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Federal review targets student privacy practices in three California school districts
The U.S. Department of Education is investigating whether ethnic studies programs in San Francisco and two other districts collected sensitive student information without parents’ knowledge or consent. The inquiry includes an SFUSD classroom exercise asking students to reflect on identity and privilege.
The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into whether San Francisco Unified School District’s mandatory high school ethnic studies course asked students to disclose sensitive information about themselves and their families without parental knowledge or consent.
The department announced the investigation Monday. It is also examining whether the Palo Alto and North Monterey County school districts properly notified parents and obtained written consent before surveying students about protected information in their ethnic studies programs.
One focus in San Francisco is an “identity wheel” exercise that asks students to consider characteristics including sexual orientation, gender identity, race and economic status, and how those aspects of identity can shape privilege and disadvantage. The federal agency said it was examining allegations that the districts were not responsive to parents seeking to review course materials or restricted what parts of the coursework they could see.
Frank Miller, director of the department’s Student Privacy Policy Office, said the cases raised concerns that schools were collecting private information without involving parents. The investigations are inquiries into allegations; the department’s announcement does not establish that any district violated federal law.