Data Privacy at SFUSD

SFUSD takes student data privacy and is in compliance with regard to state and federal requirements including COPPA, CIPA, FERPA, and SOPIPA with our district-approved online applications. While CCPA is geared toward revenue-generating businesses, a number of the same provisions fall under and SOPIPA, which is a California law geared toward student online privacy. 

District-approved digital learning tools and applications go through a rigorous review and vetting process that includes a cross-functional team consisting of the divisions of technology, curriculum, legal, contracts and ultimately Board of Education approval. SFUSD requires that digital learning tools and applications have a district contract and/or memorandum of agreement in place to ensure that the service provider will adhere to federal, state, and any local laws and requirements. Additionally, our contracts include provisions for the protection of student data and prohibitions on advertisement and sale of student data. 

Given the plethora of online applications, websites, and games in the K12 education space, we do know that there are online sites in use and/or purchased by schools, educators, and school PTAs that have not been vetted through the district’s review and contract process. As a result, these are not district-approved tools. In these cases, we work with school leaders and educators to educate them on the importance of student data privacy and the district’s requirements that only district-approved online applications and tools be used with our students for their safety and protection and guide schools and educators to the approved applications that they can use with students. We know that there are some wonderful educational, and often free, products out there for students. However, we also need to ensure that we are in compliance with the required protections for our students.