Protecting Student Privacy

Alicia Rudkowsky
EDUC 670
June 12, 2022
 Definition of Student Privacy
Student privacy has a full range of terms. The following presentation will help
break down and understand the privacy terms most commonly used in today’s
schools and among many school districts.
 Why it’s Important
Educational apps and services have the power to engage students and enhance a
teacher’s ability to meet all needs.
Including:
-Video Tools-Learn and create content
-Assessment apps-Provide educators with real time performance data
-Subject Specific apps- Deliver Educational Content in diverse and personalized
ways
These are helping transform student and teacher experiences….
Why it’s important continued…..
With these amazing opportunities for student learning comes greater sharing of
student information and, in turn, some additional risk to student privacy.
This increased sharing and exposure of student data can potentially lead to real
consequences for students.
● Attendance
● Advertising profiles and
● Grades targeted advertising
● Discipline records ● Poor spending habits
● Financial exploitation
● Health records ● Identity Theft
● Additional unknown
future consequences
 How to Manage Risk
Many Districts and schools implement controls through their IT infrastructures and
by providing teachers with apps that have been thoroughly vetted.

When looking at which apps to allow or not allow, districts and schools generally
consider whether students and their data are protected through:
-Restricted Access
Safe
-Secure transmission and storage
Secure
-Safe design features and controls
Restricted
 Relevant Laws
For Guidelines and parameters for protecting student
privacy, districts, schools, and teachers also need to be
aware of three federal laws:
FERPA
COPPA
PPRA
FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

-Provide parents with access to educational records & get parental consent before sharing student
information with contracted providers.

COPPA
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

-Requires providers to have verifiable parental consent before collecting any data about children under 13
& schools may provide consent on behalf of a parent but only for services that are educational in nature.

PPRA
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment

-Must notify parents prior to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information(surveyrs) for
marketing purposes and provide parents with the opportunity to opt out.
 How to Choose Apps
1) Check Your District or School Policy

*Is the app approved? If not, look for an alternative.

2) Use Common Sense’s Privacy Evaluations

*If you do not have guidance from your district, use the Common Sense’s
privacy evaluations to get a rating of edtech products.

3) Review the App Yourself

*Look in the sign-up process or on the footer of the app’s website

 Review of Assessment App
Common Sense Privacy Evaluations

● This App has been rated

79%-’Pass’ by
CommonSense
● It’s always important to make
sure you read through your
district's/school policy first
●