Common Sense Kids Action is an independent, nonpartisan, powerful voice for America’s next generation. We have a simple mission: Make kids and education our nation’s top priority. Kids don’t have the economic power or vote to make their own voices heard, but their future success determines our nation’s future success.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Lan Neugent
Interim Executive Director, SETDA
[email protected]
202-715-6636 x706
SETDA supports Federal Action to Safeguard Student Data & Privacy
Washington, DC – (April 30, 2015) The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) strongly supports the introduction yesterday of the “Student Data Privacy and Parental Rights Act of 2015” sponsored by Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colorado and Rep Luke Messer, R-Indiana. The bill, which was crafted with assistance of the White House, would further protect student and parental data rights by prohibiting vendors from selling student data, using data to target students with advertising, establishing data security procedures and setting timelines for the deletion of student information. The full text of the bill is available here and at www.messer.house.gov.
“SETDA is pleased that the federal government is taking this significant action to further safeguard our nation’s k-12 students, while allowing flexibility at the state level to create laws that would provide additional protection, “ said Lan Neugent, Interim Executive Director of SETDA.
State education leaders encourage responsible use of data by administrators and teachers as they strive to increase student achievement. Peter Drescher, SETDA Board of Directors Chair and Educational Technology Coordinator, Vermont Education Agency states: “On the state level we are relying heavily on our data systems to make sure that student learning is continually moving in the right direction. This federal action helps assure us that there are obligations on all who use the data to maintain student privacy and security.”
In addition, SETDA co-signed with 18 other national organizations on the recently released report, “The Federal Role in Safeguarding Student Data” which advocates for legislation such as the Polis/Messer bill. The full text of the document can be found at: http://dataqualitycampaign.org/find-resources/the-federal-role-in-safeguarding-student-data
About SETDA:
Founded in 2001, the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) is the principal non-profit membership association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology leaders. Our mission is to build and increase the capacity of state and national leaders to improve education through technology policy and practice. For more information, please visit: setda.org
As funding is phased out for some technologies and increased for others, here’s how you can get more of what you need.
ConnectED is President Obama’s Plan for Connecting All Schools to the Digital Age through a three-pronged approach: upgraded connectivity, trained teachers, and building upon private sector innovation.
The National Education Technology Plan is the flagship educational technology policy document for the United States. The Plan articulates a vision of equity, active use, and collaborative leadership to make everywhere, all-the-time learning possible. While acknowledging the continuing need to provide greater equity of access to technology itself, the plan goes further to call upon all involved in American education to ensure equity of access to transformational learning experiences enabled by technology. The principles and examples provided in this document align to the Activities to Support the Effective Use of Technology (Title IV A) of Every Student Succeeds Act as authorized by Congress in December 2015.