tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4380071618576379286..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Before School Starts, Think About Student Data PrivacyMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14315854003966691682015-09-03T12:29:05.290-07:002015-09-03T12:29:05.290-07:00For the record, I do believe that private companie...For the record, I do believe that private companies should be prohibited by law from selling or using student data for commercial purposes - and any other purposes should be very strictly and transparently regulated. This would, in my opinion, be a very appropriate piece of legislation for the state to take up next session. <br /><br />I also believe that the elephant in the room is not the efficacy of this data collection, but the educational efficacy of these programs and devices in the first place.Miss Waterlownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31685290568103416962015-09-03T12:24:14.376-07:002015-09-03T12:24:14.376-07:00Miramac - "When in doubt, say NO." In re...Miramac - "When in doubt, say NO." In re directories, I disagree.<br /><br />School directories are a hugely important resource for families and school communities. Encouraging parents not to provide contact information to other parents and students would be a very unfortunate byproduct of an <i>uncareful</i> concern about privacy. The directories in my children's schools have not been in formats that, as I understand the technology, would be available to anyone outside the immediate school community, unless improperly handled. PTSA's and school staff who collect and share directory information should be given guidelines for safeguarding it and should inform and assure parents of these guidelines.<br /><br />In times of increasing disconnection between families and lack of community feeling at many schools, parents should be actively encouraged by the school to reach out and be responsive to other families - not least to the parents of their kids' friends, many of whom, especially as the kids get older, you might never lay eyes on (how many friends do your high-schoolers have named "you don't know 'em?"). Parents should be able to opt out of the directory, but not encouraged to do so - if that's, in fact, what you were suggesting:)Miss Waterlownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58580464521196091772015-09-02T19:48:18.234-07:002015-09-02T19:48:18.234-07:00Miramac - there was a separate SPS release form so...Miramac - there was a separate SPS release form some schools used to allow parents to pick B on FERPA and opt out, but still be allowed to "opt-in" to the yearbook, PTSA directory etc.<br /><br />PTSA Bee - I've been on the board of a few PTSAs too and unfortunately it is very inconsistent the extent to which the school secretary or registrar (or whoever inputs the FERPA opt out info) interprets the PTSA as being able to receive directory information (for example for the purposes of updating an email list serve for newsletters or to create a directory). I've had lists fully turned over. I've had no lists at all turned over, even for folks who don't choose B. It is confusing I agree :) (for parents, staff and PTSAs) And unfortunate too b/c most schools don't have the bandwidth to do timely communication, theus rely on the PTSAs to do the weekly newsletters. So we can be really hamstrung by NOT getting directory information.<br /><br />ptsa momAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60476867807073584112015-09-01T17:45:24.092-07:002015-09-01T17:45:24.092-07:00Andrea,
In the numerous PTSAs I've been invol...Andrea,<br /><br />In the numerous PTSAs I've been involved (and one I now lead) I've never seen an "Opt-in" form. Directory info is the highest level of info available to anyone who requests it and submits a non-commercial use agreement. The parent would have had to have signed off that they do not wish to exempt themselves from directory info.<br /><br />PTSAs should ONLY go through district directory information unless, during the membership application a prospective PTSA member offers up the information.<br /><br />Understand that the FED and our district uses the end-run available under FERPA; any org that purportedly offers an "institutional service" does not need parent permission to access student data. That means the City and its preschool program, ConnectEDU, CCER, RoadMap and their consultants. <br /><br />We must use the (weak) measure of protection provided by FERPA. When in doubt, say NOmirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51374304348912000142015-09-01T14:24:37.329-07:002015-09-01T14:24:37.329-07:00PTSA Bee is correct. I know that when we compiled ...PTSA Bee is correct. I know that when we compiled a directory, we only included names of people who returned our Opt-In form, and agreed to have the info shared with other parents. It was delivered as a printed booklet, so not available digitally on the web back in the day. Not sure if PTAs keep a digital version now; they might.<br /><br />I do know, that as a parent I always appreciated the ability to have the names/phone numbers and addresses of my child's classmates. Handy for planning playdates when she was in elementary, and for verifying if parents were indeed going to be chaperoning a private party when in high school.Andrea Leigh Ptakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07804830480381262696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6599871254652105452015-08-31T14:03:07.695-07:002015-08-31T14:03:07.695-07:00I think that many "family directories" o...I think that many "family directories" or "student directories" in Seattle Public Schools are compiled by PTSAs, which are - if I am correct - not bound by your FERPA form. (Data collection is coming straight from the population, and to be clear FERPA prevents the school from providing bulk information of this sort to the PTSA.) I think that is confusing to some people.<br /><br />PTSA BeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87161831997875062092015-08-31T09:44:46.680-07:002015-08-31T09:44:46.680-07:00Privacy issues go beyond data collected as part of...Privacy issues go beyond data collected as part of educational practice and extend to use of technology as part of class. Personal student accounts are sometimes made necessary by individual teacher requests. For example, a middle school world language teacher wanted students to use Duolingo, but it requires an email address in order to set up an account. Have you tried signing up for a new email lately? Even for a child, they require a second email and a <i>credit card number</i> in order to create an account. Too much data linking for me. The teacher also wanted them to use their own smart phones during class (as a dictionary resource). Not all students have a smart phone, but the expectation was that all students had them.<br /><br />-privacy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42284986017993829752015-08-31T09:17:58.908-07:002015-08-31T09:17:58.908-07:00It's a good question for ALL candidates but ye...It's a good question for ALL candidates but yes, especially those who talk about data.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91471654298020269932015-08-31T09:14:08.267-07:002015-08-31T09:14:08.267-07:00I've noticed that school board candidate Laure...I've noticed that school board candidate Lauren McGuire's campaign is all about data. She is silent on issues that protect student privacy, data sharing, testing(which produces data)etc.<br /><br />It is time for McGuire to expand her messaging.Clarify Messagenoreply@blogger.com