CPSI Signs Student Privacy Pledge
In response to President Obama’s call to better protect student privacy, CPSI announced today that it has signed the Student Privacy Pledge sponsored by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) and The Future of Privacy Forum. It joins more than 130 K-12 technology providers who have pledged to safeguard student privacy by agreeing to a set of commitments related to the collection, maintenance, and use of student personal information.
“The Student Privacy Pledge shows our ongoing commitment to ensure student privacy and data security. We believe that school districts should have absolute control of the data the collect and manage on behalf of students,” said Michelle Elia, President CPSI. “We welcome the focus on the importance of safeguarding student privacy, which has been a one of our founding principles at CPSI.”
The pledge was created with guidance from the school service providers, educator organizations and other stakeholders following a convening by U.S. Representatives Jared Polis (CO) and Luke Messer (IN). It makes clear that school service providers are accountable to:
- Not sell student information
- Not behaviorally target advertising
- Use data for authorized education purposes only
- Not change privacy policies without notice and choice
- Enforce strict limits on data retention
- Support parental access to, and correction of errors in, their children’s information
- Provide comprehensive security standards
- Be transparent about collection and use of data
“These commitments clearly and concisely articulate a set of expectations that parents and education officials have for the safeguarding of children’s sensitive data,” said Jules Polonetsky, FPF executive director and co-chair, in a joint announcement made last week from FPF and SIIA. “The pledge will enhance the trust between families, schools and third-party service providers necessary to support the safe and effective use of student information for student, teacher and school success.”
“We introduce this pledge as a clear industry commitment to safeguard the privacy and security of all student personal information,” said Mark Schneiderman, SIIA’s senior director of education policy. “Current law provides extensive restrictions on the use of student information, and this industry pledge will build on and detail that protection to promote even greater confidence in the appropriate use of student data.”
About FPF
The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) is a Washington, DC based think tank that seeks to advance responsible data practices. The forum is led by Internet privacy experts Jules Polonetsky and Christopher Wolf and includes an advisory board comprised of leading figures from industry, academia, law and advocacy groups. For more information, visit www.futureofprivacy.org.
