ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iKeepSafe has launched the first independent assessment program for Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), designed to help schools find ed tech programs and services that protect student data privacy. iKeepSafe will soon announce the first companies and products that earn iKeepSafe FERPA badges. Independent review will help schools address privacy concerns and continue to adopt great ed tech tools that help students learn and thrive.
“Technology innovations bring important improvements to K12 learning, but parents and teachers also want kids’ data and information protected,” said iKeepSafe CEO Marsali Hancock. “iKeepSafe FERPA certification will enable ed tech companies and developers to highlight the work they’ve done to protect student data.”
- Third-party certification is key to helping educators and parents address concerns about student data privacy, so students continue to benefit from personalized learning and ed tech innovations.
- iKeepSafe certification is part of a comprehensive approach, involving ed tech developers, educators and families. Our approach includes K-12 curriculum resources to help parents, teachers and school leaders balance ed tech and privacy.
- iKeepSafe’s FERPA assessment and recently launched Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) safe harbor build parent and educator confidence in ed tech services.
iKeepSafe created the new FERPA assessment to provide ed tech companies and developers with independent, third-party evaluations of their services, and to help educators and families have confidence when they choose ed tech tools for students. Similarly, iKeepSafe’s COPPA Safe Harbor program, in partnership with PlayWell LLC, evaluates companies and services for compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which guides the collection and use of data from children under age 13.
Companies that comply with the program guidelines are awarded iKeepSafe’s FERPA assessment badge—and/or iKeepSafe’s COPPA Safe Harbor seal –to show schools and families that the product has undergone an independent, third-party assessment. Participating company products are assessed annually.
“Educators and families want students to access valuable new technologies, but they also worry about protecting student privacy, and some educators aren’t sure if they comply with FERPA, COPPA and related state laws,” said Hancock. “We want to help K12 schools implement digital technology in smart and responsible ways.”
Several companies are now engaging in the iKeepSafe FERPA assessment, and new badges will be announced in the coming months.
About iKeepSafe:
The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is focused on the human side of technology. It is a broad partnership of governors and first spouses, attorneys general, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online. iKeepSafe uses these unique partnerships to disseminate safety resources to families worldwide, including pilot programs launched in China, India, Australia and a program in Egypt in partnership with the Cyber Peace Initiative (CPI). The coalition provides innovative resources including parent tutorials, age-appropriate educational resources for grades K-12, and professional development for educators. Leading available programs include the Faux Paw the Techno Cat® Internet safety series of books and animated films for children; Digital Literacy curriculum; and Generation Safe™, a Digital Media Mentor program designed to help schools navigate the digital environment while protecting them from liability. Visit iKeepSafe.org to view these resources.