Data Security

Survey: 87 Percent of Parents Are Concerned About Student Data Security

• By Christopher Piehler
• 08/31/15

The Future of Privacy Forum has released new survey data showing that a large majority of parents are concerned about the level of student data privacy and security in America’s K-12 schools.

According to the survey, 87 percent of parents expressed concern that their child’s electronic education records could be hacked or stolen. For this reason, 85% of parents said that their willingness to support the use of student data and technology in education must be coupled with efforts to ensure security.

When asked if they are “comfortable with [a] properly protected electronic education record being created for my child,” 71 percent replied that they were.

The survey, which was conducted online this spring by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Future of Privacy Forum, included 1,002 parents in the United States with children 17 and under.

The entire survey will be released Monday, September 21, 2015, at the National Student Privacy Symposium at The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. The symposium is designed to foster debate among research experts, education leaders, privacy and security professionals, advocacy groups, parents and government leaders about how to best serve our youth. The deadline to register for the symposium is September 16.