Guide Issued for Parents Seeking to Understand, Protect Student Privacy

A student privacy guide is available for parents, the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy (PCSP) and Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) announced Tuesday. The toolkit provides an overview of federal student data laws, tips to protect children's privacy, a guide to understand privacy policies, sample opt-out forms and questions to ask schools. PCSP co-Chair Rachael Stickland said many parents are "under the false impression" that their children's records are stored in a paper file in the principal's office. A recent Electronic Frontier Foundation report said student privacy is being compromised by major tech companies without parents' knowledge (see 1704140050). "You shouldn’t need a PhD or law degree to ensure that your child’s sensitive student data isn’t shared with commercial entities," said CCFC Executive Director Josh Golin.