Test Mania (6 of 7)
Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems
An even bigger concern than Common Core Standards is a little known adjunct to these federal programs, the large grants to states to develop Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS). The program provides grants to states to design, develop, and implement statewide P-20 longitudinal data systems to capture, analyze, and use student data from preschool through high school, college, and the workforce. These data systems must have the ability to inter-link with other states and give access to the U.S. Department of Education.
To receive State Fiscal Stabilization Funds, a state must provide assurance that it will establish a longitudinal data system that includes the 12 elements described in the America Competes Act, and any data system developed with SLDS funds must include at least 12 elements. Among these elements are:
• A unique identifier for every student.
• The school enrollment history, demographic characteristics, and program participation record of every student.
• Student scores on tests required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
• A way to identify teachers and to match teachers to their students.
• Information from students' transcripts, specifically courses taken and grades earned.
These "demographic characteristics" may include: "...parents' names, address, Social Security Number, date of birth, place of birth, mother's maiden name, etc. On the other hand, according to the SLDS brief, "Sensitive Information" will also be extracted, which delves into the intimate details of students' lives...." (4/25/2013, "Data Mining Students through Common Core," Mallory Sauer)
This is, of course, a violation of our privacy rights. Then the "Common Education Data Standards" were developed and the U.S. Department of Education, without congressional approval, altered the Federal "Family Educational Rights Privacy Act" law to legalize access to personally identifiable student data, including biological and behavioral data! Since teacher information is attached to each student, each teacher's personal information will also be available. ("Six things the U.S .Dept. Of Education did to deprive your child of privacy," Mathews, 10/15/2013.)
This private data, (SLDS), is being collected and stored by a private federal non-profit contractor, "inBloom, Inc." (03/25/ 2013 "Data Mining Students through Common Core," Mallory Sauer)
This means there will eventually be a data base containing personal information on every person in the United States. It will be available for use by the federal government and any other agency or company that can gain access to the data base. This means almost anyone. Our rights are being systematically eroded, without a congressional vote!
If you do not want your child to be included in this data base, write a letter to your superintendent and principal: "You do not have my permission to divulge any personally identifiable information about my child ___________ to any entity outside of our school district unless you have a personally signed permission form from me."
Questions or comments? Email: firstname.lastname@example.org
(To be continued)
George J. Saiter Ed.D.