Crack investigative journalist Stephanie Simon has done it again. In this article, she describes the $100 million plan to collect confidential student data and put it into a giant database.
Simon writes:
“In operation just three months, the database already holds files on millions of children identified by name, address and sometimes social security number. Learning disabilities are documented, test scores recorded, attendance noted. In some cases, the database tracks student hobbies, career goals, attitudes toward school – even homework completion.
“Local education officials retain legal control over their students’ information. But federal law allows them to share files in their portion of the database with private companies selling educational products and services.
“Entrepreneurs can’t wait.
“This is going to be a huge win for us,” said Jeffrey Olen, a product manager at CompassLearning, which sells education software.
“CompassLearning will join two dozen technology companies at this week’s SXSWedu conference in demonstrating how they might mine the database to create custom products – educational games for students, lesson plans for teachers, progress reports for principals.”
The database was funded by the Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation and created by Wireless Generation, which is part of Joel Klein’s Amplify, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
As a grandparent of a child in the public schools, it makes me ill to know that my grandson’s personal and confidential data will be sold or given to entrepreneurs for marketing purposes. And even sicker to know that his information is in the possession of a company owned by News Corporation.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yes, this is sick. How did Arne and Obama get this passed without any fanfare and yes, Rupert and Newscorp….they are responsible for hacking into the cell phone of a missing and murdered thirteen year old child. I feel sick.
Please can we all call our state senators and representatives this week?
I was just wondering how the private companies obtained students’ records. Did the school districts sell the info for profit? Are student records available publicly?
The districts and states agreed to give student confidential data to the Gates-Murdoch project. The Race to the Top encouraged states to build data “warehouses.” The US Department of Educated loosened privacy protections for student data in 2011.
Diane,
What are they saying is the purpose of changing the FERPA regulations? What is their spin?
Linda,
I have never seen an explanation for the loosening of federal privacy protection. The expert is Sheila Kaplan, who reads this blog. Contact her through the link to her organization in the article. Ask her.
Thank you….I emailed her.
It was reported without much fanfare here:
How the feds are tracking your kid
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/how_the_feds_are_tracking_your_kid_xC6wecT8ZidCAzfqegB6hL?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME
I hate to be a downer, but most politicians (Republicans and Democrats) get some type of campaign funds from these companies, so they really don’t care about our children. The only way things are going to change is if we start electing third-party and independent candidates who are more progressive, won’t take campaign contributions from these companies, and we need to encourage people who have a strong background in the education field to run for office.
Until this happens, I believe business as usual will continue…
BINGO
Every parent should write a letter to their state department of education stating that they do not have permission to share their child’s testing data according to FERPA regulations. Parents don’t realize this is happening because the local media don’t report this. Most parents of children in poverty get their news from local sources, not NY Post, etc. I wonder how long before FERPA is changed without informing us so this info can legally be used without parent knowledge?
My children are grown. However, I just wrote to my two senators and my US representative. I will call next week as well. We need to organize a call and letter writing campaign. This is a disgrace.
The other insult is that teachers cannot gather information: likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, dreams, aspirations themselves…by spending hours, days, weeks being with children, listening to them, reading their papers and thoughts. As if we need this technoeducrap.
What ways are left to demean us?
Linda, if your kids attended public school in Louisiana then they would have to be older than 38 not to be on this database
I am not that old and I live in CT. You have had a database for release to corporations and the Feds for that long? Yikes?
Yes, Louisiana is VERY GOOD at reporting its data. That’s why it is consistently at the bottom of every academic ranking. Other states just don’t report as well, and because of that, their numbers look much better.
Oops, DOESN’T report this…
Notice how many state DOEs maintain the Common Core is a state initiative, and it justifies their state need to be connected to a national database. Then compare that to the number of states who have been “awarded a federal grant” to complete the database.
And do you know what they are saying we need this for? Clearly they are not going to acknowledge this is a way to make money selling educrap….so what is the phony message? I haven’t read anywhere why Duncan/Obama think this is necessary.
I’m sure Malia and Sasha’s data will not be released even if there is data. I believe I remember Barack saying he didn’t want Malia to have a Facebook account because needed to protect her privacy. Hypocrite?
Any lawyers out here? This is a violation of privacy. A class action law suit may be in order.
Perhaps the ACLU could take this on.
Reblogged this on Crazycrawfish's Blog and commented:
They are coming or have already come for your data and the data of your kids. Public students have no privacy and are openly traded on the public market to further enrich the wealthy.
Watch this video created by Sheila Kaplan:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=vigcoJCNGVI&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvigcoJCNGVI%26feature%3Dyoutu.be
It all goes back to the question: Why are the FEDS involved in public education to begin with? Why is NO ONE reminding them of the 10th Amend.?
“MOMwithAbrain”, I often don’t agree with you, but on this issue, I couldn’t be more in agreement. Let’s unite, despite whatever differences we might have elsewhere—progressive, conservative, red, blue, north, south, metro, rural, everything—and take back OUR schools from the Feds and the corporations on whose behalf they’ve been acting.
So the “Permanent Record”, the scholastic boogey-man of my generation’s school years, is finally a reality.
Yes, and it’s called inBloom!
Exactly what I was thinking. Now, the “bad thing” you did in music class in 4th grade WILL keep you from ever being an astronaut. It’s sick.
I found the following link on MSN this morning. I have a meeting with my son’s principle coming up to discuss this.
http://news.msn.com/science-technology/k-12-student-database-jazzes-tech-startups-spooks-parents
The past has passed. Whatever data is in there is captured for eternity.
The only forward move is to OPT OUT our children from any test that is graded electronically or where scores are input through a teacher or other school representative.
A bold move could be made by teachers to refuse to work under conditions where they are forced to comply with database testing protocols. But they would bear the lions-share of the risk in the protection of our nation’s children.
I am a public middle school teacher and have personally been mulling around the idea of such a protest for many years. But it’s scary-for myself, my colleagues, and our families. Many of us are the breadwinners and/or provide valuable financial inputs toward our family’s sustainability, like medical and dental insurance. Both the potential for loss of personal income as well as these benefits would have a devastating impact on our lives.
There would be great power in the risk being spread across a large group including all stakeholders. Folks like those in United Opt Out are doing a lot of the footwork in organizing a nationwide voice for professional, fair, and appropriate assessment in public education by standing against the machine of profit driven standardized testing. Everyone should give their work a look, and if a good fit, join in.
Politicians have nothing to gain by addressing our concerns because their relevancy is dependent upon corporate and private donations. Until THAT is fixed they may listen, but they won’t act on our our behalf.
Great post Diane!
What do the UFT, the AFT, and other teacher unions have to say about this?
THAT is the Ultimate Meaningful Question!!
Diane,
I am posting a link from Sheila and with her permission. It is a letter to the USDOE from the groups below supporting the FERPA changes. Notice they do not mention vendors having access to data so they call sell CCS propaganda.
Kids = data = $$$$$, so kids are for sale and without parental permission or awareness.
Alliance for Excellent Education
American Institutes for Research
Association for Career and Technical Education
College Summit
Council of Chief State School Officers
Data Quality Campaign
Houde Consulting Group, LLC
Education Trust
International Association for K-12 Online Learning
Knowledge Alliance
NASSP
National Association of State Boards of Education
National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium National Association of System Heads
National Center for Higher Education Management Systems
National Council on Teacher Quality
National Math & Science Initiative
National Skills Coalition
State Higher Education Executive Officers
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Click to access 2011.05.13_FERPA%20Comments_Group%20Letter.pdf
inBloom is the name of the program. I went to an ‘early’ meeting on this in Chicago. It was called SLC camp (shared learning collaborative). Less than 1 hour into the day long meeting, my son and I (I brought him because they were also looking for software programmers) were totally creeped out at the amount of data they wanted to collect on students and had already started to do at some pilot schools in Illinois. There was a very eerie vibe coming from the MANY foreign programmers and a lot of distrust coming from the teachers there. It was all very Big Brother.
They want to and will be collecting data on students from Preschool through college. It is a way to force children into preset career tracks and use their information to sell them stuff throughout their lifetimes (but that would be the most innocent thing they would use that data for). Lets face it when you have partner like Rupert Murdoch investing in this program (inBloom) you can only imagine what they are going to do with that data!
I left a comment on their website telling them their SLC video was demeaning and condescending. They changed the name to inbloom and all the negative comments (there were many) were gone. This was their response back to me…the new SLC, called inbloom….they may have to change the name every six months to hide from the real teachers and parents:
Thank you for your feedback and questions. The Shared Learning Collaborative was an alliance that was formed to begin the work of creating technology to support personalized learning. Our plan has always been to create an independent, nonprofit organization that would take over the work the SLC started and carry the effort forward.
I’m very sorry to hear that you feel insulted by our web site and videos. We have tremendous respect for teachers and the hard work they do, and it’s of critical importance that the technology we create serves teachers’ and students’ needs. That’s why we have met with hundreds of teachers over the last year and a half to hear about and understand the challenges they face in the classroom, and pilot tested the technology with teachers in classrooms across the country. We have also invited teachers to participate in the SLC/inBloom camps and codeathons, where teachers and developers can collaborate to create applications that teachers need and want.
We appreciate your feedback, and welcome any suggestions or ideas you may have.
Regards,
Anita Thomas
inBloom Inc.
“We have tremendous respect for teachers and the hard work they do” is said to distract you from the sound of knives being sharpened to gut the already weakened unions.
Here is the cheesy SLC/inbloom/guess their next fraudulent name video. There used to be an option for comments. It is no longer there.
Notice the cartoon teacher only has four cartoon students and she needs a device and Rupert to help her get to know and assess her students. It is insulting and condescending. Oh and it gives you: “Data Interoperability”. Just what I have been waiting for for 26 years.
Diane…conisder making this video a post so we can view and critique.
https://www.inbloom.org/services
Not to be a downer, but it bears noting that in terms of privacy, this horse has already left the barn. This project appears to be more about aggregation than collection. The *collection* has already happened and is continuing to happen at local school districts and state education departments. It exists on thousands of different hard drives and servers all over the country using God knows what security protocols. And it’s already being sent to private contractors, stored on their servers and laptops, and viewed by their employees. So there’s that.
From a pure privacy standpoint, I find this database a lot less worrying than the thing where schools are buying Chromebooks for the purpose of having students do cloud-based work. The amount of personal information Google sucks out of every keystroke will dwarf what this database will contain, and the way Google handles it will be much less scrutinized, if at all
Why wasn’t it presented to congress to vote on it?
Why does it specifically state without parent permission?
RTTT is nothing more than kiddie data for sale – it is big bucks and reducing the labor force by “personalizing” learning is a way to funnel the money elsewhere. This is a hoax and without families even knowing about it.
Will they be tracking private school data? Sidwell Friends?
Their mantra “to improve student achievement” is a LIE.
True!
So…what exactly should we do? Go to the mall, drink a beer, see what’s on TV?
Just relax and pretend it isn’t really happening?
I get the feeling you WANT people to resign, become apathetic (or as you might put it, “realistic”) and become non-caring bozos.
Bad things can be reversed but first, people need to be informed. Let me introduce you to a little discipline called “History”; I suggest you read just a bit of it before commenting again in your typical pointless, bitter, cynical, patronizing way.
Ever hear of something called “legislation” that would FORCE Google to turn over all such information and/or destroy it? Then again, if you’re under 55 that’s an alien concept. Most people don’t know anything that occurred prior to their own birth. Sorry…
The key to why this is so invasive and disturbing is b/c the database infrastructure is designed to capture and integrate disparate data streams on the children that reside in separate departments… and b/c Murdoch’s Amplify tablet, among others, will also capture every every keystroke, dawdle and daydream.
Please let me know what parents can do about this.
I wish it were forbidden to use any technology in the classroom. Wonder what that would look like? It would sure shut these companies down.
I asked someone in the federal level involved in human subjects protection about the changes to FERPA and got this response, which perhaps will be helpful:
Such data sets often include numerous direct and indirect identifiers, and can often be linked to external data sets. You may want to check directly with the Education Department’s Family Policy Compliance office which administers FERPA and PPRA regarding applicability of FERPA to the specific data access and use(s) in this instance, e.g. applicability of its exemption for some education research and activities. In addition, the ED Privacy Technical Assistance center (PTAC) materials may be of interest in that context of privacy protections ( http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/ptac/index.html ) It is increasingly common for large data sets to be stored and accessed “in the cloud” (i.e. using “cloud computing.) As education data is increasingly “globalized” in collection, analysis and storage, the specific terms for such “cloud use” are sometimes salient. For example, if the data is stored on servers in a European Union member country, the EU privacy directive may apply, even if the data involves non-EU citizens.
Under the Common Rule (for human subjects research) and FERPA, for nonexempt studies, if data is directly or indirectly identifiable, appropriate protections of confidential data is required. Below are the FERPA and PPRA materials suggested by the office that handles FERPA and PPRA. The ED Family Policy Compliance Office, which administers FERPA (and PPRA) is waiting on their annual letter to SEAs and LEAs about FERPA and PPRA to be cleared. Once it is, that would probably be the most helpful. It includes references to the changes in the regulations concerning the written agreement requirements under the studies exception and the audit and evaluation exception.
In the meantime, if student surveys are involved, you might want to refer to last year’s letter concerning PPRA:
Click to access pprasuper.pdf
(See March 2011 under Hot Topics for attachments for schools. http://www.ed.gov/fpco)
For FERPA, perhaps these documents would help:
Click to access sealea_overview.pdf
Click to access reasonablemtd_agreement.pdf
I posted this back in October. Deserves remembering:
From the 1967 TV show, “The Prisoner”:
I will not make any deals with you. I’ve resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own. I resign.
Ed, I will use these lines for my upcoming resignation. Thanks for sharing, again.
Parallels:
Hunger Games Trilogy by Collins
Animal Farm and 1984 by Orwell
Brave New World by Huxley
The Giver By Lowry
Bet the students can relate to these books and what’s happening to this country.
It!s plain spooky.but oh my some are making huge $$$$ and getting control of our essence, our being.
It’s not the entrepreneurs that so much worry me, but the government that worries me. Kids that don’t meet the cusp, will be sold down the river. In deed, it’s a brave new world.
“My means are sane, it is my ends which are mad.”
– Captain Ahab, from Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The story of so-called education reform is a grotesque spectacle of power-seeking, hubris, avarice, half-truths and outright lies, opportunism, folly, and officially rewarded self-deception.
Like gold rushes before it, the legacy of this one will be fortunes extracted by a relative few, and a lot of ruin and waste.
I always look forward to your comments because I learn something each time. You must be a great teacher! 🙂
This has NO benefit to anyone….where is our privacy? Will all the politicians kids be included in this nonsense?
This is an outrage and a venture capitalist’s delight. . . . it’s like stealing candy – make that “dignity” – from a child.
I also have this comment to make at:
http://thetruthoneducationreform.blogspot.com/2012/12/blog-post_65.html
Are there any lurkers who have ties to the hackster group Anonymous? It seems that they would be interested in a federal agency that changed rules to invade the privacy of children in order to make money and preserve “intellectual property.” All, of course, at the expense of innocent children without their parents knowing what was happening.
Could the defrauding of public education be the real reason that the US Government is after Assange and wikileaks?
What if people really knew about this plan?
This database is not new. I have in front of me “Student Data Handbook: Elementary, Secondary and Early Childhood Education” from the National Center for Education Statistics, U. S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement NCES 94-303. I ordered my copy from the Supt. of Documents, ISBN 0-16-045072-l, June 1994. “Contractor Report prepared by Education Data Systems Implementation Project, Council of Chief State School Officers. Other handbooks in the series dates from between 1953 and 1974.
This book is known as “The Speede/Express”. Other than an article I wrote and was published in a small Newspaper “The Wisconsin Report” an article appeared in a Richmond, VA paper written by a ____Holland.
The Speede/Express tracks children from conception to death. Along with that tracking comes the tracking of the family. It tracks such things as: “color of eye, birthmarks,nickname, middle name, first name, last/surname, genration code, alias, former legal name, last/surname at birth, nickname, tribal or clan name, background information, identification number, identification system,race/ethnicity, national/ethnic orgin subgroup, birthdate, Baptismal or church certificate, birth certificate entry in a family Bible, parent’s affidavit, passport, physican’s certificate, previously verified school records, city of birth, county of birth, state of birth, citizenship status, language type, english proficiency,and last but not least. “Religious Background” 01 through 99 noted. There is nothing that is left out of this government document. I urge everone to try and order this most important document that tracks citizens from conception to death.
I’m always amazed that others are just finding out this information that I tracked when doing serious research into government programs in the 1980-90’s.
What about students who take the ASVAB test and if they don’t check off “Option 8,” their personal, private information is automatically sent to military recruiters? Or, another method the Pentagon uses to collect info on young people is the JAMRS project – the Joint Advertising Market Research & Studies program. This should be disturbing to all citizens who believe that our young people’s personal information should not end up in the hands of the Pentagon or any other entity that can and will target our young for commercial purposes.
no it a violation of our privacy and you are makeing money of the students info for all you know they can be a stalker
This is the American way. Get ready for more and more Big Brother. Nothing is private and so it is!!!!!!