- This week, President Obama announced three ways his administration intends to better safeguard student data. The first is new legislation modeled off of a California statute that aims to permit and encourage data-based research while also preventing targeted advertising to students and the selling of student data by third parties. The second is a pledge, signed by seventy-five companies, to educate parents, teachers, and kids about preventing misuse of student information. The third is a sort of toolbox meant to further these ends, including a model terms of service and teacher training. Applauded by the Data Quality Campaign, they’re important steps in an ongoing battle against threats to our privacy. But let us suggest a fourth step, Mr. President: Tell your own agencies to stop collecting intrusive, sensitive information about our children.
- “ESEA week” has lived up to its promise. We might be on the verge of the law’s first reauthorization since NCLB’s enactment thirteen years ago. On Monday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave a speech in which he criticized NCLB and called for changes, but also urged Congress to keep what he considers to be its important elements, such as annual testing. Yesterday, things heated up even more when Senator Lamar Alexander released a draft bill that proposed lots of cuts. Maligned provisions like Adequate Yearly Progress and Highly Qualified Teachers didn’t survive. Still, it’s hardly a complete evisceration of the law, as it still requires states to adopt standards, test students regularly, release disaggregated data, and identify schools that need improvement. Next up is lively debate as Democrats try to save parts of the law and hard-right Republicans aim to shrink the federal role even further. Stay tuned. The week isn’t over yet.
