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Data Privacy and Security

Data Privacy and Security Policy

In order to conduct a successful education program, the District receives, creates, stores and transfers information about students, teachers and principals that is protected by state and federal law. The District takes active steps to protect the confidentiality of protected information in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. The District expects all District officers, employees, and partners to maintain the confidentiality of protected information in accordance with state and federal law and all applicable Board Policies.

 

Data Privacy and Security Policy

Pursuant to Education Law section 2-d, BOCES and school districts are now required to publish, on their websites, a Parents' Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security and to include such information with every contract entered into with a third party contractor where the third party contractor receives student data or teacher or principal data.

Belleville Henderson Central School District is required to annually notify parents of their rights under FERPA; Under FERPA, the District may identify certain data elements as Directory Information, which may be disclosed without obtaining prior parental consent. The data identified as Directory Information by our District is:

  • Student's name
  • Major field of study
  • Grade Level
  • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
  • Honors, degrees and awards received
  • Photograph

Federal Laws that Protect Student Data

 

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 and Privacy Act (FERPA)  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)  PPRA defines the rules states and school districts must follow when administering tools like surveys, analysis and evaluations funded by the U.S. 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. Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) 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.