Trends in State Legislation on Student Data Privacy

A surge in state legislation on student data privacy this year has continued to empower state boards of education with authority over student privacy. So far this year, 47 state legislatures have introduced more than 180 bills in total, 16 of which have become law.  In a third of those states, legislators are considering or have succeeded in expanding the already-substantial authority of state boards of education in this arena. Trends in State Legislation on Student Data Privacy details the ways in which state legislatures across the country have enhanced protections for student data and expanded the role of state boards in protecting that data. It describes key elements in legislation introduced or passed this year, and notes exemplary states.

“State legislators have made great strides in resolving questions related to student data privacy without hampering the effective use of online services in the classroom,” writes NASBE Director of Education Data and Technology Amelia Vance. “Even in those states that did not directly address the role of state boards, the ongoing legislative push reflects the importance that student, parents, educators, and policymakers throughout the country attach to education data privacy.”