They should also:
- Offer interactive, easy-to-understand data privacy training to establish a collective approach to protecting students
- Foster a safe space for educators to ask questions and seek help
- Send reminders about the topic in newsletters, emails or staff meetings
- Educate teachers on data privacy laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
DIG DEEPER: Forthcoming legislation governing online safety for minors may impact schools.
2. Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Regulate Forbidden Apps
Educational institutions can use various methods to effectively screen and regulate software applications. Implementing a comprehensive app management strategy helps schools monitor the ones used on student devices and ensures compliance with data privacy and security policies.
This might involve investing in a mobile device management system, creating lists of approved and prohibited apps, writing clear policies on downloads to school devices, conducting routine audits of school devices and sharing app guidelines with parents.
Schools will find that investing in a mobile device management system is essential for tracking app installations, managing apps remotely and enforcing app usage policies.
It’s also important for schools to establish and communicate clear policies regarding app downloads and installations on school devices. They can then create a list of approved and prohibited apps and share that information with parents, who can guide app usage at home. IT staff should also back up these policies with routine audits of school devices to identify unauthorized apps.
EXPLORE: How to communicate student data privacy protections to families.
3. Here’s How to Vet Apps to Better Protect Student Data Privacy
School vetting policies should prioritize apps that collect and store only the minimum amount of data necessary. Choose apps with easily understandable consent mechanisms for all users.
Verify that the software provider maintains comprehensive records of data processing activities, data privacy impact assessments and consent forms. Ensure the software provider commits to regular updates that address security vulnerabilities and privacy concerns. Schools should also consider apps with continuous monitoring tools to detect and respond to data privacy breaches in real time.