Student Privacy 101 for Researchers

Session Type: Professional Development Course

Abstract

Since 2013, 39 states have passed 123 student privacy laws, many of which have direct or indirect implications for researchers. Just in 2017, 45 student privacy bills were introduced that directly mentioned education research, and Congress has introduced legislation that could curtail education research significantly. In this climate, it is essential that researchers understand student privacy and how they can both protect student data—beyond IRBs—and communicate about their privacy practices. This course will provide an overview of federal student privacy laws and state student privacy law trends that affect researchers; a comparative look at how researchers in other areas deal with privacy concerns; and best practices researchers can follow to alleviate student privacy concerns. This information will be conveyed through a mixture of panels, audience participation, and interactive case studies. Participants will come away knowing the most important student privacy issues and legislative trends for researchers and how to improve their own privacy practices in order to protect student privacy and protect themselves from student privacy perception problems.

Sub Unit

• Professional Development and Training Committee

Instructors

• Amelia Vance, Future of Privacy Forum

• Michael Hawes, U.S. Department of Education

• Elana Zeide, Seton Hill University

• Rachel Anderson, Data Quality Campaign