am 9db29158: am f812258e: Doc change: add docs for edu opt-in.

    <ul>

      <li><a href="<?cs var:toroot ?>distribute/googleplay/edu/about.html">About</a></li>

      <li><a href="<?cs var:toroot ?>distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html">Get Started</a></li>

      <li><a href="<?cs var:toroot ?>distribute/googleplay/edu/guidelines.html">Guidelines</a></li>

      <li><a href="<?cs var:toroot ?>distribute/googleplay/edu/contact.html">Sign Up</a></li>

    </ul>  

  </li>

Whether you have an existing educational app or are developing a fresh idea that

will unlock learning in the classroom — sign up to receive information about

the upcoming launch of Google Play for Education. To get your apps ready, read our

<a href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html">guidelines</a> for building

<a href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/guidelines.html">guidelines</a> for building

educational apps.</p>

    </p><a href="http://developer.android.com/edu/signup">Developer Sign Up »</a>

  </div>

page.title=Guidelines for Apps

page.metaDescription=Get your apps ready for Google Play for Education.

excludeFromSuggestions=true

@jd:body

<div style="position:absolute;margin-left: 636px;

            margin-top:-76px;color:#777;">If you're interested<br>

            <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/contact.html"

            class="go-link"

            style="display: block;text-align: right;">SIGN UP</a></div>

<div

style="background-color:#fffdeb;width:100%;margin-bottom:1em;padding:.5em;">You

can now include your apps in the Google Play for Education <a

href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html#program">pilot program</a>,

getting it into the hands of participating schools and key influencers in the

education technology community. See <a href="start.html">Get Started</a> to

learn how to participate. </div>

<p>The sections below list the guidelines and requirements for apps

participating in Google Play for Education.

<p>Before you include your app in Google Play for Education, set up a <a

href="#test-environment">test environment</a> and make sure your app meets all

of the safety, usability, and quality guidelines given here. You can use the

linked resources to help

you develop a great app for students that offers compelling content and an

intuitive user experience on Android tablets.</p>

<p>In addition, ensure that your app complies with the terms of a <a

href="https://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement-addendum.

html" target="_policies">Google Play for Education Addendum</a>, as well as

the standard  <a

href="http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html"

target="_policies">Google Play Developer Program Policies</a> and <a

href="http://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html"

target="_policies">Developer Distribution Agreement</a>.</p>

<h2 id="requirements">Safety First</h2>

<p>To participate, your apps must be designed to be appropriate for

the K-12 market. The basic requirements that your apps must meet are:</p>

<ol>

  <li>Apps and the ads they contain must not collect personally identifiable

information other than user credentials or data required to operate and improve

the app.</li>

  <li>Apps must not use student data for purposes unrelated to its educational

function.</li>

  <li>Apps must have a content rating of "Everyone" or "Low Maturity" (apps with

a "Medium Maturity" rating are allowed, if they have that rating solely because

they allow communication between students).</li>

  <li>App content, including ads displayed by the app, must be consistent with

the app's maturity rating. The app must not display any “offensive” content, as

described in the <a

href="http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html">Google Play

Developer Program Policies</a> and <a

href="https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/188189">

content-rating guidelines</a>.</p></li>

<li>Apps must comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

and all other applicable laws and regulations.</li>

</ol>

<h2 id="inapp">Monetizing and Ads</h2>

<p>Google Play for Education provides a simple and secure environment for students

and teachers. To support that environment, priced or free apps that do not use in-app

purchases are preferred, as are apps that do not display ads. Apps that use in-app

payments or ads are acceptable, but you must declare those behaviors when opting-in

to Google Play for Education. Your app's use of in-app purchases or ads will be

disclosed to educators when they are browsing for content.</p>

<p>Follow the guidelines below to help your app receive the

  highest ratings and offer the best possible user-experience.</p>

<p>If your app is priced or sells in-app products, you must:</p>

<ul>

  <li>Sell all content and services through Google Play for Education</li>

  <li>Allow Google Play to offer teachers limited free trials before purchase

(through business terms only, no development work is needed)</li>

<li>Disable in-app purchases if possible, or ensure that:

<ul>

<li>Users can access your app's core functionality for a classroom setting without

an in-app purchase.</li>

<li>In-app purchases are clearly identifiable in your UI.</li>

<li>You declare the use of in-app purchases at <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html#opt-in">opt-in</a>.</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<p class="note"><strong>Note</strong>: In-app

purchases are blocked on Google Play for Education tablets at this time.</p>

<p>If your app displays ads, you should:

  <ul>

  <li>Disable the display of ads if possible, or ensure that:

  <ul>

    <li>Ads are not distracting for students or teachers</li>

    <li>Ads do not occupy a significant portion of the screen</li>

    <li>Ads content does not exceed the maturity rating of the app.</li>

    <li>You declare the use of ads at <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html#opt-in">opt-in</a>.</li>

  </ul>

  </li>

</ul>

<p>We discourage the use of ads within apps included in Google Play for Education.

While ads are allowed, please note that the Google Play for Education site will

flag apps that display ads, so educators can choose use apps that are ad-free.

Similarly, we also discourage any UI within your app that exposes in-app purchase

to students. <!--Please note that we may block access to in-app purchases on student

tablets.--></p>

<h2 id="approved">Educational Value</h2>

<p>Apps submitted to Google Play for Education will be evaluated by a

third-party educator network, which will review them based on alignment with <a

href="http://www.corestandards.org/" class="external-link"

target="_android">Common Core Standards</a> and other factors. This will help

make your content more discoverable for teachers and administrators as they

browse by grade level, subject, core curriculum, and other parameters. </p>

<p>Apps with highest educational value will have these characteristics:</p>

<ul>

  <li>Designed for use in K-12 classrooms.</li>

  <li>Aligned with a common core standard or support common-core learning.</li>

  <li>Simple, easy to use, and intuitive for the grade levels the app is targeting.

  App is relatively easy to navigate without teacher guidance. Not distracting

  or overwhelming to students.</li>

  <li>Enjoyable and interactive. App is engaging to students and lets them control

  their experience.</li>

  <li>Versatile. App has features make the it useful for more than one classroom

  function or lesson throughout the school year.</li>

  <li>Supports the "4Cs":

    <ul>

    <li><em>Creativity</em> &mdash; Allows students to create in order to express

    understanding of the learning objectives, and try new approaches, innovation

    and invention to get things done.</li>

    <li><em>Critical thinking</em> &mdash; Allows students to look at problems in

    a new way, linking learning across subjects and disciplines.</li>

    <li><em>Collaboration</em> &mdash; Allows students and (if appropriate) educators

    to work together to reach a goal.</li>

    <li><em>Communication</em> &mdash; Allows students to comprehend, critique and

    share thoughts, questions, ideas and solutions.</li>

    </ul>

  </li>

</ul>

<p>As you design and develop your app, make sure it offers high educational value

by addressing as many of those characteristics as possible.</p>

<h2 id="quality">App Quality</h2>

<p>Google Play for Education brings educational content to students and teachers

on Android tablets. Your apps should be designed to perform well and look great

on Android tablets, and they should offer the best user experience possible.

</p>

<p>High quality apps are engaging, intuitive, and offer compelling content.

Google Play for Education will highlight high-quality apps for easy discovery in

the store. Here are some recommendations for making your app easy for students

and teachers to enjoy.</p>

<ul>

  <li>Meet Core app quality guidelines

    <ul>

      <li>Follow <a

      href="{@docRoot}design/index.html">Android Design Guidelines</a>.

      Pay special attention to the sections on <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/actionbar.html">Action

      Bar</a>, <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/navigation.html">Navigation</a> and <a

      href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/pure-android.html">Pure Android</a>.</li>

      <li>Test your apps against the <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/quality/core.html">Core

      App Quality Guidelines</a>.</li>

    </ul>

  </li>

<li>Meet tablet app quality guidelines

  <ul>

   <li>Follow our best practices for tablet app development</li>

   <li>Review the <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/quality/tablet.html">Tablet App

   Quality Checklist</a> and <a

   href="http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2012/11/designing-for-tablets-were-here-to-help.html" target="_android">blog post on designing for tablets</a></li>

   <li>Check your Optimization Tips in the Google Play Developer Console (if you've

   already uploaded your app)</li>

  </ul>

<li>Strive for simplicity and highest usability for students

  <ul>

    <li>Design your app so that teachers and students can use all capabilities of

    your app without

    having to sign-in to multiple accounts and remember multiple passwords.</li>

    <li>Every student or teacher using a Google Play for Education tablet will already be

    signed in with a Google account on the device.  You can take advantage of that to provide a

    simple, seamless sign-in experience in your app. A recommended approach is to use

    <a href="{@docRoot}google/play-services/auth.html">Google OAuth 2 authorization</a>

    through Google Play Services.</li>

  </ul>

</li>

</ul>

<h2 id="test-environment">Test Environment</h2>

<p>To test your app and assess it against the guidelines in this document, it's

recommended that you set up a test environment that replicates the actual

environment in which students and teachers will run your app.</p>

<p>In general, you should use the test environment described in <a

href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/quality/tablet.html#test-environment">

Setting Up a Test Environment for Tablets</a>, including a small number of

actual hardware devices that replicate the tablet form factors used in the

Google Play for Education.</p>

<h3 id="devices">Android tablets</h3>

<p>Google Play for Education uses primarily Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 devices, so

your testing can focus on those specific hardware devices. You can purchase the

devices from <a href="https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_16gb" target="_android">Google Play</a> and other stores. Although testing on Nexus

devices is preferred, you can test on other 7-inch or 10-inch tablets or virtual

devices if you don't have access to Nexus devices.</p>

<h3 id="conditions">Test conditions</h3>

<p>Once you've set up a suitable hardware environment, make sure to test your

apps under conditions that simulate those of schools. For example, Google Play

for Education lets administrators control or disable certain capabilities for

students, so it's good to test your app with those capabilities disabled. Below

are some conditions to test your app in, to ensure best results in the Google

Play for Education environment:</p>

<ul>

<li><em>Android version</em> &mdash; Test the app on devices running Android

4.2. Google Play for Education devices will be running Android 4.2 or higher

(API level 17).</li>

<li><em>Proxy server</em> &mdash; Test the app in network environment that uses

proxies. Many schools use proxies.</li>

<li><em>Secondary user account</em> &mdash; Test the app using a secondary user

account. Most Google Play for Education users will not be using the primary <a

href="{@docRoot}about/versions/jelly-bean.html#42-multiuser">multiuser</a>

account on their devices. For testing, create a secondary multiuser account on

your tablet.</li>

<li><em>No location services</em> &mdash; Test the app to make sure it works

properly with location services disabled. Many schools will disable location

services for student devices.</li>

<li><em>No In-app Billing</em> &mdash; Test the app to make sure it works

properly without access to In-app Billing. In-app purchases are blocked on

Google Play for Education devices at this time.</li>

<li><em>No Bluetooth</em> &mdash; Test the app to make sure it works properly

when Bluetooth is disabled. Many schools will disable Bluetooth on student

devices.</li>

<li><em>No access to network</em> &mdash; Test the app to make sure it works

properly when the device cannot connect to the internet. </li>

</ul>

<tr>

<td><p>Related resources:</p>

<ul style="margin-top:-.5em;">

<li><strong><a href="{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/policies/index.html">Google Play Policies and Guidelines</a></strong> &mdash; An overview of Google Play policies for spam, intellectual property, and ads, with examples of common problems. </li>

</a></strong> &mdash; Help Center document describing various content policies and processes.</li>

<li><strong><a href="http://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=2364761&parent=2365624&ctx=topic">Policy and Best Practices

</a></strong> &mdash; Help Center document describing various content policies and processes.</li>