Education is changing. New technologies are allowing information to flow within schools and beyond, enabling new learning environments and providing new tools to improve the way teachers teach and the way students learn. Data-driven innovations are bringing advances in teaching and learning but are accompanied by concerns about how education data, particularly student-generated data, are being collected and used.
The Future of Privacy Forum believes that there are critical improvements to learning that are enabled by data and technology, and that the use of data and technology is not antithetical to protecting student privacy. In order to facilitate this balance, FPF equips and connects advocates, industry, policymakers, and practitioners with substantive practices, policies, and other solutions to address education privacy challenges at both the K-12 and higher ed levels.
For more information and resources, please visit Student Privacy Compass, a one-stop shop for information, news, and analysis on maintaining student data privacy.
Student Data and De-Identification
Today, FPF has released its newest paper, Student Data and De-Identification: Understanding De-Identification of Education Records and Related Requirements of FERPA. Prepared in partnership with Reg Leichty of Foresight Law + Policy, this paper provides an overview of the different tools used to de-identify data to various degrees, based on the type of information involved, […]
Student Privacy Pledge – Hits 150!
The Pledge represents industry’s public commitment to the responsible handling of student data and provides accountability for signatory school service providers. The result is a bolstering of the public trust …
Student Privacy Pledge – Hits 150!
The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) are pleased to recognize that the Student Privacy Pledge reached the milestone of 150 education …
Balancing Free Expression and Social Media Monitoring
Last week, central Florida’s largest school district announced that it would begin monitoring a number of social media sites for posts “that may impact students and staff.” As more and more school districts look to social media to monitor and track students, it raises big privacy questions. Certainly, many schools have reacted to school shootings, student suicides, […]
Communicating with Parents about Student Privacy
Recently, a number of bills have been proposed at both federal and state levels aimed at protecting student data privacy. Laws, codes of conduct, better contracts …
Parents Rights To Student Data Privacy
FUTURE OF PRIVACY FORUM INTRODUCES DIGITAL GUIDE TO EQUIP PARENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING OF LAWS GOVERNING STUDENT DATA USE AND PRIVACY New Website Developed in Partnership with National PTA, ConnectSafely.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – Monday, April 27, 2015 – As the digital revolution continues to transform students’ learning, how teachers instruct in classrooms, and the […]
When Opting Out of Student Data Collection Isn't the Solution
Opting-out, whether for testing or other activities, is getting a lot of press in the Education world right now. Jules and I recently wrote for EdSurge on this topic…when it is, or isn’t, the right policy decision. The bottom line? “Opt-out rights should be an opportunity for parents to decline uses of data that truly […]
The Student Privacy Pledge and Security
We know it is critical for ed tech companies to get security right. The Student Privacy Pledge developed by FPF and SIIA requires signatories to maintain “a comprehensive security program that is reasonably designed to protect the security . . . of personal student information . . . appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.” […]
Student Privacy Pledge Crosses Milestone with 100 Signatories
Media Contacts: FPF: Nicholas Graham, (571) 291-2967, [email protected] SIIA: Sabrina Eyob, (202) 789-4480, [email protected] PR Agency: Farrah Kim, (202) 568-8986, [email protected] STUDENT PRIVACY PLEDGE CROSSES MILESTONE WITH 100 SIGNATORIES Responsible Privacy Practices Affirmed by Growing Number of Ed-Tech Companies WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wednesday, February 4, 2015 – The Future of Privacy Forum […]
Student Privacy Boot Camp for Ed Tech Companies
The Future of Privacy Forum – which recently spearheaded the White House-endorsed “Student Privacy Pledge” with SIIA – has now partnered with ReThink Education to present a new and timely “Student Privacy Boot Camp” for ed tech companies. The goal of the training program is to gather ed tech companies – startups, small- and medium-sized companies […]