The New York Times reports on concerns from privacy advocates and parents over the increasing trend by school districts to adopt learning-management systems, which they say may not have mastered data protection and privacy controls. Parent Tony Porterfield recently found out that his sons’ Los Altos, CA, school district had adopted an online learning network that did not use a standard encryption protocol, for example, making it possible for outsiders to gain access to students’ contact information. While COPPA requires online services to take reasonable measures to protect kids’ privacy, it does not require such encryption protocols. In addition, many school districts distribute only general notices about using such systems. (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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