Student Data Privacy Practices
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The information on this page is provided as guidelines for protecting student data privacy.
Adults who work with Saint Paul Public School students must agree to follow these practices if they have access to any form of student data. You may be required to submit acknowledgement that you have read and agree to follow these guidelines to your supervisor or Saint Paul Public Schools Human Resources Department.
The form for submission is available once you complete the reading.
1. Learning Targets
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- I can understand the basic data sharing guidelines of the FERPA law.
- I can identify who has rights to access student data.
- I can set SPPS Google document sharing rights appropriately to protect student data.
- I am aware that anything created on work time or the district network is subject to public access.
2. Laws Regulating Student Data Privacy
3. FERPA Q&A
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SPPS students and staff access course materials on-line through a learning management system called Schoology. Is it OK for students to see see each other's postings in Schoology?
- Yes, this is a collaborative feature as long as no grades are visible
Can parents help grade student papers?
- FERPA does not support parent access to other students' grades.
Can I post assignments in the hallway that include grades or feedback?
- Not if the student work has grades on them.
Can I use a Google doc to share test scores with my PLC?
- Yes, as long as there is a purpose in sharing the data with all members of your PLC and you have carefully checked the sharing settings.
4. Privacy and Google Drive Shared Documents
5. Public Access To Information Rights
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Anything created on work time or the district network is subject to public access, including staff email if requested by parents or the public.
Be mindful about writing and forwarding emails that include:
- Comments or opinions about students.
- Comments or opinions about parents.
- Subjective or opinion statements about work environment.
- Inappropriate email forwarded to you.
6. Resources To Learn More About FERPA And Student Data Privacy
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- SPPS Digital Citizenship Manual
- Student Media Release Form
- Guidelines For Use of Social Media
- Student Records and Your Rights
- Procedure 304.00.3 - Access to Public Data
- Procedure 304.00.4 - Access to Data for Individual Data Subjects
- Overview of COPPA, CIPA, FERPA
- Minnesota Department of Education - Data Privacy Guidelines
- Service Desk Ticket - New apps and websites that require student accounts will be vetted for FERPA concerns.
If you have questions about student records or about what student information can be released, please contact:
Erin Moline
Supervisor, Student Records
Saint Paul Public Schools Student Placement Center
erin.moline@spps.org
651-632-3740If you have other questions about FERPA or data privacy or this course, please contact:
Chris Turnbull
Personalized Learning Specialist
Office of Teaching & Learning
chris.turnbull@spps.org
651-744-1347If you have additional questions related to student data privacy, please click on this link to submit your question.
7. Acknowledgement of Data Privacy Practices
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Please download and sign this form if your program or supervisor requires your agreement to follow SPPS data privacy practices guidelines.
Provide the signed form to your supervisor or the Saint Paul Public Schools Office of Human Resources, 360 Colborne St., whichever your program requires.
