Federal Laws: Student Data Protection

Education Law 2-D

Provides guidance to educational agencies and their third-party contractors on ways to strengthen data privacy and security to protect student data and annual professional performance review data.

Part 121 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education

The Board of Regents adopted Part 121 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education on January 13, 2020. These rules implement Education Law Section 2-D.

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act

The foundational federal law on the privacy of students’ educational records, FERPA safeguards student privacy by limiting who may access student records, specifying for what purpose they may access those records, and detailing what rules they have to follow when accessing the data.

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment

PPRA defines the rules states and school districts must follow when administering tools like surveys, analysis, and evaluations funded by the US Department of Education to students. It requires parental approval to administer many such tools and ensures that school districts have policies in place regarding how the data collected through these tools can be used.

Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act

COPPA imposes certain requirements on operators of websites, games, mobile apps or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age