Digital Tools that collect PII can put your students at risk.
What Is Student Data?
Student Data is any Personally Identifiable Information (PII) that can be tied to an individual student. "This includes name, address, names of parents or guardians, date of birth, grades, attendance, disciplinary records, eligibility for lunch programs, special needs, and other information necessary for basic administration and instruction. It also includes the data created or generated by the student or teacher in the use of technology – email accounts, online bulletin boards, work performed with an educational program or app, anything that is by or about the individual student in the educational setting."
(Source: Magid, Larry. 2017. “The Educator's Guide to Student Data Privacy.” ConnectSafely. https://www.connectsafely.org/eduprivacy/.)
Where does student information and data go?
What data can/cannot be shared?
What are the policies and practices?
Why Is Student Data Privacy Important?
If you are using a resource that is not approved by NKSD, you may be putting your students, yourself, and the district in jeopardy. There are several federal mandates (FERPA, PPRA, COPPA, and CIPA) as well as RI General Law (Student Data-Cloud Computing and the Identity Theft Protection Act) that require student data to be protected. In the event of a data breach, there may be legal and financial liability.
Which Digital Tools Can I Use In NK?
Starting in the Fall of 2021, the only digital resources that are approved for student use will be bookmarked in Clever and listed on the Academic Software List. If the resource you are using is not available in Clever or on the Academic Software List, it is not endorsed by the district. To help simplify the process we have set the homepage for all staff and students to default to Clever.
How Can I Get A Digital Tool Approved by NKSD?
All NKSD approved academic software must be evaluated according to several criteria. Digital tools need to be appropriate for the learning goal, serve the intended purpose, and be safe and secure.
Curriculum Requirements - Is this a high-quality resource for student learning?
Technical Requirements - Is this digital tool compatible with our devices and infrastructure?
Legal Requirements - Is this digital tool compliant with state and federal student data privacy laws?
See the Academic Software Requests page for a link to your school's request form.
Where Can I Learn More About Student Data Privacy?
These courses provide educators at all levels – teachers, administration, and support staff – with the necessary information to understand their role in keeping student data safe in an increasingly online learning environment. These FREE online courses include all lessons, videos, quizzes, and supplemental resources needed to gain a full understanding of data privacy in education. After each course, a certificate of completion is generated for professional development purposes.
Data Privacy in Education - an iKeepSafe Educator Training Course