The Data Quality Campaign Statement on K–12 School Service Provider Pledge to Safeguard Student Privacy

Washington, D.C. — The Future of Privacy Forum and The Software & Information Industry Association today announced a pledge to safeguard student privacy. Following are the remarks of Aimee Rogstad Guidera, founder and executive director of Data Quality Campaign, a national nonprofit that advocates for the effective use of education data to improve student achievement:

“We know data won’t be used effectively if there is no trust that they will be safeguarded. I applaud the efforts of the service provider community to outline a clear set of commitments to protecting the privacy and security of our students’ personal information.

“School service provider signatories pledge not to sell student information, not to use student data for behavioral targeting of advertising, and to use data only for authorized education purposes. Education benefits from innovation; the creativity and new tools and resources developed by school service providers are critical to reaching our goal of preparing every child in this country for success. This pledge reinforces their commitment to the laws that guide them and the effective practices that ensure the success of the schools they support.

“When education data is used as a flashlight and not a hammer, parents can make the best education choices for their kids, teachers can tailor instruction and target interventions where needed, and education leaders can decide what resources each school needs. This will ensure every student is on track to success and that scarce education resources are well spent. Without data, we are flying blind.”

Featured

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • Rowan University, HPE Partner on New Learning Initiative

    Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., recently announced that it has expanded its partnership with enterprise technology provider HPE to improve research capabilities and hands-on learning opportunities, according to a news release.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.