Influence & Advocacy Update: Support Student & Educator Data Privacy

Influence & Advocacy Update September 2025 Calling All School Leaders Support Student & Educator Data Privacy   Where:  Massachusetts State House When:   Wednesday, October 8, 2025 Time:     1:00pm - 2:00pm   On Wednesday, October 8, from 1:00–2:00 p.m. at the Massachusetts State House, join fellow school leaders and state legislators for an important panel and hearing on H.4405: Student & Educator Data Privacy. This bill establishes vital safeguards for how schools and vendors manage sensitive information, ensuring that student and educator data is handled responsibly and securely. Your voice matters. Attend in person or virtually to show your support, and take the opportunity to schedule follow-up meetings with your legislators to underscore why this legislation is essential for Massachusetts schools. Save the date and make your voice heard! Can’t attend? We encourage you to download our sample letter linked below to personalize and send to your State Representatives and Senators, asking them to attend and support this important bill.   View Summary of Bill H.4405: Student & Educator Data Privacy (Note: Summary created by ChatGPT)   H 4405 Massachusetts House Bill Summary/Bill Text The bill amends Chapter 71 of the General Laws to enhance the privacy of student and educator data by introducing new sections (34I through 34L) that define key terms and establish regulations for the handling of covered information, which includes any data that can identify a specific student, teacher, or administrator. It prohibits operators providing services for K-12 purposes from engaging in targeted advertising based on covered information, creating profiles, or selling student information. Operators are required to implement security measures to protect this data and must return or destroy it upon request. Contracts between educational entities and operators must include provisions that prohibit commercial use and ensure data security. Additionally, the bill mandates the public disclosure of a comprehensive list of categories of covered information collected by the department, detailing the source, reason for collection, and intended use. Each school district is required to develop a privacy and security policy, report significant data breaches within ten business days, and publish a list of categories of student personally identifiable information collected. Districts must also disclose a list of operators with whom they have contracts related to covered information and establish annual training requirements for employees with access to this data, making completion of the training a condition for obtaining educator certification.   Sample Letter to Download and Personalize

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Influence and Advocacy Update: U.S. Department of Ed Releases AI Toolkit

Influence & Advocacy Update November 2024 U.S. Department of Education Releases AI Toolkit On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Ed Tech released an AI toolkit for safe, ethical, and equitable AI integration for K-12. This new federal AI resource comes as more districts look for guidance around AI in their classrooms. While many states have released their own K-12 AI guidance, this toolkit will provide a more uniform resource for developing school district AI plans. The Office of Ed Tech is committed to encouraging innovative technological advances to improve teaching and learning across the nation’s education systems in a safe, ethical and equitable environment/manner. Read the announcement here. AI TOOLKIT READ THE ANNOUCEMENT

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I&A Update: New Safety Measures for Teen Social Media

October 2024 I&A Update: New Safety Measures for Teen Social Media Many of you may have heard about TikTok’s New Family Safety Partnership designed to create a contract-style document that allows parents to establish clear boundaries and guidelines for their family’s social media uses. As well as Instagram's decision to unveil “teen accounts” feature, where teenagers are automatically placed into private accounts with built-in privacy controls. But did you know State Attorneys General Endorse Social Media Warning Labels: A coalition of 42 U.S. state attorneys general recently endorsed a plan to introduce warning labels on social media platforms. This initiative, first outlined in a June op-ed by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, would implement tobacco-style labels on social media to highlight risks such as anxiety, depression, and body image issues. These movements are designed to protect our children and keep them as safe as possible. Visit the MassCUE Influence & Advocacy Committee page to learn more about our committee and how to get involved.

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I&A Update: A New Era of Online Safety for Kids

September 2024 I&A Update: A New Era of Online Safety for Kids It’s been more than two decades since there have been any new federal laws addressing online safety for children. Since then, we have seen the rise of social media and so many safety concerns impacting kids when they are online. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal introduced the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) back in February of 2022 and this summer it made its way through the Senate. President Biden is expected to sign the bill when it makes its way to his desk. Learn more about the ways this bill will protect our kids: What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate | AP News Visit the MassCUE Influence & Advocacy Committee page to learn more about our committee and how to get involved.

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I&A Update: Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Fly-In

June 2024 I&A Update: EdTech Advocacy Day     On May 1, 2024, three members of our Influence and Advocacy Committee—Jenn Judkins, Colleen Terrill, and Karen Winsper—along with AJ Cote from DESE’s Office of Education Technology, took on the task of advocating for essential changes in educational technology. The team participated in the annual Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Fly-In event, co-hosted by CoSN, ISTE, SETDA, and SIIA. This event brings together colleagues from various states, school districts, and ESAs, as well as members of Congress, key congressional staff, and education association leaders. They gathered in Washington DC to discuss critical topics such as cybersecurity, student data privacy, E-Rate, closing the homework gap, and other important educational technology issues. In the morning, the team joined leaders from the hosting organizations, other educators, vendors, and policymakers to prepare for the advocacy efforts. They met with staff from Representative Auchincloss’, Representative Trahan’s, and Representative McGovern’s offices as well as senior staff from Senator Warren’s and Senator Markey’s offices. The team emphasized the need for strong student data privacy measures, full funding for Title II and Title IV grants, enhanced cybersecurity, expanded E-Rate access including coverage for cybersecurity measures, and responsible AI usage. This year's event provided a unique opportunity to discuss how digital learning is a key element in creating equitable and effective education in a post-COVID world. The team's participation showcased the importance of collective action in achieving tangible progress toward ensuring every student has access to quality education in a digitally advanced setting. To learn more about key points from the event please click here. Visit the MassCUE Influence & Advocacy Committee page to learn more about our committee and how to get involved.

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I&A Update: Tools to Develop a School Safety Plan

May 2024 I&A Update: Tools to Develop a School Safety Plan For those who aren’t aware, the Cybersecurity and…

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I&A Update: Support the Affordable Connectivity Program

April 2024 I&A Update: Support the Affordable Connectivity Program EducationSuperHighway continues to work to close the digital divide…

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I&A Update: Changes to the Kids Online Safety Act

March 2024 I&A Update: Changes to the Kids Online Safety Act Future Privacy Forum (FPF) recently shared information on the changes…

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I&A Update: Computer Science Graduation Requirement?

February 2024 I&A Update: Computer Science Graduation Requirement? Share your Input. Should Massachusetts include computer science in high school graduation requirements? The…

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I&A Update: A New Age Verification Proposal

January 2024 I&A Update: A New Age Verification Proposal Meta is pushing for rival tech giants such as Google and Apple…

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I&A Update: State Legislators Consider Bills on Technology and Data

December I&A Update: State Legislators Consider Bills on Technology and Data The MA Joint Committee on Education met on October 30,…

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I&A Update: Back to School Connectivity Challenge

November I&A Update: Back to School Connectivity Challenge The US Office of…

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I&A Update: Artificial Intelligence

October I&A Update: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning The United States Department of Education, Office of Educational…

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I&A Update: Pilot Program for Data Security in Schools and Libraries

August I&A Update: $200 Million Pilot for Data Security in Schools and Libraries Proposed by FCC Chair FCC Chairwoman Jessica…

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