Student Data Privacy

We take the privacy of our student's data seriously. This page is intended to make our policies transparent and we are always working diligently to be compliant with the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Children's Online Privacy Act (COPPA), and Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Governs information in a student’s education record, restricting access and use of student information.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Restricts the collection of personal information from children under 13 by companies operating websites, games, mobile applications, and digital services that are directed to children or that collect personal information from individuals known to be children.

Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA)
Guarantees that student data is protected when collected by educational technology companies and that data is used for beneficial purposes only.

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
Imposes certain requirements on schools that utilize the federal E-Rate program to receive discounts for internet access and other technology services, or that receive federal grants for other technology expenses.

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 to a third party like PowerSchool, Savvas, Embrace, and others. What protections do those companies have in place to make sure that your 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. In the event that any of our third-party partners experience a data breach that includes 10% of more of our student population, in compliance with the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA), the district shall notify the parents or guardians of any affected student in writing within 30 days of the discovery of the data breach. The notice will include the third-party vendor's name along with what data was leaked and any additional remedies made available by the breached vendor as required by law.

Data Privacy Agreements (DPA)

We leverage the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC), which is a unique collaborative of schools, districts, regional, territories, and state agencies, policymakers, trade organizations, and marketplace providers addressing real-world, adaptable, and implementable solutions to growing data privacy concerns. Through the SDPC we enter into contracts with our 3rd party vendors who handle or have access to student data.

What and How Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Is Collected?

All PII is collected during the PowerSchool online student registration process. If your student is a returning student to our district, the most recent data provided by you as the parent/guardian overwrites all previously submitted data from a past year. Below is a list of the PII data or categories of PII we collect during the registration process.

Legal name, age, ethnicity, race, gender, date of birth, physical address, mailing address, parent(s)/guardian(s) name(s), mother's maiden name, medical history and conditions, previous school (mid-year transfers only), list of other household members names (for the purpose of determining USDA Free and Reduced Lunch Program status).

How Does SID5 Schools Use My Student's Data?

All PII collected during the registration process is securely stored in our district's Student Information System (SIS), PowerSchool, LLC. Your student's information is shared with the Illinois State Board of Education, including enrolled courses, end-of-term grades, and daily attendance records. If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, your student's data is also shared with EmbraceIEP for the sole purpose of meeting your child's specialized education needs. PowerSchool integrates with several other third-party services, such as SchoolMessenger, XELLO, Pearson EasyBridge (Savvas), and Transfinder (bus routing based on geographical data). Aside from automatic integrations with our SIS partner, we utilize several other free and paid services in the classroom to enrich learning. Our district leverages the power of Google for Education (Google EDU) to meet the needs of Classroom management for teachers, including Google Meets, digital communications (email), and productivity (Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides). We share your student's name with Google for the sole purpose of creating and maintaining their Google account. Any third-party services that are utilized by Schuyler-Industry Schools can be found in our district's DAP profile on the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) website, accessible via the link above.

What Is The Process For Parents To Exercise Their FERPA Rights?

Definition of Student Records and Policies for obtaining access to records as a parent

A school student record is any writing or other recorded information concerning a student and by which a student may be identified individually that is maintained by a school or at its direction or by a school employee, regardless of how or where the information is stored, except for certain records kept in a staff member’s sole possession; records maintained by law enforcement officers working in the school; video and other electronic recordings that are created in part for law enforcement, security, or safety reasons or purposes; and electronic recordings made on school buses. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Illinois Student Records Act afford parents/guardians and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s school records.

1. The right to inspect and copy the student’s education records within 15 school days of the day the District receives a request for access.
The degree of access a student has to his or her records depends 38 on the student’s age. Students less than 18 years of age have the right to inspect and copy only their permanent record. Students 18 years of age or older have access and copy rights to both permanent and temporary records. A parent/guardian or student should submit to the building principal a written request that identifies the record(s) he or she wishes to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent/guardian or student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The District charges $.35 per page for copying but no one will be denied their right to copies of their records for inability to pay this cost. These rights are denied to any person against whom an order of protection has been entered concerning the student.

2. The right to request removal from the student’s academic transcript one or more scores received on college entrance examinations.

A parent/guardian or eligible student may ask the District to remove certain scores of college entrance exams from their student’s academic transcript. Students often take college entrance examinations multiple times to improve their results. Test publishers provide the results from each examination taken to the student’s high school. Schools must include each of these scores on the student’s transcript, which may result in academic transcripts having multiple scores from a single college entrance exam. A parent/guardian or eligible student may not want certain scores to be sent to post-secondary institutions to which the student applies. To request the removal of scores on college entrance examinations, the parent/guardian or eligible student must submit a written request stating the name of each college entrance examination that is the subject of the request and the dates of the scores that are to be removed.

3. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate, irrelevant, or improper.
A parent/guardian or eligible student may ask the District to amend a record that is believed to be inaccurate, irrelevant, or improper. Requests should be sent to the building principal and should clearly identify the record the parent/guardian or eligible student wants changed and the specific reason a change is being sought. If the District decides not to amend the record, the District will notify the parent/guardian or eligible student of the decision and advise him or her of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent/guardian or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

4. The right to permit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that the FERPA or Illinois School Student Records Act authorizes disclosure without consent.

Disclosure without consent is permitted to school officials with legitimate educational or administrative interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or any parent/guardian or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student has enrolled or intends to enroll, as well as to any person as specifically required by State or federal law. Before information is released to these individuals, the parents/guardians or eligible student will receive prior written notice of the nature and substance of the information, and an opportunity to inspect, copy, and challenge such records. Academic grades and references to expulsions or out-of-school suspensions cannot be challenged at the time a student’s records are being forwarded to another school to which the student is transferring. Disclosure is also permitted without consent to: any person for research, statistical reporting or 39 planning, provided that no student or parent/guardian can be identified; any person named in a court order; appropriate persons if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons; and juvenile authorities when necessary for the discharge of their official duties who request information before adjudication of the student.

5. The right to a copy of any school student record proposed to be destroyed or deleted.

The permanent record is maintained for at least 60 years after the student transfers, graduates, or permanently withdraws. The temporary record is maintained for at least 5 years after the student transfers, graduates, or permanently withdraws. Temporary records that may be of assistance to a student with a disability who graduates or permanently withdraws, may, after 5 years, be transferred to the parent/guardian or to the student, if the student has succeeded to the rights of the parent/guardian. Student temporary records are reviewed every 4 years or upon a student’s change in attendance centers, whichever occurs first.

6. The right to prohibit the release of directory information.

Throughout the school year, the District may release directory information regarding students, limited to: Name Address Gender Grade level Birth date and place Parent/guardian names, addresses, electronic mail addresses, and telephone numbers Photographs, videos, or digital images used for informational or news-related purposes (whether by a media outlet or by the school) of a student participating in school or school sponsored activities, organizations, and athletics that have appeared in school publications, such as yearbooks, newspapers, or sporting or fine arts programs Academic awards, degrees, and honors Information in relation to school-sponsored activities, organizations, and athletics Major field of study Period of attendance in school Any parent/guardian or eligible student may prohibit the release of any or all of the above information by delivering a written objection to the building principal within 30 days of the date of this notice.

7. The right to request that military recruiters or institutions of higher learning not be granted access to your student’s information without your prior written consent.

Federal law requires a secondary school to grant military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon their request, access to secondary school students’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers, unless the parent/guardian, or student who is 18 years of age or older, requests that the information not be disclosed without prior written consent. If you wish to exercise this option, notify the building principal.

8. The right contained in this statement.

No person may condition the granting or withholding of any right, privilege or benefits or make as a condition of employment, credit, or insurance the securing by any individual of any information from a student’s temporary record which such individual may obtain through the exercise of any right secured under State law.

9. The right to file a written complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington DC 20202-4605