A measure introduced on Wednesday by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) would require schools to disclose when software companies are able to sell personally identifiable student information to third-party companies.
The measure would amend the Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act, a bill seeking to enable schools to base successful course completion on competency rather than minimum classroom time, according to a press release.
“This is about empowering students, giving them the power and control over their personally identifiable information,” Duffy said. “If they choose to have it sold, so be it; they give permission – just like when they make a post on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter. But if they don’t give consent, let’s not allow schools to take their information and sell it without their permission.”
Under the amendment, schools entering into contracts with companies that are allowed to sell personally identifiable information about students to third parties would be required to give advanced notice to students so they could elect to opt out.
The amendment gained bipartisan support from members of the House of Representatives, which advanced the measure on a voice vote.
During debate on the amendment, Duffy stressed the importance of disclosing information-sharing policies to Americans – and students in particular – and empowering them with options to protect themselves.