N.D. Education Committee Clears Student Data Privacy Bill
The North Dakota Senate Education Committee voted 6-0 to clear a student data privacy bill as amended during a committee hearing Wednesday.
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HB-1357 “requires that permission has to be obtained from the school board before student data is shared with an individual who isn't a school district employee or any other entity,” said sponsor Rep. Desiree Morton (R). “This provision does not apply to a student's parent or as otherwise required by law.”
Constituents wanted the bill, said State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler. “If passed, this bill will provide guardrails and clarity of expectations for all parties involved.”
Kim Weis, North Dakota Information Technology chief data officer, also supported the bill. "It really sets us up to see a successful implementation of the new student information system, so it's really critical that we have this language appropriate from a data-sharing perspective.”
The North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders backs HB-1357, said its lobbyist Kevin Hoherz. “It's safeguarding the rights of students and parents to ensure student-level data remain secure in the at the district level unless a formal data sharing agreement is in place.”
The North Dakota School Board Association was neutral on the bill. No one opposed the bill at the hearing. The House Education Committee unanimously voted 12-0-2 due pass on the bill with the amendment on Feb. 3, and the entire House voted 93-0 to pass it during second reading on Feb. 6.