Ķvlog

Ed-Tech Policy Report Roundup

Student Privacy

By Michele Molnar — June 05, 2018 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

The nonprofit Common Sense found what it called “a widespread lack of transparency, as well as inconsistent privacy and security practices” in its three-year review of how student information is collected, used, and disclosed on some of the most popular applications and services in education technology.

Only 10 percent of the more than 100 ed-tech applications and services evaluated by the organization met minimum criteria for transparency and quality in their privacy policies, based on reporting from about 140 schools and districts in a consortium that works with Common Sense.

For example, half of the ed-tech products reviewed allow children’s information to be publicly visible, 38 percent reported they may use children’s information for advertising, and 29 percent show behavioral ads based on the child’s use of the service.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the June 06, 2018 edition of Education Week as Student Privacy

Events

College & Workforce Readiness Webinar How High Schools Can Prepare Students for College and Career
Explore how schools are reimagining high school with hands-on learning that prepares students for both college and career success.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
GoGuardian and Google: Proactive AI Safety in Schools
Learn how to safely adopt innovative AI tools while maintaining support for student well-being. 
Content provided by 
Reading & Literacy K-12 Essentials Forum Supporting Struggling Readers in Middle and High School
Join this free virtual event to learn more about policy, data, research, and experiences around supporting older students who struggle to read.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Ed-Tech Policy Smartwatches: The Next Challenge for School Cellphone Policies
A growing number of schools are implementing stringent cellphone policies. But how many include smartwatches?
4 min read
Family Setup brings the Apple Watch experience to the entire family, including kids and older adults.
Teachers say smartwatches, like the Apple Watches pictured here, are a growing distraction in class.
Business Wire via AP
Ed-Tech Policy What Happened When This District Did an About-Face on Cellphones
Cellphones and other technologies have altered parents’ expectations about how on-demand kids and teachers should be.
3 min read
A student takes notes on their cell phone during class at Bel Air High School in Bel Air, Md., on Jan. 25, 2024.
Schools across the country are struggling with whether to allow students to use cellphones in class.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week
Ed-Tech Policy States Are Cracking Down on Cellphones in Schools. What That Looks Like
State officials are increasingly taking action to curb student cellphone use.
5 min read
A cell phone sits on a student's desk during a 9th grade honors English class at Bel Air High School in Bel Air, Md., on Jan. 25, 2024.
A cellphone sits on a student's desk during a 9th grade honors English class at Bel Air High School in Bel Air, Md., on Jan. 25, 2024.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week
Ed-Tech Policy When Schools Want to Ban Cellphones—But Parents Stand in the Way
Educating parents on the real threats cellphones pose to their children can help allay their concerns about safety.
5 min read
A drowning hand reaching out of a cellphone for help
iStock/Getty