Ruling Raises Objections to Release of Personal Student Data

A recent federal court ruling ordering the release of personal data on more than 10 million California students highlights the growing amount of information schools now collect—and the loopholes that allow it to be released.

Leticia Fonseca (L) and her twin sister Sylvia Fonseca (R) work in the computer lab at Cuyama Valley High School after taking the new Common Core-aligned standardized tests in New Cuyama, Calif., on April 30, 2015. AP Photo/Christine Armario

LOS ANGELES—A recent federal court ruling ordering the release of personal data on more than 10 million California students highlights the growing amount of information schools now collect—and the loopholes that allow it to be released.

The order involves a lawsuit filed in 2011 in which plaintiffs are requesting data kept by the California Department of Education to determine whether the state is fulfilling its federal obligations for disabled students.

Judge Kimberly Mueller issued the order in late January directing state officials to release student information stored in Department of Education databases. The data includes everything from grades, test scores and specialized education plans for disabled students to more personal information such as names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and health records.

The data can only be viewed by the plaintiffs and must be destroyed or returned at the end of the lawsuit. Nonetheless, parents across the state are expressing concern and filing objections to stop their child’s information from being released.

Some of the things they are asking for are very personal and can be very detrimental in the wrong hands.

— Justine Fischer, president, California State Parent Teacher Association