Teacher broke law by posting top test scores StarTribune.com:
"A Northfield teacher who posted the names and grades of students with the best test scores thought it was a good way to praise his high fliers and motivate the rest.Turns out it was against the law, according to state officials."
A Northfield High School teacher who posted the names and grades of students with the best test scores thought it was a good way to praise his high fliers and motivate the rest.
Turns out it was against the law, according to state officials.
In an advisory opinion, the Minnesota Department of Administration agreed with a parent who complained that posting her son's test results in class for all to see was a violation of state law protecting student data.
The Northfield case illustrates how fine the line can seem between celebrating the work of bright students and violating their privacy. According to experts in education law, it's generally OK for schools to announce who makes the honor roll or graduates with the highest class rank. But revealing a student's grade on a class test in math or history -- without written permission -- is a no-no.
The state's advice raised some eyebrows, including those of Charlie Kyte, executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. The advisory opinion seems like an extreme interpretation of law that "would change a lot of common practices," he said.
"To be able to show students ... the best work in a class seems to be a good thing from my perspective," Kyte said.
Family Educational Rights andPrivacy Act Regulations FERPA : http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16633007/Family-Educational-Rights-andPrivacy-Act-Regulations-FERPA
"A Northfield teacher who posted the names and grades of students with the best test scores thought it was a good way to praise his high fliers and motivate the rest.Turns out it was against the law, according to state officials."
A Northfield High School teacher who posted the names and grades of students with the best test scores thought it was a good way to praise his high fliers and motivate the rest.
Turns out it was against the law, according to state officials.
In an advisory opinion, the Minnesota Department of Administration agreed with a parent who complained that posting her son's test results in class for all to see was a violation of state law protecting student data.
The Northfield case illustrates how fine the line can seem between celebrating the work of bright students and violating their privacy. According to experts in education law, it's generally OK for schools to announce who makes the honor roll or graduates with the highest class rank. But revealing a student's grade on a class test in math or history -- without written permission -- is a no-no.
The state's advice raised some eyebrows, including those of Charlie Kyte, executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. The advisory opinion seems like an extreme interpretation of law that "would change a lot of common practices," he said.
"To be able to show students ... the best work in a class seems to be a good thing from my perspective," Kyte said.
Family Educational Rights andPrivacy Act Regulations FERPA : http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16633007/Family-Educational-Rights-andPrivacy-Act-Regulations-FERPA
