Privacy Enhancing Technologies for Education Researchers

Educational research answers questions about program effectiveness, equity, access, and long‑term outcomes. Researchers typically need student-level data and enough context to ensure their research is effective and accomplishes their goal. At the same time, disclosing student data to researchers may increase the risk of reidentification. The risk is not limited to direct identifiers such as names or student IDs; uncommon or rare characteristics and small groups can also reveal too much.

Some analyses—particularly those that rely on predefined queries or aggregate statistics—can be completed without direct access to student-level data. Agencies can enable analysis through protected environments or Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs). PETs are methods that help reduce the risks of sharing student data while also preserving its value. They can lower the amount of sensitive data shared, support safer publication of results, and protect small groups. However, PETs do not replace good governance. It’s necessary to implement data minimization, role-based access controls, auditability, and enforceable agreements.