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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Hello, Betsy. I understand your concerns. Seeing all of the "legalese" can make anyone a bit wary.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Early on in the development of USAL we were determined to make the site require a login for all users. Our rationale was simple: users that register and login have a much better experience... their scores are tracked and reported, when they return to the site they're dropped back in exactly where they left off, if they forget their password we can send 'em a reminder, plus we would have the potential of offering a great deal of customization if use patterns can be tracked. But our USAL Advisors warned us that many users would not use the site if we required a login. So we relented and decided to allow users to simply login as a visitor with no tracking and no footprints left behind. </font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">As you know, we also offer independent users the ability to login to the site so that they can have the obvious benefits. Of course, it is possible for a student to login as an individual user and use a total bogus email address and name. That way there would be no identify specific information being tracked. And even as a student enrolled as part of a class, it is possible to use a fake email address.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">The language used for the privacy policy is pretty standard stuff. We certainly never expect to be required to release student information, of any kind. And we go to extraordinary measures to protect data. We have a very sophisticated data center with multiple firewalls and other security measures. However, there is a VERY slim chance that we could get a court order of some type that MIGHT require us to release stored information. So, with that understanding, we felt that it would be prudent to include the "fine print."</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">USAL was developed for OVAE by the Sacramento County Office of Education (a regional service agency) in partnership with the University of Michigan. We will never disclose, sell, or release any contact information or student data to any other entity except if mandated by the legal system.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">John</font></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;"><b><a href="mailto:specialtopics@nifl.gov">specialtopics@nifl.gov</a> on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 5:07 AM -0800 wrote:</b></font></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Tahoma" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Message forwarded for Betsy Rubin:</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Tahoma" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">-----Original Message-----</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Tahoma" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>From:</b> Betsy Rubin - Literacy Works [<a href="mailto:literacyworks.betsyrubin@gmail.com" target="_blank">mailto:literacyworks.betsyrubin@gmail.com</a>]</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Tahoma" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:52 PM</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Tahoma" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:specialtopics@nifl.gov">specialtopics@nifl.gov</a></font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Tahoma" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><b>Subject:</b> USA Learns Concern</font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Hello,</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">USA Learns looks like it could be a wonderful resource. However, I feel uneasy about some of the statements about how users' information could be used.  </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">I have a concern about the confidentiality and security of student information, particularly if users of the site don't carefully read the privacy policy.</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Can you please comment on the quote below from the USA Learns website?  I have placed asterisks around the key parts of the quote.</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">The USA Learns website's "About" page states:</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">"Be aware that **any personal information you might disclose**, including performance records of Learners, in the process of using the Courses, Units, Lessons, and Activities provided on the Site **should be considered public information** even though some of this information is accessible only with proper sign-in identification.  The Sacramento County Office of Education encourages you to be cautious about incorporating personal information in Lessons and Activities available on the Site.</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">"Are there any **circumstances in which The Sacramento County Office of Education would disclose information to third parties**?</font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Under normal circumstances, The Sacramento County Office of Education does not disclose information to third parties.  **Exceptional circumstances could include**: </font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Protecting the integrity and security of our Site </font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Precautions against liability </font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Protection of the safety, rights, or property of users or others </font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">**Response to requirements of the judicial process or, to the extent permitted by law, requests of law enforcement or public safety agencies**.</font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Even in these circumstances, **we would release your account information only if we felt it was reasonably necessary**."</font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Thanks very much for responding to this question.</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"> </font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Betsy Rubin</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Arial" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Chicago, IL</font></span></div>
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<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Geneva" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Geneva;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">-------------------------------</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Geneva" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Geneva;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">National Institute for Literacy</font></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align:left;"><span style="background-color:#d0d0d0;"><font face="Geneva" size="+0" color="#000000" style="font-family:Geneva;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;">Special Topics mailing list</font></span></div>
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