ADE Doling Out Agreements For Students’ PII Data
For Arizona’s conscientious educators, the idea of violating a child’s privacy rights protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (“FERPA”) has prevented them sharing virtually any information about their students. Those same concerns were obviously not shared by the staff and leadership of the Arizona Department of Education, which for years has entered into agreements with a wide variety of individuals and entities to deliver Personally Identifiable Information on demand.
While, the constraints of law and ethics have caused teachers to guard students’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII), as if their livelihood depended on it, the educrats in ADE have been entering into PII sharing agreements with everyone from grad students at the University of Chicago to the opinion makers at the Morrison Institute.
Few teachers would willingly share PII with anyone other than team teachers, site administrators and parents. As a matter of fact, concerns for – and lack of understanding about – “confidentiality requirements have even prevented schools and behavioral health providers from openly collaborating when personnel fear they may be revealing protected health information without proper consent,” according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Arizona parents, who were concerned about their children’s privacy, relied on that. They operated under the assumption that only those who must know, did know.
To read more: ADE Doling Out Agreements For Students’ PII Data, click here.
Small Tucson Crowd For Douglas Listening Tour
Never missing an opportunity to use the plight of kids to build himself up, Arizona State Senator Steve Farley sent a message to his supporters asking them to “tell State Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas to help end Arizona’s war on public schools.” The hyperbolic message was his “invitation” to the public to participate in the Superintendent’s dog and pony “” road show.
The event, held at the far west Pima Community College Center for the Arts, was difficult for parents, students and taxpayers to attend. Many questioned why Douglas did not choose a more central location to facilitate all Tucson area residents.
Farley told attendees “not to mince words.” Despite his efforts to heat up the conversation, the small group of attendees were subdued.
According to TUSD sources, Douglas did not invite elected school board members to join her on stage. Instead she included TUSD’s Superintendent H.T. Sanchez, Sen. Bradley, Rep. Ackerley, and Rep. Leach.
To read more: Small Tucson Crowd For Douglas Listening Tour, click here.