In today’s digital age, the importance of protecting student data is paramount, especially for K-12 educators and IT personnel. Avant Assessment recently hosted an insightful webinar as part of the Cybersecurity for Educators series that delved into this topic, focusing on compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and strategies for safeguarding student data privacy in educational technology (EdTech).
Meet the Expert: Linnette Attai
The webinar was a conversation between Michael King, Avant Assessment’s IT Security and Compliance Manager, and special guest, Linnette Attai, founder of Playwell, LLC, a global privacy consulting firm. Linnette Attai is a recognized authority on data privacy, particularly within the education sector. With her vast experience, including as a TEDx speaker and writing three books on protecting student data privacy, Linnette was well-suited to guide educators and IT personnel through the complexities of privacy laws.
COPPA: What It Is and Why It Matters
The webinar kicked off with a foundational overview of COPPA, a federal law designed to protect the online privacy of children under age 13. Linnette explained that COPPA requires companies to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal data from children. This law applies not only to operators of websites and apps directed at children but also to companies that know they are collecting data from children under age 13.
Linnette also touched on the rights COPPA grants parents, including the ability to review and delete their child’s information and prevent further data collection. For educators, the key takeaway was how these requirements apply to EdTech companies working with schools.
How COPPA Compliance Works in EdTech
When EdTech companies contract with school districts, consent functions a bit differently. School districts can act in place of parents to grant consent for data collection, but this consent is strictly limited to educational purposes—commercial uses are off-limits. Linnette highlighted the importance of districts thoroughly reviewing EdTech vendors’ privacy policies to ensure compliance, emphasizing that privacy and security should always be at the forefront.
The Key Role of Transparency
Both Linnette and Michael stressed transparency as a central theme throughout the webinar. School districts must clearly understand how vendors collect, use, and protect student data. A red flag, Linnette warned, is any vendor lacking a privacy policy or claiming to be “FERPA-compliant.” FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, governs how districts handle student records, not companies. If a vendor doesn’t demonstrate a clear understanding of these regulations, schools should proceed with caution.
The Future of Student Privacy: COPPA 2.0
The webinar also explored potential changes to student privacy laws, including COPPA 2.0, which could raise the age threshold for privacy protections from under 13 to under 17. This update, currently making its way through Congress, would also expand the definition of personal information to include biometric data and introduce stricter security requirements for vendors.
For school districts, this means a greater need to stay informed and vigilant as privacy regulations evolve. Linnette encouraged districts to prepare now by fostering partnerships with privacy-conscious vendors and maintaining strong internal privacy practices.
Why You Should Watch the Webinar
This webinar is essential viewing for K-12 educators, IT staff, and district administrators who are responsible for safeguarding student data. The insights shared by Linnette Attai provide practical, actionable steps to ensure your school continues to work with vendors who understand their obligations under COPPA and other privacy laws.
By watching this webinar, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of:
- COPPA’s core requirements and how they apply to EdTech vendors.
- The importance of reviewing privacy policies and terms of use.
- How to identify potential red flags in vendor privacy practices.
- Upcoming changes in student privacy laws that could impact your district.
- Best practices for working with EdTech companies to protect student data.
Whether you’re responsible for managing student data or vetting technology providers, this webinar offers critical guidance on navigating the increasingly complex landscape of student privacy laws.
Watch the full webinar now and ensure your school takes the necessary steps to protect student data in today’s digital world!
Catch up in the Series
Avant is hosting a Cybersecurity for Educators series. Catch up on this and the first in the series: School Cybersecurity: Key Basics Explained. Then, sign up to receive notifications about future events.
