Student Data Safety: Are Promises Enough?

Have you heard about the pledge? The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announced last week a K-12 school service providers Pledge to safeguard student privacy. The promise is built around how the signing companies will collect, maintain, and otherwise use student personal information and include companies such as DreamBox Learning, Edmodo, Follett, and Gaggle. “This industry-led pledge to honor student data privacy is an important step in the right direction,” said Thomas J. Gentzel, executive director, National School Boards Association. “Those vendors who opt to take the pledge are demonstrating their public commitment to responsible data practices in a manner that will help support school boards’ efforts to safeguard student privacy.” I completely agree with the sentiment but wonder if it will make a difference in public perception. —Kevin Hogan, Content Director