January 16, 2024

Why Prioritize Your Students’ Privacy and How

While we may have hoped otherwise, the threat of data breaches and cybersecurity attacks will unlikely fade away in 2023. With data breaches happening all the time, the same question remains: How can we keep our students’ privacy safe? 

With 95% of 13-17-year-old students having access to a smartphone, student privacy matters more than ever. When we teach students how to protect their personal information online, we educate them and empower them to navigate their online worlds positively. 

What you should know before we dive in:

These might be scary stats, especially considering how much personal information is stored on students’ personal devices and even school-issued ones. But there is good news. There are laws in place, and there are actionable steps we can take, to keep our students’ information safe online. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated by the minute, so let’s dive in and talk about the different ways that independent, public, and charter schools keep their students safe. 

Requirements by School Type

Keeping sensitive information safe and secure is a top priority for schools, especially since they hold a lot of important details about their students, teachers, and staff. Technology and devices are staples in today’s education, so it’s vital that schools protect the privacy of students and their families so they can create a safe and secure learning environment. 

But did you know that schools’ privacy requirements differ depending on whether they’re public, independent, or charter schools? Let’s take a closer look at the differences between schools’ privacy requirements and why they matter.

Public and Charter Schools

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as FERPA, is a federal law that protects the collection and use of students’ personal information. Created in 1974, FERPA applies to all public schools: elementary, secondary, and post-secondary. Under this act, parents can review their child’s education records, request that a school correct records they believe are wrong, and have schools release their child’s education records if they give written permission. In the case of charter schools, FERPA applies to those that receive federal funds or are otherwise subject to the federal law. Essentially, FERPA ensures that all students’ privacy is protected. In addition to FERPA, public and charter schools are subject to state open record laws

Independent Schools

What makes independent school privacy requirements different from public schools is that they aren’t required to follow FERPA. The only exception is if they receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Because of this, independent schools usually have much more flexibility regarding their privacy policies. Independent schools typically have their own privacy policies but may still be subject to privacy regulations such as federal data protection laws. One example of a data protection law is The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires schools to share information with parents about the different sites and apps students use in school. 

TSI’s Take

Regardless of your school type, one thing is for certain – student privacy is a focus for all schools. While the privacy requirements for the different types of schools may not look the same, the goal of protecting the privacy of students and their families is. By understanding the differences between schools’ privacy requirements, schools can take steps to ensure that they are meeting the privacy needs of their teachers, staff, and, most importantly, their students. 

TSI Tips for Protecting Your Privacy 

At The Social Institute, we aim not only to provide educators with “the facts” but also to show them how to take actionable steps to protect their students’ privacy. 

Here are a few tips that you can implement to help strengthen your school’s privacy plan: 

  • Create a Strong Security Policy: By creating and implementing a solid security policy in your school, you can manage who has access to potentially sensitive and personal information. Even if you already have a security policy, it never hurts to update or refresh it. (Especially since hackers are becoming smarter by the second!)
  • Use Anti-Malware Software: Protect your students’ devices and prevent security breach problems by choosing an anti-malware software program. There are tons out there that are free and specifically designed to protect schools from cyberattacks! 
  • Spread Awareness: Educate your staff and students by holding cybersecurity training or sending emails where you can show them the stats and teach them about the importance of keeping their data safe.

Schools aren’t the only organizations required to protect student privacy, but they can keep the conversation going. In December 2022, Epic Games was fined for violating children’s privacy laws. When the news broke, TSI’s Founder & CEO, Laura Tierney, connected with WRAL to share just how important it is to huddle with students about how they can best protect their privacy. Check out what she had to say about this opportunity to huddle on this important topic with your students, and check out our guide to handling student data and protecting their privacy.

Always stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest trends online by subscribing to our newsletter where we talk about trending tech and social media news weekly! In the meantime, check out our Instagram and TikTok @thesocialinst for tips and highlights on all the well-being, social media, and tech trends impacting students.


The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in understanding student experiences and creator of #WinAtSocial, a gamified, online learning platform that equips students, educators, and families to navigate social experiences — online and offline — in healthy ways. Our unique, student-respected approach incorporates topics like social media, technology use, and current events that have a significant impact on student well-being. Lessons teach life skills for the modern day to inspire high-character decisions that support the health, happiness, and future success of students, while capturing data that provides insights to school leaders to inform school policy and communications, and enable high-impact teaching and a healthy learning environment. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities.