The SOPIPA recently became law in California but many district leaders are unsure of its existence or how to respond.
Based on your experience, what steps would you put into place in the school or district you are studying?
What advice would you give to the leadership team based on your analysis
SOPIPA is so very new that it was difficult for me to find information about how districts are currently addressing this new law. There are no videos on youtube regarding SOPIPA, which makes me think that districts are still trying to figure this out too.
Based on what I have read, this new policy is aimed at Ed Tech operators and service providers, rather than schools. The unique thing about it is that it puts the responsibility of security and ethical use on the websites. This is in contrast to FERPA, which only applies to K-12 institutions, and only those that receive federal funding (Sabett, R., Cooleygo.com). It will be interesting to see how non-compliance will be dealt with, once the act goes into law.
After researching the implications of SOPIPA, the only thing I could suggest to schools and districts is to review what contracts are in place already for anything that may violate this new law, so it can be fixed before it goes into action in 2016. From then on, be diligent in assessing the policies of any new operator contracts (Herold, B., thejournal.com). As a teacher, be sure to stick to websites your district allows, or if it's open to your choice make sure to read the policies of any new service you're asking students to use.
Based on what I have read, this new policy is aimed at Ed Tech operators and service providers, rather than schools. The unique thing about it is that it puts the responsibility of security and ethical use on the websites. This is in contrast to FERPA, which only applies to K-12 institutions, and only those that receive federal funding (Sabett, R., Cooleygo.com). It will be interesting to see how non-compliance will be dealt with, once the act goes into law.
After researching the implications of SOPIPA, the only thing I could suggest to schools and districts is to review what contracts are in place already for anything that may violate this new law, so it can be fixed before it goes into action in 2016. From then on, be diligent in assessing the policies of any new operator contracts (Herold, B., thejournal.com). As a teacher, be sure to stick to websites your district allows, or if it's open to your choice make sure to read the policies of any new service you're asking students to use.
References:
Piehler, C. (2014, September 30). California Enacts Landmark Law Protecting the Privacy of Student Data -- THE Journal. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/09/30/california-enacts-landmark-law-protecting-the-privacy-of-student-data.aspx
Sabett, R. (2014, November 19). How Student Privacy and California's SOPIPA May Affect You | Cooley GO. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.cooleygo.com/how-student-privacy-and-californias-sopipa-may-affect-you
Herold, B. (2014, September 30). 'Landmark' Student-Data-Privacy Law Enacted in California. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2014/09/_landmark_student-data-privacy.html
Piehler, C. (2014, September 30). California Enacts Landmark Law Protecting the Privacy of Student Data -- THE Journal. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/09/30/california-enacts-landmark-law-protecting-the-privacy-of-student-data.aspx
Sabett, R. (2014, November 19). How Student Privacy and California's SOPIPA May Affect You | Cooley GO. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.cooleygo.com/how-student-privacy-and-californias-sopipa-may-affect-you
Herold, B. (2014, September 30). 'Landmark' Student-Data-Privacy Law Enacted in California. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2014/09/_landmark_student-data-privacy.html