with their work?

A: No. This would be a violation of FERPA and the Education Code. If your child needs assistance with the lesson, reach out to the teacher for help. You may also want to check Seesaw (elementary) or Moodle (secondary) to see if the teacher has already provided pre-recorded mini lessons or additional explanations.


Q: If my child missed the Zoom at the originally-scheduled time, how can they re-watch it?

A: Check Seesaw (elementary) or Moodle (secondary) to see if the teacher has posted recordings of their direct instruction and/or mini lesson. Many teachers have small portions of their lesson recorded (which shows only their screen, not students) for students to watch if they were absent or need to re-watch it for better understanding.


Q: If my child plans to be a Remote Learner beyond September 11, can we record their online classes on Zoom?

A: No. This would be a violation of FERPA and the Education Code. The laws apply to both In-Person Learning and Remote Learning.


Q: If I see a video or screen shot of my child shared on social media, what should I do?

A: You can ask the person to remove it, contact your child's teacher, or report it to your campus principal.