Comments on: myMCPS: Facebook for Teachers? http://tattlerextra.org/2009/10/mymcps-facebook-for-teachers/ B-CC HS Student Newspaper Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:05:50 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Janis http://tattlerextra.org/2009/10/mymcps-facebook-for-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-289 Janis Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:04:43 +0000 http://highschoolcommons.com/?p=580#comment-289 Congratulations to Ms. Thau on pointing out the lack security/privacy of the new MyMCPS system! I agree that there is an issue with this new system and had the exact same concern about access when I heard the system being announced. Note that the Board of Education did not vote to set up a system with this broad of a database, accessible to all staff, this was the system that was presented to the Board as a final product. Who made the decision that so much student data should be so widely available? I hope BCC students will become familiar with FERPA and understand their rights under the law. Here is what FERPA says about the disclosure of student information. Is MCPS in compliance with the MyMCPS system? Do all MCPS staff have a “legitimate educational interest” in the grades and outside test scores of all students? “A school MAY disclose education records without consent when: The disclosure is to school officials who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests as set forth in the institution’s annual notification of rights to students; The student is seeking or intending to enroll in another school; The disclosure is to state or local educational authorities auditing or enforcing Federal or State supported education programs or enforcing Federal laws which relate to those programs; The disclosure is to the parents of a student who is a dependent for income tax purposes; The disclosure is in connection with determining eligibility, amounts, and terms for financial aid or enforcing the terms and conditions of financial aid; The disclosure is pursuant to a lawfully issued court order or subpoena; or The information disclosed has been appropriately designated as directory information by the school.” http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/students.html At the bottom of that page is the complaint procedure for FERPA issues. Janis Sartucci Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland Congratulations to Ms. Thau on pointing out the lack security/privacy of the new MyMCPS system!
I agree that there is an issue with this new system and had the exact same concern about access when I heard the system being announced. Note that the Board of Education did not vote to set up a system with this broad of a database, accessible to all staff, this was the system that was presented to the Board as a final product.
Who made the decision that so much student data should be so widely available?

I hope BCC students will become familiar with FERPA and understand their rights under the law. Here is what FERPA says about the disclosure of student information. Is MCPS in compliance with the MyMCPS system? Do all MCPS staff have a “legitimate educational interest” in the grades and outside test scores of all students?

“A school MAY disclose education records without consent when:

The disclosure is to school officials who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests as set forth in the institution’s annual notification of rights to students;
The student is seeking or intending to enroll in another school;
The disclosure is to state or local educational authorities auditing or enforcing Federal or State supported education programs or enforcing Federal laws which relate to those programs;
The disclosure is to the parents of a student who is a dependent for income tax purposes;
The disclosure is in connection with determining eligibility, amounts, and terms for financial aid or enforcing the terms and conditions of financial aid;
The disclosure is pursuant to a lawfully issued court order or subpoena; or
The information disclosed has been appropriately designated as directory information by the school.”

http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/students.html

At the bottom of that page is the complaint procedure for FERPA issues.

Janis Sartucci
Parents’ Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

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