Audience: Teachers, campus administrators, instructional leaders.

Topic: Student Data Privacy in K–12 education.

Why I Chose This Topic: As technology plays a growing role in education, protecting student data is essential to uphold legal and ethical responsibilities, ensure student safety, and maintain trust in schools.

State Agency (Texas):
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) ensures that school districts follow state privacy laws and responsibly manage student information. It offers guidance, reviews district policies, and investigates potential violations (Texas Education Agency, n.d).

What I Learned:
Both agencies are essential in establishing legal requirements and helping schools through training and compliance support. Their oversight, through investigations and corrective actions, highlights the importance placed on student data privacy across all levels of education.

Citation: (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.; Texas Education Agency, n.d.)

References

U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa

Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). Information about Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/contact-us/complaints/information-about-family-educational-rights-and-privacy-act

Link: https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/

• Upholds individual privacy by guaranteeing due process rights (U.S. Constitution, amend. XIV)

• Serves as a legal foundation for protecting student data in schools (U.S. Constitution, amend. XIV)

  
  

State Law (Texas)
Source: Texas Constitution, Article I, Section 8

Link: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/CN.1.htm

• Safeguards the right to express and share information freely (Texas Constitution, art. I, § 8)

• Influences how privacy rights are understood and applied in schools (Texas Constitution, art. I, § 8)

  
  

Citation: (U.S. Const. amend. XIV; Tex. Const. art. I, § 8)

References

U.S. Constitution. amend. XIV. https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/

Texas Constitution. art. I, § 8. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/CN.1.htm

Link: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/1232g

• Gives parents and eligible students the right to view and request changes to education records (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 1974)

• Restricts the release of personally identifiable information unless written consent is given or specific legal exceptions apply (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 1974)

  
  

Administrative Law – FERPA Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 99)

Link: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-A/part-99

• Clarifies terms like “directory information” and specifies when data can be shared without consent (34 C.F.R. Part 99)

• Describes enforcement processes and the U.S. Department of Education’s responsibility in addressing violations (34 C.F.R. Part 99)

  
  

Citation: (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 1974; 34 C.F.R. Part 99)

References:

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/1232g

Code of Federal Regulations. (2025). Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations, 34 C.F.R. Part 99. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-A/part-99

Link: https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1073.ZO.html

• The U.S. Supreme Court decided that peer grading is not a violation of FERPA (Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo, 2002)

• Clarified how “education records” are defined under FERPA (Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo, 2002)

• Determined that student-graded assignments, prior to teacher collection, are not official records

• Limited FERPA’s reach in classroom settings to formal recordkeeping by the school

  
  

Citation: (Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo, 2002)

Reference

Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo, 534 U.S. 426 (2002). https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1073.ZO.html

Link: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312

• Governs how websites, apps, and educational technology collect data from children under age 13 (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, 1998)

• Mandates verified parental consent before collecting personal details (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, 1998)

• Covers K–12 digital tools that gather student information (16 C.F.R. Part 312)

• Designed to safeguard the privacy of young children online (16 C.F.R. Part 312)

  
  

Citation: (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, 1998; 16 C.F.R. Part 312)

References

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, 15 U.S.C. §§ 6501–6506. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/chapter-91

Code of Federal Regulations. (2025). Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 312. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-312

Link: San Angelo ISD Employee Handbook (2023–2024)

• Specifies which individuals within the district are authorized to access and review student records (San Angelo ISD Board Policy FL Local, 2023)

• Mandates staff training on data privacy and details procedures for responding to breaches (San Angelo ISD Board Policy FL Local, 2023)

• Complies with FERPA and state-level student privacy regulations in Texas

  
  

Citation: (San Angelo ISD Board Policy FL Local, 2023)

Reference

San Angelo Independent School District. (2023). Board policy FL (Local): Student records. In Employee handbook 2023–2024. https://www.saisd.org/fs/resource-manager/view/0e2508cc-4f45-41ea-a09f-d81beb286ce9

• Helps prevent unauthorized access and shields data from cyber threats

  
  

Restricted Data Access: Allow only authorized personnel to view student information (Texas Education Agency, 2019)

• Reduces the chances of accidental leaks or intentional misuse

  
  

Continuous Staff Training: Offer yearly training on FERPA and cybersecurity practices (International Society for Technology in Education, 2024)

• Ensures staff stay informed on privacy requirements and reduces compliance risks

Citation: (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.; Texas Education Agency, 2019; International Society for Technology in Education, 2024)

References

U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Security best practices. Protecting Student Privacy. https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/topic/security-best-practices​

Texas Education Agency. (2019). Cybersecurity tips and tools. Texas Gateway. https://texasgateway.org/resource/cybersecurity-tips-and-tools​Texas

International Society for Technology in Education. (2024). Digital citizenship in education. https://iste.org/digital-citizenship​

Link: Texas Educators' Code of Ethics (PDF)

• Standard 3.1 requires educators to keep student information confidential unless sharing it is legally required or serves a valid professional purpose (19 Tex. Admin. Code § 247.2, Standard 3.1, 2018)

• Reinforces FERPA and highlights educators’ ethical responsibility to safeguard student data​

• Protecting confidentiality fosters trust with families and supports compliance with privacy regulations

  
  

Citation: (19 Tex. Admin. Code § 247.2, Standard 3.1, 2018)

Reference

Texas Administrative Code. (2018). Code of ethics and standard practices for Texas educators, 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 247.2. https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/investigations/educators-code-of-ethics

Reflection:
I now feel confident supporting teachers in using student data responsibly and within legal boundaries.
This understanding has strengthened my readiness to lead with integrity.
It also deepens my commitment to protecting student rights and setting a strong professional example.

Citation: (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 1974; Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, 1998; Texas Administrative Code § 247.2)

References

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. (1974). U.S. Department of Education. https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, 15 U.S.C. §§ 6501–6506. (1998). Federal Trade Commission. https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa

Texas Administrative Code. (2018). Code of ethics and standard practices for Texas educators, § 247.2. Texas Education Agency. https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/laws-and-rules/sbec-rules-tac/sbec-tac-currently-in-effect/19-tac-chapter-247