Data Privacy and Security

​​​​​​Whether discussing student achievement, program monitoring, education funding, accountability, or other education-related topics, data drives the discussion and is foundational for decision-making.

State and federal laws require the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to collect and store student and educator records. With this collection comes the responsibility to protect and secure the data. Data privacy and security measures are equally important - data security protects data from compromise by external attackers and malicious insiders, and data privacy governs how data is collected, shared, and used.​

​​​​​Register now for quick, practical sessions on FERPA, data security, and ed-tech vetting

​​​The Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO), through its Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), will host the National Fall Webinar Series in December. The series will cover the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), incident response, vetting educational technology, and include a special session addressing frequently asked questions. Whether you’re new to these topics or need a refresher, the sessions offer actionable insights to help protect student data and ensure compliance. Reserve your spot today! To register, click the hyperlinked titles below. 

• Dec. 2, 2-4 ET: FERPA 101 and Data Security Best Practices - ​​​Learn the basics of FERPA and receive training on current data security best practices for education data systems.
• ​Dec. 9, 2-4 p.m. ET: Transparency and FERPA 201​ - Explore PTAC’s research on transparency and review real-world scenarios that schools and districts face.
• Dec. 11, 1-2 p.m. ET: FFAQ: FERPA’s Frequently Asked Questions​ - Have questions? We have answers! This one-hour webinar will address the most common questions received by SPPO and PTAC.
• Dec. 16, 2-4 p.m. ET: Incident Response and Vetting Educational Technology​ - Participate in a simulated data breach and learn how to assess online educational technology for privacy protections and FERPA compliance. ​