• Parents' Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

    The Southwestern Central School District is committed to protecting the privacy and security of student, teacher, and principal data.  In accordance with Education Law §2-d, the District wishes to inform the school community of the following:

    1. A student's personally identifiable information cannot be sold or released for any commercial purposes.
    2. Parents have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child's education record.
    3. State and federal laws protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices, including but not limited to encryption, firewalls, and password protection, must be in place when data is stored or transferred.
    4. A complete list of all student data elements collected by the State is available by writing to the Office of Information & Reporting Services, New York State Education Department, Room 863 EBA, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12234.
    5. Parents have the right to have complaints about possible breaches of student data addressed. Complaints should be directed in writing to the Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12234. Complaints may also be directed to the Chief Privacy Officer via email at: CPO@mail.nvsed.gov. 

     

    Supplemental Information Regarding Third-Party Contractors
    In the course of complying with its obligations under the law and providing educational services to District residents, the Southwestern Central School District has entered into agreements with certain third- party contractors. Pursuant to such agreements, third-party contractors may have access to "student data" and/or "teacher or principal data," as those terms are defined by law.

     
    Each contract the District enters into with a third party contractor where the third party contractor receives student data or teacher or principal data will include the following information:
    1. The exclusive purposes for which the student data or teacher or principal data will be used;
    2. How the third party contractor will ensure that the subcontractors, persons or entities that the third party contractor will share the student data or teacher or principal data with, if any, will abide by data protection and security requirements;
    3. When the agreement expires and what happens to the student data or teacher or principal data upon expiration of the agreement;
    4. If and how a parent, student, eligible student, teacher or principal may challenge the accuracy of the student data or teacher or principal data that is collected; and
    5. Where the student data or teacher or principal data will be stored (described in such a manner as to protect data security), and the security protections taken to ensure such data will be protected, including whether such data will be encrypted.