Compliance for EdTech: What You Need to Know to Stay Legal and Trusted

When you run an online course platform, compliance for edtech, the set of legal and ethical rules that govern how educational technology handles user data and content. Also known as education technology regulations, it's not optional—it's the foundation of trust between you and your learners. If you collect emails, track progress, store videos, or even use cookies to personalize lessons, you’re handling personal data. That means you’re subject to laws like FERPA, a U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and CCPA, California’s consumer privacy law that gives users control over their personal information. Ignoring these isn’t just risky—it’s a fast track to losing your students’ trust and facing real legal consequences.

Compliance for edtech isn’t about filling out forms and checking boxes. It’s about building systems that respect people. That means knowing how to handle education data, any information tied to a learner’s identity, progress, or performance in an online course responsibly. Are you storing test scores? Recording video sessions? Tracking how long someone spends on a lesson? Each of these actions creates a data trail—and each trail needs clear rules. Your Terms of Service must spell out what you collect, why, and how long you keep it. Your privacy policy needs to be honest, not full of legalese. And your content moderation policies? They need to protect learners from harassment, not just protect you from lawsuits. The posts below show you exactly how to do this without sounding like a lawyer.

You’ll find real templates for online course legal terms, step-by-step guides on FERPA and CCPA compliance, and proven ways to set up community guidelines that actually work. No theory. No fluff. Just what you need to run a course platform that’s safe, legal, and respected. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, these resources help you avoid the mistakes that sink too many edtech businesses. This isn’t about fear—it’s about confidence. Build right from the start, and your platform won’t just survive. It’ll thrive.