Critical State Bill to Protect Student Privacy

On September 30, I testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education in strong support of Resolution No. 1768, which calls on the State to pass A.6059/S.4284, of which I am a co-sponsor. The bill, which was introduced by Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell, would prohibit the release of students’ personally identifiable information to third parties without parental consent. I share the concerns I have heard from constituents who were very disturbed to learn earlier this year that the New York State Education Department (NYSED) planned to share confidential student data with the non-profit corporation inBloom Inc., with which NYSED contracted to provide a K-12 student database, as well as other for-profit entities.  I strongly believe that our state must not proceed with any initiatives, however well-intentioned, that could compromise the privacy of our public school students without giving parents an opportunity to make informed decisions about their children’s participation. Please see my testimony below.