Policymakers in almost every state have recently considered laws to ensure the safety of student data, as has the U.S. Congress. At the same time, the Every Student Succeeds (ESSA) Act requires states to adopt evidence-based interventions to improve school performance. The research to inform these interventions depends on access to student data. Amelia Vance outlines key lessons policymakers should contemplate before taking action.
“Data privacy will be ever more important as education becomes more personalized and dependent on technology,” writes Vance. “By taking advantage of the current spotlight on privacy and using it to make positive changes that balance privacy and good data use, state boards can improve education and create a system where the appropriate use of data can help all children succeed.”
Policymaking on Education Data Privacy_Lessons Learned