Department of Education releases student privacy guidelines

Feb. 28, 2014
Recent breaches of privacy at schools like the University of Maryland and Indiana University demonstrate the dire need for education privacy guidelines.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced that it has released guidelines and established the Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) to provide information for protecting student privacy. PTAC is intended to be “`a one-stop’ resource for education stakeholders to learn about data privacy,” according to the DOE. 

In an age where student data is at risk of been compromised, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, acknowledged that many people are wondering: “What steps are being taken to keep student data secure, and, just as important, to keep outside businesses and other organizations from making inappropriate use of those data?”

“I want to be absolutely clear that school systems owe families the highest standard of security and privacy,” Duncan said in a speech at the Common Sense Media Privacy Zone Conference earlier this week. “No one makes you sign up for Facebook, but you have to go to school. Our expectations for the protection of children must be paramount,” he said.

Recent breaches of privacy at schools like the University of Maryland and Indiana University demonstrate the dire need for education privacy guidelines. “Privacy rules may well be the seatbelts of this generation,” Duncan said.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...