Features available:

Yes/no

What they call it, and how to find  it

Reviewer comments

Password-protect entire blog

N

Can password protect individual posts from the Write screen, though.

Choices of blog appearance

Y

See Presentation> Themes

 Over two dozen choices

Customization of appearance with own graphics

Y

Presentation> Header Image and Color

Can make variations in font and background color of header

Keywording/tagging

Y

Called “categories” See Manage> categories

Teacher-managed registration options

Y

Under Users> Authors and Users

No self-registration is available.

Teacher-managed posting options

Y

Set by user level or “role” Set them under Users.
Includes admin, editor, author, contributor, subscriber (with descending abilities)

See detailed descriptions of the capabilities of each level in the Documentation. If you make all students contributors and all parents readers, you are at a good starting point.

Teacher-managed commenting options

Y

Under Options> General, check off Users must be registered and logged in to comment

Teacher-approval of posts and comments

Y

Under Options> Discussion,  set choices under Before a comment appears:

Read choices carefully

Teacher-managed control over what different members can “see”

Y

Called “roles.” Set them under Users.
Includes admin, editor, author, contributor, subscriber (with descending abilities)

See detailed descriptions of the capabilities of each level in the Documentation. NOT an easy function for a beginner to understand.

Other capabilities

Rss feeds, pingbacks, subscriptions, etc. Full features of general blogs

Some features may be problematic with tech-savvy students. Make sure you have user levels locked down!

Help available

Y

Wordpress help

Help is oriented to the general blogging public and may not address terminology a teacher might use. Forums might be helpful for this.