A cybersecurity incident is an event that actually or potentially jeopardizes a system or the information it holds. When a student's personal information is disclosed, it can lead to physical, emotional, and financial harm. Organizations are vulnerable to data security risks, including over 17,000 public school districts and approximately 98,000…

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools across the nation, many K-12 schools moved from in-person to remote education, increasing their dependence on IT and making them potentially more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Education Facilities, including K-12 schools, is one of the nation's critical infrastructure subsectors. Several…

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education that was held to discuss exploring opportunities to strengthen education research while protecting student privacy. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Jared Polis, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Early…

This document records testimony from a hearing held to examine strengthening education research and privacy protections to better serve students. Education research has long played an important role in our Nation's classrooms. States and school districts use research to identify teaching and learning strategies that improve classroom instruction…

This paper presents the first joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the Committee on Homeland Security and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The subcommittees met to examine data collection…

On January 28, the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) released a report examining the coordination of California postsecondary education. LAO concludes that the state faces many challenges in maintaining a high-quality higher education system, and that reform of its coordination structure is needed to help meet those challenges. The LAO report…

This document is intended to serve as a practical guide for implementing a teacher-student data link (TSDL) that supports a range of uses at the local, regional, and state levels. The guide addresses the considerations for linking teacher and student data from multiple perspectives, including governance, policies, data components, business rules,…

The Secretary amends our regulations implementing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which is section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act. These amendments are needed to implement a provision of the USA Patriot Act and the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, which added new exceptions permitting the disclosure of …

The Buckley Amendment limits the right of access to letters of recommendation only to admitted students and allows schools to request that applicants sign a waiver of their access rights. Statutory amendment is the best way to correct this "catch 22" situation. Available from The Law Center, University of Southern California, University…

This document provides the public with a single document containing all regulatory provisions pertaining to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Included is a summary of the major comments received after publication of a notice of proposed rule-making. Each summary of comments is followed by a response that indicates whether or not a…

Responding to the needs of children, particularly juvenile offenders, requires both good judgment and good information. Knowledge and awareness of a child's background and problems gives teachers, counselors, administrators, police, and other legal professionals guidance in developing proper education, programs, and counsel for the child.…

The regulations of the New York City Board of Education which spell out an individual's right to have access to Board of Education records are given. The regulations reflect the Board of Education's attempt to meet the requirements of the New York State Freedom of Information Law of 1977. The regulations deal with the following topics: (1) the…

An editorial and condensed account of hearings and recommendations of the U.S. House of Representatives concerning "diploma mills" and mail-order degrees and credentials is given. (MSE)

Some of the laws, rules, and principles related to student privacy, especially as they relate to the electronic era, are described. Some of the key elements of the Buckley Amendment are detailed and the ethical implications are discussed. (Author/MLW)

This document is designed to assist Oregon school districts to develop and implement student record policies in accordance with state and federal legislation. The first section provides guidelines for maintenance and control of and access to student records. Section two provides a model policy statement for school boards to consider when adopting…