For Immediate Release: February 2, 2016
Contact: Renee Rybak Lang, renee.lang@nasbe.org 703-740-4841
West Virginia’s Student Data Privacy Policy Is a Model for Other States
Alexandria, VA – Nearly every state has passed or at least considered legislation to protect student data privacy. Among the 33 states with data privacy laws on the books, West Virginia stands out as a model for ensuring that student data is protected without hampering innovative uses to help students.
A new NASBE State Innovation, “West Virginia’s Steady Course on Student Data Privacy,” profiles the West Virginia State Board of Education’s experience reviewing and adopting its data privacy policies. Author Amelia Vance, NASBE’s director of education data and technology, breaks down key elements of the state’s exemplary Student DATA Act:
- Data Governance. West Virginia has a centralized “data governance manager” who ensures compliance with rules for collection, usage, access, and disclosures and coordinates efforts across departments and districts.
- Training and Support. West Virginia’s Department of Education offers in-person and online trainings to district staff upon request.
- Data Security. In West Virginia, school and district staff can access only the data they need to do their jobs. This reduces the risk of security breaches without impeding staff’s ability to track student success and compare schools and districts.
- Transparency. The Student DATA Act requires the state board to develop guidance for school districts to notify students and parents of their data privacy rights. The department of education must also publicly define the data it collects.
West Virginia also set a high bar for best practice in collaboration between the state board and state legislature. “Lawmakers want to know the purposes for which data are and are not being used,” writes Vance. “The West Virginia State Board discovered that the best strategy for satisfying this need is frequent and open communication.”
Read “West Virginia’s Steady Course on Student Data Privacy.”
The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America’s state and territorial boards of education. Our principal objectives are to strengthen state leadership in education policymaking, advocate equality of access to educational opportunity, promote excellence in the education of all students, and ensure responsible lay governance of education. Learn more at www.nasbe.org.
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