A recent poll revealed that while parents are increasingly concerned about the amount of information collected on their children by schools, only 12 percent of them consider student data privacy a big concern. The majority haven’t even heard of this as an issue.
There may be a reason for that. While there have been widely reported breaches at major retailers, financial companies, colleges, government agencies and so on, there have been scant reports of security lapses in K-12 education.
This good news, however, may be more a result of good fortune than sound security protections and policies. Many state privacy policies are inadequate and outdated, not surprising given the pace of change in an increasingly digitalized education landscape.
Understanding that, as well as appreciating the need to be proactive instead of reactive, some states are adopting or considering new or updated student privacy legislation. Over the past two years, they have passed more than 50 new privacy bills of almost 200 considered.
Such legislation is complex and getting more so given the pace of change.
Our contribution to this debate is to serve as a source of information. Working with experts and advocates over the years, ExcelinEd has developed a host of resources to support states and school districts as they work to modernize outdated laws and policies while better responding to the concerns of parents.
We recently published a report, Protecting K-12 Student Privacy in a Digital Age. This paper includes recommendations of actions that various stakeholders – including state education agencies, school districts, parents and companies – can take even in the absence of new legislation to improve student data privacy and security in the current K-12 context.
This is not a take-your-time issue. Technology is transforming the education landscape just as it has transformed every other aspect of our lives.
More classes are administered in part, or totally, online. Many state tests now are given online. More classrooms are setting aside notebooks and pencils for tablets and computers. Instead of taking piles of papers home to grade, teachers can access everything their students are doing on a laptop. So can parents.
Digital learning is allowing schools to individualize education. For example, students in any classroom can access a wide selection of courses otherwise not offered in their schools. It allows them to progress at their own pace, moving ahead in their coursework as they master the material rather than having to conform to one-size-fits-all timeframes.
Testing data directs student instruction, identifies great teachers and schools, and informs parents about their children’s progress from one year to the next. It allows researchers to delve into the effectiveness of education policies, creating an environment in which states can learn from each other. It allows education companies to develop better curriculum and course software.
Data tells you what works and doesn’t work.
The benefits are game changing. That is why safeguarding student privacy in this environment must be moved to the forefront of the K-12 debate. Most importantly, parental buy-in is mandatory if sound policies are to be adopted and effectively implemented.
And the most effective tool for getting that buy-in is transparency. Parents must be informed and empowered. They should be told what data is being collected on their children, and how it is being stored, used and shared. Parents also must have unfettered access to their children’s information.
Building up a foundation of trust now is preferable than trying to regain it after an incident occurs. This is the time to develop these policies, not after a headline hits social media about a school data breach.
The unfortunate reaction to that may be calls for a needless clampdown, which could deny students the many benefits offered by education technology.
We know there is a middle ground, one that better protects the privacy of students but still puts them in the front row of a 21st century education system. We encourage all who are interested in learning more to visit our web site at www.ExcelinEd.org/Student-Data-Privacy.
About: The Foundation for Excellence in Education is transforming education for the 21st century economy by working with lawmakers, policymakers, educators and parents to advance education reform across America. Learn more at ExcelinEd.org
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