More than 130 state student data privacy laws that have proliferated across the country and a steady stream of headlines highlighting data breaches in schools, highlighting the importance of safeguarding student data, according to CoSN. The report examines how those responsible for student data privacy programs assess their district’s privacy practices, the tools and resources available to them, additional supports they find valuable and barriers to improvement.
“The 2025 National Student Data Privacy Report underscores the urgent need for stronger leadership, training and resources to protect student data in an increasingly digital world. The report provides a roadmap for districts to build stronger, more resilient privacy programs and highlights the significant impact of CoSN’s Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal in fostering leadership alignment and cross-departmental collaboration,” said Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN, in a statement.
CoSN surveyed over 400 edtech leaders from 39 states and the District of Columbia. Key findings include:
- Leadership and Training Gaps: Nearly 90% of EdTech leaders who participated in the survey noted that they oversee their district’s student data privacy program, yet 73% say it’s not part of their job description and 17% have never received any relevant privacy training. A quarter of those trained paid out of pocket.
- Barriers to Improvement: Time and manpower (60%), guidance on federal laws (47%), state laws (46%) and privacy expertise generally (38%) were more frequently cited as barriers than financial resources (36%).
- Employee-related Concerns: 89% cite employee-related issues as extremely or very concerning, including challenges managing behavior (76%), controlling the influx of free and low-cost classroom technologies (69%), enforcing policies (55%) and mandating privacy training (49%).
- Program Performance Disparities: Districts that have earned the CoSN Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal, or have indicated that they are working towards obtaining one, are far more likely to outperform other districts with respect to the breadth and maturity of their student data privacy programs.
- Opportunities for Improvement: While district EdTech leaders are committed to student data privacy, the necessary organizational structure to develop, implement and sustain a privacy program may not yet be in place across all districts. The report’s findings indicate the importance of reinforcing a commitment to student data privacy from leadership as a core priority while providing district EdTech leaders with training and implementation support to strengthen privacy practices.
To read the full report, visit: www.cosn.org/privacysurvey2025.
