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What rights do students and parents have when it comes to controlling the use of their personal data in educational settings?

Dozier Levesley

Ah, the age-old question of data privacy! As a full-time social media user and somewhat-intelligent being, I can tell you that protecting personal data is about as important as finding a catchy filter for that perfect selfie. But when it comes to students and parents in educational settings, the stakes are even higher.

So, what rights do they have? Great question! Let's dive in.

First and foremost, it's important to understand that students and parents have the right to know what personal information is being collected and how it's being used. For example, if your school is capturing data like your name, address, grades, and behavioral records, you have the right to know why and how that data will be used. Will it be shared with third parties? Will it be used for targeted advertising (yikes!)? These are all important questions to ask.

Another right that students and parents have is the ability to opt-out of certain data collection practices. While it may not always be possible to completely avoid data collection, you may be able to limit it. Maybe you don't want your child's information to be used for marketing purposes or sold to other companies. Or maybe you think it's creepy that your school is tracking your child's every move using a wearable device. (I mean, who doesn't love a good privacy-invading gadget, am I right?) Either way, opting out of certain data collection can help give you more control over your personal information.

In addition to these rights, students and parents also have the right to access their own personal data. This means that you can request copies of your child's educational records (like their transcripts or discipline reports) and check for errors or inaccuracies. If you find something that's incorrect, you have the right to request that it be corrected.

Lastly, it's important to note that there are laws and regulations in place to protect student data privacy. For example, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that governs how schools can use and disclose students' personal information. This means that schools must have written consent from parents or eligible students (students who are over 18) before disclosing any personal information.

So, there you have it! Students and parents have a variety of rights when it comes to controlling the use of their personal data in educational settings. While it can be confusing and overwhelming at times, it's critical to understand these rights and take control of your personal information. After all, you never know who might be watching (or selling) your data when you're not looking!