A federal court order has California on the verge of limited disclosure of personal information about every student who has attended its public schools since 2008. But parents and guardians have an opportunity to object by April 1 to release of their own child’s data.
Natomas Unified is not involved in the lawsuit over state enforcement of disability rights but we want all parents to be aware of the court order and their right to file an objection through a process established by U.S District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller.
The California Department of Education has provided a link for parents to obtain an objection form and information on where to mail it. Mueller will decide how to proceed after the April 1 deadline.
Personal student information would be disclosed only to plaintiffs in the lawsuit, not to the public, but could include a child’s name, address, Social Security number, demographics, course information, assessment results, and personal records regarding health, attendance, behavior, discipline and Special Education assessments, plans or programs. Information on about 10 million children is at issue.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit, filed by two nonprofit groups advocating for children with disabilities, contend the personal student information is necessary to prove their claim that the California Department of Education has failed to properly monitor, investigate, provide services to, and enforce the rights of children with disabilities.
CDE has denied the lawsuit’s allegations, and Supt. Tom Torlakson said that protecting student privacy is a top priority of his administration. “We have fought vigorously to protect students’ privacy rights and will continue that fight,” he said in response to the judge’s order.
Parents can view the court order here in the lawsuit filed by the Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association and the Concerned Parents Association.
