DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY
Parent and Student Rights
Education Law § 2-d protects student personally identifiable information (PII) from unauthorized disclosure. Additionally, this law provides parents with rights regarding their child's PII. The parent fact sheet explains these rights.
Education Law § 2-d mandates that each educational agency develop a Parent Bill of Rights for data privacy and security. The purpose of this document is to provide information to parents and students about certain legal requirements that protect personally identifiable information.
Parents have the right to file complaints about possible breaches and unauthorized disclosures of PII addressed. Complaints may be submitted to NYSED at: .
https://www.nysed.gov/data-privacy-security/report-improper-disclosure
By mail: Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234;
By email: privacy@nysed.gov
By telephone: 518-474-0937.
Federal Laws that Protect Student Data
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 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.
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.