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Data Privacy

Privacy laws, policies, and best practices. Information and resources for parents, teachers, local education agencies, policy makers and the general public.

Student Records & Privacy

Overview

Data can be a powerful tool External link opens in new window or tab. for parents, educators, students, and policy makers. To meet statutory requirements and fulfill the California Department of Education’s (CDE’s) mission of providing a world-class education to all students, the CDE collects, maintains, and protects personally identifiable information (PII) about California’s students.

Privacy & Data Collection
Privacy & Data Use
Privacy & Data Management
Privacy Resources for Families
Privacy Resources for Educators
Privacy Resources for Counties & District Administrators
Privacy Laws

Privacy & Data Collection

Summary of data collected and protected by the CDE.

What the CDE Collects & Protects

Data collected and protected by the CDE includes:

  • Student’s name, identification number, address, race/ethnicity, gender, date of birth, place of birth, name and address of parent or guardian
  • Attendance data
  • Data regarding student progress, including grade level completed, school attended, course enrollment, academic work completed, and date of graduation
  • Standardized test scores
  • Disciplinary actions
  • Data regarding eligibility for, or participation in, school lunch programs
  • Data regarding eligibility for special education and special education services provided to the student
  • Data regarding eligibility for other compensatory programs and special program services provided to the student

Privacy & Data Use

Summary of data used by the CDE to fulfill mandates and provide services.

How the CDE Uses Data

Data gathered by the CDE are used for many important purposes including:

Privacy & Data Management

Summary of initiatives, policies, and procedures established as part of the CDE’s Data Strategy Program to ensure protection of privacy.

Annual In-Person Data Privacy Training

To ensure ongoing, up-to-date understanding of privacy laws and best practices, the CDE develops, maintains, updates, and delivers in-person Data Privacy Training to all staff with access to student data annually.

Annual Online Data Privacy Training

In addition to in-person training for staff with access to student data, the CDE requires all employees, regardless of access to take an online privacy and security course each year.

Privacy Awareness & Communications
To maintain privacy awareness throughout the year, the CDE’s EDGO Program hosts periodic presentations by cyber security and privacy experts from partner agencies such as the FBI and the US Department of Education’s Privacy Technical Assistance Center. CDE staff also attend and present at education conferences and symposia to network/learn from privacy professionals and share privacy resources with schools and districts. Privacy tips, best practices, and news are monitored and shared on an ongoing basis via the @CDEPrivacy External link opens in new window or tab. X account.

Privacy Resources for Families

Privacy resources and tips, curated for parents and families.

Video Resources - Privacy Resources for Families
Curated Web Resources for Parents

Privacy Resources for Educators

Privacy resources and tips, curated for educators.

Video Resources - Privacy Resources for Educators
Infographics, Tip Sheets & Lesson Plan Ideas

Privacy Resources for Counties & District Administrators

Tools and tips for leading to create a culture of privacy

Video Resources - Privacy Resources for Counties & District Administrators
Best Practice Resources
Data Privacy Training Resources
Data Privacy Advocacy & Communities of Practice
  • California Student Privacy Alliance External link opens in new window or tab. Collaborative of California schools, districts, policy makers, privacy advocates, and professional organizations provides California’s educational stakeholders with a central location for seeing and sharing what educational technologies are being used and under what terms/conditions. Templates and sample language for contracts are provided to assist LEAs in developing state and federally-compliant educational technology contracts.
  • Common Sense Kids Action External link opens in new window or tab. Common Sense Media team focused on collaborating with tech companies and policy makers to promote digital equity, transparency/democracy, digital privacy, and kids’ well-being in a digital age.
  • Data Quality Campaign (DQC) External link opens in new window or tab. Advocacy group that focuses on effective student data practices, including student data privacy issues.
  • Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) External link opens in new window or tab. Member-based association and advocacy group promoting partnerships and awareness of emerging technologies in K-12 education.
  • Stop RansomwareExternal link opens in new window or tab. Resources to prevent and respond to a ransomware incident.
  • National Cybersecurity AllianceExternal link opens in new window or tab. Resources for safely navigating a connected world.

Student Data Privacy Laws

Summary of state and federal laws that have implications for privacy in schools, public agencies, and beyond.

Privacy Law Resources
California State Laws
Federal Laws
Laws with Implications for Privacy in Public Agencies & Schools

CDE Privacy on X

For the latest CDE privacy news and information, follow @CDEPrivacy External link opens in new window or tab. on X.

Questions:  

Educational Data Management Division/Education Data Office | privacy@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0586

Last Reviewed: Monday, May 6, 2024
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