Embedded Files
The Joseph Sears School takes the privacy of our student's data seriously. This page intends to make students data privacy transparent for families, and we are working diligently to be compliant with the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA).
What is SOPPA?
What happens to the student data that we send to a third party vendor? Information like names, birthdates, etc... may be provided by The Joseph Sears School to a third party like IXL, NWEA MAP, etc... What protections do those companies have in place to make sure that our student's data is not sold or freely given to others? This is exactly what SOPPA looks to address.
As part of SOPPA, these companies must enter into Data Privacy Agreements (DPA) with each district they work with. These agreements outline what data is stored, how it is protected, what the company can and cannot do with that data, and what they will do in the event of a data breach.
Helpful Links
Explore resources for parents and guardians to educate themselves about the critical topics related to technology. Common Sense Media is a great place to start.
The list includes the online services or applications that the District uses, the contracts signed by the District, and any data collected by those tools or by the District. Teachers and staff can fill out this form to request the District to verify if an application or tool is SOPPA compliant. The District regularly updates and verifies applications and tools. Parents can request to review and correct any information maintained by the District or any online/application provider by contacting the privacy officer, Nathan McBride.
Data Privacy Agreements (DPA)
The Joseph Sears School leverages the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC), which is a unique collaborative of schools, districts, regional, territories and state agencies, policy makers, trade organizations, and marketplace providers addressing real-world, adaptable, and implementable solutions to growing data privacy concerns. If you would like to read more about the SDPC, click here. Through the SDPC we enter into contracts with 3rd party vendors who handle our student's data. If you would like to view the DPAs that Sears School currently holds, please use the link below.
The Joseph Sears School DPAs
Data Breaches
The Joseph Sears School will post details here about data breaches involving 10% or more of the District's students, including the number of students whose covered information was involved in the breach, date of breach (or estimate), and operator name.PowerSchool Data Breach - December 22, 2024
Important Data Privacy Laws
COPPA 101
SOPPA 101
FERPA 101
CIPA 101
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