What precautions should educators take when using digital assessments with students' data?

• A. Do nothing beyond standard paper records.
• B. Ensure secure storage, restricted access, FERPA compliance, and obtain consent for digital tools and disclosures.
• C. Share data widely with outside vendors without notification.
• D. Only collect data that is necessary for direct instruction.

Answer: (B)

Protecting student privacy and data security is essential when using digital assessments. The best approach is to store data securely (with encryption and protections for servers and backups), limit access to only those who need it, follow FERPA rules to protect education records, and obtain informed consent for both using digital tools and disclosing data to vendors or other parties. This ensures families understand what data is collected, how it will be used, who can view it, and how long it will be kept, while also meeting legal rights to access and control those records.

Doing nothing beyond paper records misses digital security needs; sharing data with outside vendors without notification violates privacy and consent principles; collecting only what’s necessary is good practice but doesn’t by itself address storage, access, and consent protections.