The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act or COPPA puts specific requirements on websites or internet services offered to children under 13 years of age. The primary goal of the act is to put parents in control over what information is collected from their children online (Federal Trade Commission, 2020). The Children’s Online Privacy Policy Protection Act requires schools to have policies describing their information practices, obtain parental consent before collecting personal information online from children, and access to platforms for parents to access their child’s personal information to review. School districts have the responsibility to maintain the confidentiality, security, and integrity of data we collect from our students. Districts would also be responsible for keeping personal information obtained from a child for as long as it is necessary and delete the information using measures to protect their data from unauthorized access or use. How we keep and share information now that we have a significant virtual component will be more difficult moving forward. With more applications and websites that students can access, only approved sites must be utilized. According to Schukei (2020), “be careful when using non-educational tools as they may not have the necessary privacy settings to protect student data.” Being aware of COPPA and making your students aware of how to keep their information private will be critical to protecting our students.
Federal Trade Commission (2020). Complying with COPPA: Frequently Asked Questions.
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions.
Schukei, A. (2020, May 4). How to Keep Students Safe When Learning Online.
https://theartofeducation.edu/2020/05/06/how-to-keep-students-safe-when-learning-online/.
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