RESEARCH COLLABORATION LETTER

1. PLATFORM DESCRIPTION

The Scribe Academy is an AI-powered writing education platform designed for K-12 students. Key features include:

• Structured essay writing instruction (5-paragraph format)
• AI-generated feedback on student writing using Google Gemini
• Gamification elements (Brain Points, badges) for engagement
• Text-to-Speech accessibility features
• Teacher dashboard for progress monitoring

2. DATA ACCESS & PRIVACY PROTECTIONS

For this research collaboration, TSA will provide:

• De-identified Data Only: All student data shared with researchers will be fully de-identified per FERPA Safe Harbor guidelines. No names, emails, or direct identifiers will be included.
• Aggregated Metrics: Writing scores, completion rates, time-on-task, and engagement metrics in aggregate form.
• Anonymized Writing Samples: If approved by IRB and with parental consent, anonymized essay excerpts may be provided for qualitative analysis.

Note: TSA will NOT provide researchers with access to identifiable student records, login credentials, or real-time system access.

3. CONSENT PROCEDURES

TSA supports the following consent model for this research:

• Parental Consent: Required for all student participants under 18
• Student Assent: Required for students ages 7-17
• Teacher Consent: Required if teacher data/feedback is collected
• Opt-Out Option: Families may opt out without affecting student access to TSA

TSA will assist in distributing consent forms through the platform if requested.

4. SANDBOX MODE FOR RESEARCH

TSA offers a "Sandbox Mode" for research purposes:

• Pre-populated with synthetic student data for testing
• No real student data is accessed or affected
• Researchers can explore all platform features safely
• Ideal for pilot testing research instruments

5. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATIONS

The Scribe Academy maintains compliance with:

• FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
• COPPA: Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
• SOPIPA: Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (California)
• AB 1584: California Student Data Privacy
• GDPR/CCPA: Data protection for EU and California residents

Full compliance documentation available at: thescribesacademy.com/legal/compliance-checklist.html

6. AI ETHICS & TRANSPARENCY

Per California SB 1288 and our AI Ethics Statement:

• Student writing is NOT used to train AI models
• AI outputs are filtered for age-appropriate content
• Teachers maintain oversight of all AI-generated feedback
• AI limitations are disclosed to students and teachers