Safe, Sound, and Private: Promoting Data Protection for Students

Abstract

In an effort to slow the spread of the highly infectious disease coronavirus (COVID-19), school districts around the world closed school buildings, thrusting educators into emergency remote teaching. Although many vendors were quick to release tutorial guides and free trials for their online learning resources, the growing concern over student data protection intensified. A lack of transparency or disregard for privacy in the privacy policies of many apps and websites used by students may allow third parties to generate detailed profiles of students to be used for behavioral advertising, which could cause unforeseen consequences. This article highlights existing federal laws that aim to protect student data, explains the importance of vetting apps and websites used by students, offers guidance to assist schools with the vetting process, and concludes with resources to teach about digital citizenship, including lessons in which students learn how to protect their own data.