By this time, many schools across the country and around the globe have made their most difficult decision of the year — what the upcoming academic year will look like. Whether classes resume in person, online, or a combination of both, the use of data and technology to support and educate students will be a central concern for school administrators, educators, and caretakers alike. At the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), we are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the tools and guidance they need to make the most of data and technology while keeping student privacy and equity in mind.
Both in physical and virtual classrooms, new educational technologies are filling an essential role in allowing schools to serve their students under unusual conditions. Learning management tools can help students to receive and submit assignments, and educators to grade in a timely and transparent manner. Video conferencing can allow educators and school counselors to keep in contact with their students, providing lessons and support. Websites and mobile apps can enable families to access school services such as free meals for children and internet access. Through it all, student data is being collected, stored, and, hopefully, protected.
Prior to the recent shift to distance learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, data management and security were already inconsistent across school districts and in need of stronger protections. As schools and educators rely more heavily on technology, and more data is integrated from outside agencies, policies and practices need to be updated to reflect the increased reliance on online learning, data sharing, and data integration. There is a new reality — one in which classrooms go beyond physical walls — and student privacy and data security must be ensured regardless of how a student is receiving instruction.
At CDT, we help parents and other caretakers navigate student privacy and data issues, equipping them with important questions to ask, as well as guidance on how to handle new challenges as the classroom moves into the home. We lift up the voices of educators, students, and other underrepresented perspectives to strengthen their advocacy in the planning and recommendation process. We work with schools and state agencies to provide practitioners with the protocols, tools, and training they need to implement new technologies being used with privacy and equity considerations in mind.
With your support, we are putting democracy and individual rights at the center of the digital revolution. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Alexandra Givens,
President & CEO
Center for Democracy & Technology
