Since DQC's last update, the election has gone into full-swing with official party nominees in place, state legislative sessions are wrapping up, and DQC introduced its policy recommendations for federal policymakers.
Federal update
- The 2016 Republican platform includes language (below) around student data collection, including social and emotional learning data. The Democratic platform doesn’t address data specifically but does emphasize that students are being over tested. Taken together, it is clear that the collection and use of data about student learning is still front and center in education policy conversations.
- “The federal government has pushed states to collect and share vast amounts of personal student and family data, including the collection of social and emotional data. Much of this data is collected without parental consent or notice. This is wholly incompatible with the American Experiment and our inalienable rights” (pg. 34).
- All 15 appointees to the Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission have been named. The commission will determine whether the federal government should establish a clearinghouse for program and survey data, what data should be included in the clearinghouse, and which qualified researchers from both the private and public sector could access the data to perform program evaluations and related policy research. The commission will also study how best to ensure confidentiality of data and protect individuals’ privacy.
- There is no movement on any privacy related legislation in Congress.
- DQCreleased its policy recommendations for state policymakers in April, and followed that up with district and federal recommendations. Each set of policy recommendations includes student data privacy and directs policymakers to align their policies across federal, state and district levels in four priority areas:
- Measure What Matters
- Make Data Use Possible
- Be Transparent and Earn Trust
- Guarantee Access and Protect Privacy
State Update
- State legislative sessions are winding down; only six states plus DC are still in session.
- So far in 2016, we’ve seen 111 bills in 33 states, and 14 laws in 11 states.
- Student data privacy was a priority for state legislatures again this year, though we’ve seen fewer laws than 2014 and 2015.
- Since 2013, 35 states have at least one new privacy law, and 49 states have introduced at least one student data privacy bill.
- While this year we saw more diversity and a broader scope of issues being considered, ultimately states were most focused on familiar themes: the role of service providers, establishing governance and increasing transparency.
- Want to learn more about legislative trends this year? DQC will publish a summary of the 2016 legislative session in mid-September.
