Data
Sharing + Privacy
October 21, 2015
Intelligent and creative use of data in K-12 education is a driving force behind efforts to use digital curricula and assessments to personalize learning. Data use can be the difference maker in understanding individual students’ strengths and weaknesses. But the expanded, more sophisticated use of data has opened the doors wider for potential problems, especially regarding the privacy of student information. That rising tension between advocates for greater use of data to improve schools and people who are worried about protecting student privacy is one of the most contentious issues in education. This special report aims to give district leaders, policymakers, researchers, and education company executives a better sense of what it takes to find areas of agreement.
- School Climate & Safety Schools Learn Lessons From Security BreachesSchools are vulnerable to outside hacking, in-house errors, and even technology gaps at companies they work with. Yet, school systems often lack specific plans for dealing with data breaches once they occur, creating logistical and public relations challenges.Privacy & Security Threat of Data-Privacy Litigation Fuels District Insurance PurchasesAs more and more large, well-known companies—such as Home Depot and Target—fall victim to cyberattacks, school districts are realizing they could be next.
Privacy & Security Why K-12 Data-Privacy Training Needs to ImproveEducation experts are lamenting the lack of training opportunities for educators that they say must happen for true student-data-privacy protection.Privacy & Security Educators Hope Congress Provides Clarity, Support on Privacy IssuesEight federal bills, amendments, or provisions related to student-data privacy have been introduced in 2015.
School & District Management Schools, Government Agencies Move to Share Student DataAmid an ongoing debate over the use of student data, K-12 systems have quietly begun linking children's educational records with information from other government agencies.
