Technology

Welcome
Instructional Technology Plan
- Technology Goals, Attainment & Strategies
Technology Acceptable Use Procedure
Distance Learning
Data Privacy and Security

Welcome

The district’s vision related to Technology is to integrate the specific needs of the students, staff, and community with the goals and objectives of the National Technology Plan.

Instructional Technology Plan

In 2000, the U.S. Department of Education issued a National Technology Plan entitled “e-Learning: Putting a World Class Education at the Fingertips of All Children.” The Schoharie CSD Instructional Technology Plan follows up on the ideal presented in the national plan.

Technology Goals, Attainment & Strategies

The updated Schoharie Central District Technology Plan has identified technology goals for the school:

Goal 1:
All student and teachers will have access to information technology In their classrooms and from home

Goal 3:
All students will achieve technology/information literacy skills

Goal 2:
All teachers will use technology effectively to help student achieve academic excellence

Goal 4:
Technology applications for teaching and learning will have been enhanced

These goals will be attained by:

Incorporating online learning to increase reading, writing, and critical thinking
Increasing the availability of technology to all all students to encourage improved competency in all subjects
Supporting network administrative activities by upgrading network structures and software into existing classroom and administrative practices
Providing training and support to faculty and staff in the use of upgraded network structures and software

The strategies for ensuring technology will be integrated into curriculum and instruction include:

Annual hardware/software inventory taken by teachers and specialists
Technology use survey as solicited from teachers and students
In-service training provided to teachers

View the complete Instructional Technology Plan.

Technology Acceptable Use Procedure

The purpose of the Schoharie Central School District-Local and Wide Area Networks, the Internet Access Network, is to advance and promote education in all of its school buildings within the district. Such access is intended to assist in the collaboration and exchange of information among all who are concerned and involved with education. The goal of infusing technology into daily operations of our classrooms, libraries, and offices is to promote high quality technological resources in an equitable, efficient and cost effective manner. Such technology includes and is not limited to electronic mail, local computer networks, through internet and other on-line services.

View the complete Technology Acceptable Use Procedure.

Distance Learning

A variety of courses are offered to Schoharie students through the use of distance learning technology. Distance learning allows students from numerous schools to take part in classes held in a singular location by providing live audiovisual links, real-time interaction and shared instruction. Schoharie students benefit both from classes hosted by their school and those hosted elsewhere.

Check the high school Course Descriptions Guides for distance learning offerings or contact the Guidance & Counseling Department.

Data Privacy and Security

The Schoharie CSD is committed to ensuring student privacy in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and district policies. To this end and pursuant to U.S. Department of Education (DOE) regulations (Education Law §2-d), the district is providing the following Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security and our Data Security and Privacy Policy.

Parents Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

Parents (includes legal guardians or persons in parental relationships) and Eligible Students (students 18 years and older) can expect the following:

Educational agency contracts with vendors that receive PII will address statutory and regulatory data privacy and security requirements.

A student’s personally identifiable information (PII) cannot be sold or released for any commercial purpose. PII, as defined by Education Law § 2-d and FERPA, includes direct identifiers such as a student’s name or identification number, parent’s name, or address; and indirect identifiers such as a student’s date of birth, which when linked to or combined with other information can be used to distinguish or trace a student’s identity. Please see FERPA’s regulations at 34 CFR 99.3 for a more complete definition.
The right to inspect and review the complete contents of the student’s education record stored or maintained by an educational agency. This right may not apply to parents of an Eligible Student.
State and federal laws such as Education Law § 2-d; the Commissioner of Education’s Regulations at 8 NYCRR Part 121, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) at 12 U.S.C. 1232g (34 CFR Part 99); Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) at 15 U.S.C. 6501-6502 (16 CFR Part 312); Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (“PPRA”) at 20 U.S.C. 1232h (34 CFR Part 98); the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) at 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq. (34 CFR Part 300); protect the confidentiality of a student’s identifiable information.
Safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices including but not limited to encryption, firewalls and password protection must be in place when student PII is stored or transferred.
A complete list of all student data elements collected by NYSED is available atwww.nysed.gov/data-privacy-security, and by writing to: Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234.
The right to have complaints about possible breaches and unauthorized disclosures of PII addressed. Complaints may be submitted to NYSED at www.nysed.gov/data-privacy-security;

by mail to:
Chief Privacy Officer
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234;

by email to privacy@nysed.gov; or by telephone at (518) 474-0937.
To be notified in accordance with applicable laws and regulations if a breach or unauthorized release of PII occurs.
Educational agency workers that handle PII will receive training on applicable state and federal laws, policies, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices that protect PII.
Educational agency contracts with vendors that receive PII will address statutory and regulatory data privacy and security requirements.

Data Security and Privacy Policy

The District is committed to maintaining the privacy and security of student data and teacher and principal data and will follow all applicable laws and regulations for the handling and storage of this data in the District and when disclosing or releasing it to others, including, but not limited to, third-party contractors. The District adopts this policy to implement the requirements of Education Law Section 2-d and its implementing regulations, as well as to align the District’s data privacy and security practices with the National Institute for Standards and Technology Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (Version 1.1).

Unauthorized Disclosure Complaints

Parents, legal guardians, eligible students (students who are at least 18 years of age or attending a post-secondary institution at any age), principals, teachers, and employees of an educational agency may file a complaint about a possible data breach or improper disclosure of student data and/or protected teacher or principal data.

To submit a complaint please complete the form below and mail to:

Schoharie Jr./Sr. High School
136 Academy Drive
Schoharie, NY 12157
Attention: Data Protection Officer

UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE COMPLAINT FORM

View the complete Data Security and Privacy Policy.

Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

PPRA affords parents of elementary and secondary students certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include, but are not limited to, the right to:

Consent

Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)

Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
Sex behavior or attitudes;
Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or
Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –

Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others. (This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating, or providing educational products or services for, or to, students or educational institutions.)

Inspect

Protected information surveys of students and surveys created by a third party;
Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

Schoharie CSD has enacted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. Schoharie CSD will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Schoharie CSD will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. Schoharie CSD will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this direct notification requirement:

Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing, sales, or other distribution.
Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.
Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above

Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202

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