Class Size Matters opposed to new NYSED student data project; send your own letter too!

The following letter was sent to Commissioner Elia and the Board of Regents, from Class Size Matters and NYSAPE, urging them to put a stop to the new Gates-funded NYSED student data collection plan.  You can also download the letter here.

Please send your own letter by clicking here.

We have asked them to halt the plan until there is more transparency concerning what personally identifiable student and teacher information will be collected, why they are needed, with whom the data will be shared, how they will be stored, and what their ultimate disposition will be, as well as why aggregate anonymous student data is not sufficient.

In addition, before going ahead with this new data collection, the 2014 student privacy law must be fully enforced, including the appointment of a permanent Chief Privacy Officer with expertise in privacy issues, who will develop a Parent Bill of Rights with parent input — as the law says should have occurred by July 29, 2014. There must also be a Stakeholder Advisory Board with representation from parent and privacy organizations to oversee the collection and disposition of personal student data in the  State’s Student Longitudinal Database, including assurances that this data will never be placed in the State Archives, as NYSED currently plans.