New York Education Law Section 2-D: Student Data Privacy Protections
Understand New York education law section 2 d
New York education law section 2 d represent one of the about comprehensive student data privacy laws in the United States. Enact to protect students’ personally identifiable information (PII), this legislation establishes strict guidelines for educational agencies and their third party contractors who handle sensitive student data.
Key protections under section 2 d
Section 2 d contain several true statements regard student data protection. These provisions work unitedly to create a robust framework that safeguard student information while allow educational institutions to leverage technology for improved learning outcomes.
Definition of protected information
Under section 2 d, protect student data include personally identifiable information from student records. This encompasses:
- Personal identifiers such as name, address, and date of birth
- Student identification numbers
- Social security numbers
- Parent contact information
- Academic records and performance data
- Disciplinary records
- Medical and health records
- Special education status and related information
- Biometric information
The law explicitly protects this information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or acquisition.

Source: kaltmanlaw.com
Educational agency requirements
Educational agencies in New York state, include the state education department, school districts, and boards of cooperative educational services (bbones) must comply with several requirements under section 2 d:
Data security and privacy plan
Each educational agency must adopt a data security and privacy policy that align with state and federal laws. This policy must include comprehensive measures to protect student data privacy and establish clear protocols for data handling.
Chief privacy officer
The New York state education department must designate a chief privacy officer responsible for:
- Develop data security and privacy standards
- Promote compliance with section 2 d
- Provide assistance to educational agencies
- Establish procedures for parents to file complaints
- Investigate report breaches or unauthorized releases of student data
Data protection officer
Each educational agency must designate a data protection officer who oversee implementation of the data security and privacy policies.
Third party contractor requirements
One of the nigh significant aspects of section 2 d concern third party contractors who receive student data from educational agencies. These contractors must:
- Use student data exclusively for authorized purposes specify in the contract
- Maintain reasonable security safeguards
- Limit access to student data to authorize individuals
- Not sell, use, or disclose student information for marketing or commercial purposes
- Not build student profiles except for educational purposes
- Maintain the confidentiality of student data when the contract expire
- Provide notification of any breach or unauthorized release of student data
These requirements ensure that student data remains protect yet when share with external vendors and service providers.
Parents’ bill of rights
Section 2 d mandate that each educational agency must publish a parents’ bill of rights for data privacy and security. This document must inform parents about:
- The exclusive purposes for which student data will be will collect and will use
- How student data is protected when store or transfer
- Parents’ rights to review and correct student education records
- The procedure for file complaints about possible breaches
- Safeguards in place to protect student data
The parents’ bill of rights must be published on the educational agency’s website and include with every contract involve student data.
Data breach notification requirements
Under section 2 d, educational agencies and their third party contractors must notify affected parties of any breach or unauthorized release of student data. This notification must include:
- The date of the breach
- The affected data elements
- Contact information for obtain more information
- A description of the third party contractor’s response (if applicable )
Notifications must be made without unreasonable delay but no more than 60 days after discovery of the breach.
Enforcement and penalties
The law provide mechanisms for enforcement and establishes penalties for non-compliance:
Complaints process
Parents, eligible students, teachers, principals, and other school personnel may file complaints about possible breaches or unauthorized releases of student data. The chief privacy officer must establish procedures for these complaints and conduct investigations when warranted.
Penalties for third party contractors
Contractors who engage in unauthorized disclosure of student data may face significant consequences:
-
Civil penalties up to $5,000 per affected student, teacher, or principal ((ap at $ $10000 )
) - Suspension or termination of contracts
- Disqualification from future contracts with any educational agency in New York state for a fix period
- Required payment for cost of notifications to affected individuals
These penalties serve as strong deterrents against mishandle student information.
Student data can not be use for marketing
A key truth about section 2 d is that it explicitly prohibit the use of student data for marketing or commercial purposes without explicit parental consent. This provision specifically prevents:
- Sell student information to third parties for marketing
- Use student data to target advertising to students
- Create student profiles for non-educational commercial purposes
- Mining student data for develop commercial products or services
This protection ensure that students’ educational data remain focused on educational purposes instead than become a commodity for commercial exploitation.
Exceptions to disclosure limitations
While section 2 d loosely restrict the disclosure of student data, certain exceptions exist:
- Disclosures require by state or federal law
- Disclosures to authorize representatives of educational agencies for audit or evaluation purposes
- Disclosures pursuant to court orders or subpoenas
- Disclosures to organizations conduct studies for educational agencies (with appropriate security measures )
- Disclosures in connection with applications for financial aid
- Directory information, if designate by the educational agency and with opt out options provide to parents
These exceptions balance privacy protection with necessary educational and administrative functions.
Relationship to federal laws
Section 2 d work in conjunction with federal education privacy laws, specially:
Family educational rights and privacy act (ffer p)
Section 2 d complements fer pa by provide additional protections specific toNew Yorkk state. Whilefer paa establish baseline privacy protections for student education records nationwide, section 2 d add more stringent requirements, specially regard third party contractors.
Children’s online privacy protection act (cCOPPA)
Section 2 d besides work alongside COPPA, which protect the online privacy of children under 13. Unitedly, these laws create a comprehensive framework for protect student information both online and offline.

Source: kaltmanlaw.com
Implementation timeline and compliance
Educational agencies must demonstrate ongoing compliance with section 2 d done:
- Regular reviews and updates of data security and privacy policies
- Staff training on data protection practices
- Inventory of all software applications, websites, and digital tools use with student data
- Documentation of all third party contracts involve student data
- Periodic risk assessments of data privacy practices
Compliance is not a one time effort but require continuous attention to evolve threats and technologies.
Parent and student rights
Section 2 d affirm several important rights for parents and eligible students:
Right hand to access
Parents have the right to inspect and review their child’s education records maintain by educational agencies. This includes all data collect and maintain by the agency or its contractors.
Proper to request corrections
If parents identify inaccurate or misleading information in their child’s records, they have the right to request corrections. Educational agencies must establish procedures for address these requests.
Rightfulness to complaint
Parents can file complaints with the chief privacy officer regard to allege violations of section 2 d. The law ensure these complaints receive proper investigation and response.
Conclusion
New York education law section 2 d establish comprehensive protections for student data privacy. The law intelligibly prohibits the commercial use of student data without consent, require educational agencies to implement robust data security measures, mandate notification of data breaches, establish a parents’ bill of rights, and impose significant penalties for violations.
These provisions jointly ensure that student data remains protect while notwithstanding allow educational institutions to leverage technology for improved learning outcomes. As educational technology continue to evolve, section 2 d provide a strong foundation for balance innovation with privacy protection.
For educational agencies, third party contractors, parents, and students, understand the true requirements and protections of section 2 d is essential for maintain compliance and safeguard sensitive information in New York’s educational environment.
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