FERPA Regulations

As an educator, I protect the privacy of my students throughout the school year. The peak times that I have to protect this data is during school registration, graded materials, special education documents, public events, field trips, classroom celebrations, and social media posts. Each school has its own protocol in securing student files. At my school, we are required to store them in the office in alphabetical order. Registration documents must be signed in and returned when finished. These files are not to leave campus, and can only be viewed by school personnel that work with the student. Media and internet use forms are completed by parent guardians allowing students to participate in school media and use technology. Graded materials, medical information, and attendance are password protected. This is  also true for student special education plans. I have a list of student names that are able to be photographed for school media. I usually distract students that do not have authorization by sending them for water or delivering a note that keeps the occupied while photos are being taken. Classroom celebrations are ideal times where parents want to document quality time with their students and post on social media. I create a special space where parents and students sit to prevent other students that are not their child being posted on social media. I teach Kindergarten at this time; however, If I taught a graded level higher then First grade, I would have phone check ins and outs during the school day. This prevents the use of phones and social media during the school day by utilizing this policy. I have observed raw footage from social media posts of students on campus having sparing matches or humiliating teacher and peers in classrooms and restroom. Phones are great bring your own device tools for the classroom, but systems most be in place to prevent the abuse of these devices. It is always wise to have good things (digital devices) in moderation because it assists students in making sound decisions as digital citizens. Educators are responsible for protecting student privacy having a system in place helps tremendously.