Introduction
CoGrader uses artificial intelligence ("AI") to help teachers grade assignments, give feedback, and create educational content. We work with trusted AI service providers to deliver these features: Google (Gemini, through Google Cloud Vertex AI and Google AI Studio), OpenAI (through the OpenAI API and Microsoft Azure AI Foundry), and Anthropic (Claude, through the Anthropic API).
Our AI features help teachers:
- grade assignments more efficiently and consistently;
- give more detailed and personalized feedback to students;
- create rubrics and assessment criteria;
- identify learning trends across a class;
- create engaging educational content.
Teachers review every AI-generated grade and piece of feedback before it reaches a student.
1. Our Commitment
We understand the importance of strong privacy and security protections for students and teachers. This note explains how our AI features work, what data they use, and the choices you have.
CoGrader supports the Education Technology Industry's Principles for AI in Education. CoGrader is also a member of the EdSAFE AI Industry Council and supports the principles of the SAFE Framework: Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Effectiveness in AI.
Read more about the Principles for AI in Education, the EdSAFE AI Industry Council, and the SAFE Framework.
This note covers:
- How CoGrader uses AI features
- What information is used to provide the AI features
- Our AI tools
- How CoGrader uses data to provide the AI features
- How we work with AI service providers
- Data retention at AI service providers
- How parents can opt out
- Limitations of CoGrader AI
2. How CoGrader Uses AI Features
Teachers and schools may choose to use AI features such as the Assignment Grader, Feedback Generator, or Rubric Creator. The teacher provides content ("Input"), such as student work and a rubric. CoGrader adds its own instructions ("Prompts"), such as "grade this assignment based on the provided rubric," and sends the Input and Prompts to an AI service provider. The provider processes them and returns a result ("Output"), such as a suggested grade and feedback. CoGrader then shows the Output to the teacher for review.
3. What Information Is Used to Provide the AI Features
- Inputs from teachers, such as student assignments, rubrics, and other context. Inputs may be text or images of handwritten work.
- Prompts from CoGrader, such as "grade this assignment based on the provided rubric."
- Outputs, such as suggested grades, feedback, and content, which teachers review before sharing.
CoGrader does not send student names or other direct student identifiers to AI service providers, except where a teacher includes them in the content of the Input itself (for example, a student writes their name in the essay).
All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. CoGrader stores data in the United States on Google Cloud Platform.
4. CoGrader AI Tools
Assignment Grader
Purpose: helps teachers grade assignments efficiently and consistently.
- Input: student assignments (text or images of handwritten work) and grading rubrics.
- Output: suggested grades and feedback for teacher review.
Feedback Generator
Purpose: helps teachers give detailed feedback on student work.
- Input: student assignments (text or images of handwritten work) and feedback criteria.
- Output: feedback suggestions for teacher review.
Rubric Creator
Purpose: helps teachers create rubrics for assignments.
- Input: assignment description and learning objectives.
- Output: suggested rubric criteria and descriptors.
How all AI tools handle data
- Inputs come from teachers only. Teachers review Outputs before sharing them.
- All data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
- CoGrader keeps data so teachers can use it, to enforce our policies, and to operate and improve the service.
- CoGrader deletes data when the teacher or school asks, or when the contract ends, unless the law requires us to keep it.
- No data is used to train AI models, by CoGrader or by our AI service providers.
5. How CoGrader Uses the Data to Provide the AI Features
CoGrader may access and process Inputs, Prompts, and Outputs to provide, maintain, and improve the service, to perform internal analysis, and to keep the platform safe and secure.
CoGrader does not use any Inputs, Prompts, or Outputs to train, fine-tune, or develop any AI model. Our AI service providers are contractually prohibited from using this data to train, improve, or develop their AI models.
6. How We Work With AI Service Providers
CoGrader works with the following AI service providers. Each one processes data only to return results to CoGrader, under a Data Processing Addendum and commercial terms that prohibit training on our data.
| Provider | Service | Training on CoGrader data |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini, through Google Cloud Vertex AI and Google AI Studio (primary provider) | Prohibited by Google Cloud Service Specific Terms and Gemini API Additional Terms (Paid Services) | |
| OpenAI | OpenAI API | Prohibited by OpenAI business terms |
| Microsoft | Azure AI Foundry | Prohibited by Microsoft Product Terms |
| Anthropic | Claude, through the Anthropic API | Prohibited by Anthropic Commercial Terms |
Data retention at AI service providers. CoGrader does not use provider features that store Inputs or Outputs. AI service providers may keep a temporary copy of Inputs and Outputs only for abuse and safety monitoring, and then delete it. This period is up to 30 days for OpenAI, Microsoft Azure AI Foundry, and Anthropic. Google keeps abuse-monitoring logs for a limited period under its Google Cloud and Gemini API terms. Google may also briefly cache Inputs and Outputs, for up to 24 hours, to make responses faster. Providers do not use this data for model training.
7. How Can Parents Opt Out?
Your child's school may have acted as your agent and consented on your behalf to your child's use of CoGrader, as FERPA allows. To opt out of having your child's work used as Input in the AI features, please contact your child's teacher or school.
8. Limitations of CoGrader AI
AI-generated content is not perfect. AI Outputs may sometimes be inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading, especially on new, complex, or advanced topics. We recommend that teachers review AI Outputs carefully and check their accuracy. Teachers can review and change every Output before sharing it with students and families.
CoGrader is committed to responsible AI development, with privacy, security, fairness, and safety at the core of our AI features.
9. How to Contact Us
If you have questions about CoGrader's use of AI or our privacy practices, please contact us at privacy@cograder.com.