Category Archives: student data privacy

Student Data Security Regulatory Trend from State of Huckleberry Finn. 4 Things the Agency Will Do Differently.

Which state is getting on the student data security bandwagon? Missouri

What prompted regulatory action by the Missouri Department of Education? An Audit that found the department of education “unnecessarily collected and kept personal information from students”

What chages will occur at this education agency? 

  • Missouri will no longer colelct and store student social security numbers when they don’t need social security numbers
  • Missouri will destroy unneeded sensitive data from its…

Lege Trend: Student Data Security Bills in KeyStone State. 9 Prohibitions for Education Vendors.

Multiple bills dealing with protecting student data have been filed in the Pennsylvania legislature.

The bills include provision to set standards on education vendors for:

  • Prohibit tapping student information to target them with advertising;
  • Prohibit amassing profiles of students for non-educational purposes; 
  • Prohibit the sale or sharing of student information outside of narrow circumstances.
  • Require vendors to secure student data and delete it all upon the district’s…

3 Points from an Education Tech Expert on Student Data Security

Who is the expert? James Steyer

  •  Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, a San Francisco-based not-for-profit that, among other things, studies and advocates for children’s online privacy.
  • He is a a former civil rights attorney
  • Common Sense Media helped push 2014 California legislation, the Student Online Personal Information Protection Act, that bars operators of educational websites aimed at kids from amassing data profiles on their users

What are his points to protect student…

3 Federal Regulatory Data Security Acts Point to State Legislation on the Horizon

What have the feds done for us lately to protect our data security?

1.     Weeks ago the FDA stopped the use of a pump for infusion therapy because it could be hacked

2.     July’s recall of 1.4 million Chryslers, Dodges & Jeeps because of hacking the auto software

3.     The SEC following through on enforcement for insider trading due to a computer hack

Let’s not forget it has also been the year of:

  • student data breaches
  • insurance companies data breaches
  • a fear of data security…

8 Reasons WHY the Software & Information Industry Association Opposes Student Data Security Reforms

The Software & Information Industry Association writing to U.S. Senators support protecting student data, but oppose proposed reforms. Here’s why:

  • Software & Information Industry Association members are “engaged in a continuous process to enhance student privacy and data security. “
  • They developed the Student Privacy Pledge 
  • We have strong protection framework of federal and state law
  • We have enforceable privacy policies
  • Binding contracts keep us honest
  •  S.1788 would…

6 Trends in State Data Breach Laws

  • Greater Enforcement Powers for State Attorneys General
  • Protecting More types of data = more reasons to notify consumers
  • Expanded liability for private companies that store state data
  • Requiring companies that have a data breach to offer, at their cost, mitigation services that protect data- think Life Lock etc…
  • Protecting Student Data
  • Requiring encryption for stored data
    • As an example, see: 
      • “The new Washington law goes even further as it identifies a minimum standard for…

Lege trend: Keystone State Considering Student Data Protection Legislation. Eduction Vendor Data Sought.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Dan Miller, a former teacher, is crafting student data security legislation that will:

  • Require ed-tech vendors to delete their data on former students & alert victims of any data breaches.

Like other states, Pennsylvania is looking to California’s landmark student data protection legislation for guidance.

Post Gazette

Lege Trend: Peach Blossom State Passes Package of Data Security Bills: Internet Providers. Education. Employers. Healthcare.

Delaware this year enacted a package of data security bills, including:

Tech Joins Fight Against Federal Student Data Protection. 3 Reasons Tech Opposes Student Data Security Changes.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act is undergoing an overhaul. Part of that overhsaul is to strengthen privacy protections for student data. 

The Internet Association opposes the current proposal  because:

  •  it is too broad/vague
  • it has unprecedented notification requirements
  • it does not preempt state law

The Hill  The Internet Association Opposition Letter