As with all schools and school districts, Murray City School District is required to safeguard student data and protect the privacy of all students. Federal and State of Utah regulations have established specific policies that provide a framework for schools and districts to act on.
Two of these, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), mandate that schools obtain consent from parents or guardians before collecting student information. They further state that the information collected is kept confidential and secure.
Additionally, Utah has established a data privacy agreement called the Student Data Privacy and Security Agreement. This agreement outlines the expectations for data privacy and security for schools, districts, and vendors that schools work with. It extends that vendors who provide services to schools and districts comply with state and federal privacy laws and establish data security protocols.
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) provides districts, schools, and parents with a Student Data Privacy Office that oversees training and resources that help everyone understand their rights and responsibilities regarding student data privacy. They also investigate and respond to complaints related to data privacy breaches or violations.
MCSD acknowledges additional data privacy, security, and governance policies and responsibilities through Murray Board of Education policy ADM 230. This document outlines collection, analysis, and storage policies for all students (and employees). This policy provides summary guidance on topics that include access, security measures, usage and governance of data (including those responsible for it), disclosure agreements, data breach protocols, retention and expungement, quality assurance, and transparency requirements.
Student data privacy is a top priority at the Federal, state, and local levels, as evidenced by established measures and layers of protection. Laws such as FERPA and COPPA, and efforts from the USBE and MCSD, are layered assurances that student data is kept confidential and secure.
USBE has several videos and resources that explain student data privacy that you can access here. If you have questions about Murray, contact your school’s administrator. You can also visit the MCSD Student Data Privacy page for more information.
