Maintaining the Privacy and Security of Student Data

Ed Jung

What began as a helpful primer for understanding the complex topic of student data privacy presented by officers from the Arizona Department of Education, turned into a debate about federal overreach with many members of the audience concerned about new FERPA policies.

The state officials, led by Ed Jung, chief technology officer and Dr. Rebecca Bolnick, chief data officer were put on the defensive, but assured everyone that “FERPA is the floor, not the ceiling,” and that states are allowed to do what they need to do.  Arizona has the policies and systems in place to limit student data and protect privacy, and the ADE officials called the procedures for accessing data as “cumbersome,” meaning they can control what they send to the federal government.

At issue is what the federal government asks for from the states, and the accusation that they are giving or selling that data to others.  What was lost in the presentation is how school districts handle data and security.  Policies and procedures should ask why districts collect certain data, what do they collect, who is allowed to access it and how it is protected.  Knowing these questions and having procedures in place make it easier for board members, staff and the public to understand the relevance of data privacy and the importance of data security.

Craig Pletenik
Phoenix Union High School District