Protecting student data on social media

As the end of the year approaches there are a million exciting events taking place in buildings throughout our district — many of which involve students saying their goodbyes to teachers as they move on to a new grade level, or new building. As is generally the case in our social media driven world, many of these interactions get posted to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. It’s second nature! What we want district staff to be aware of is how to properly post this information on social media.

It is extremely important that student photos, names or identifying information are not posted on a personal social media account. This information is only to be posted using school or district social media. For instance, if the school which you work has a social media account, you would want to pass the information along to the owner of the account so they can post it on a verified school account. You could also email it to the Communications Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) to be posted on district social media.

When you post this information on your own personal social media accounts, you are accepting responsibility and liability should there be any issue with student information being disseminated improperly or violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This is extremely important as our students’ privacy is tantamount.

So, the next time you want to share photos or details about some of the amazing things happening in your classroom, make sure they go through the right channels. If you have any questions about whether or not your school has a social media account, who may administer it, or why this policy is in place, call our Communications Department at (360) 596-6103. They can get you any of the information you are looking for.

The district would also love to push your news out via its social media and get as many eyes on it as possible, so please email your news to communications@osd.wednet.edu.

Thank you for your understanding, we really appreciate your support as we do what is necessary to lift our students up while supporting their privacy.