Department of Education Stops Collecting Student Social Security Numbers Until Security Review Is Done

10/1/2010 10:09:00 AM	Email this article • Print this article
The Maine Department of Education decided on Tuesday to delay collection and submission of student Social Security numbers to the state until after they have had an independent review done of the security of its student and staff data information systems. The voluntary collection of student Social Security numbers has become controversial in some Maine communities as privacy advocates have expressed concerns about the security of the information. Last Friday, an error in a Department data system that's not connected to the collection of student information was discovered by a technology director for a Maine school system whose job duties include managing student and staff data in Infinite Campus. The technology director notified the Department that he was able to view Social Security numbers for some school staff in other school systems in the state. The Department found the cause of the error that day and restricted access to the information. According to the Department, only people with authorized access to Infinite Campus had access to the system, and the staff module that was involved, which is in the final stages of development, is separate from the other modules in the database. "The Department of Education will release the findings of the independent review, with specific recommendations for how to proceed in the most secure way," said Education Commissioner Angela Faherty. The review will be completed in the next several weeks. Meanwhile, the Department will delete student Social Security numbers that have been entered or uploaded into the State system so far this year. Districts will be provided a software script that allows them to upload student enrollment data without Social Security numbers. According to the Department, districts should continue to securely hold the Social Security number data they have already collected for later submission. "The Department takes the security of private information seriously, and supports school boards, parents and school officials in their caution with respect to the collection of data," said Faherty. LINK: http://freepressonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=52&SubSectionID=78&ArticleID=9138