The Department of Education has proposed creating a new system to gather more data on students at colleges and universities. Currently the DOE collects and analyzes only general figures from colleges and universities to monitor trends through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), but this data is apparently insufficient. Unfortunately, the threat to student privacy makes this otherwise reasonable proposal untenable.
The new system would gather data on all students, including name, address, race and Social Security number and entrust it to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The data would be used to better evaluate the performance of elementary and high-schools, particularly in light of the No Child Left Behind Act.
It would also do a better job tracking transfer students who currently appear as drop outs, significantly skewing statistics at a given institution.
This proposal raises important concerns about the privacy of students nationwide. The plan essentially creates a national database of all students who enter any college or university, containing private information that could be abused. It would also require revision of both the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Higher Education Act, which were created to protect student privacy. Providing the data in a new form would also be a significant financial burden at many institutions where computer record systems would need to be restructured.
Supporters claim that privacy concerns will be minimal. The NCES has a good reputation for not disclosing statistics. Also, data is already collected on all students who receive federal financial aid, and there have been no problems associated with that list.
However, these assurances are still insufficient. The National Directory of New Hires, which tracks individuals who have re-entered the workforce, has been used inappropriately to track those who owe the government and those who fail to pay child-support.
“We think NCES is a very good research organization, and we don’t question their motives,” Sarah Flanagan of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities said in The Chronicle of Higher Education.”But I don’t think the statistical people at the Department of Education have the political might to keep away all of the political interests who will want this data.”
Replacing IPEDS is not in the best interests of the country. There is no pressing issue which demands the data and implementation would be an additional financial burden on colleges and universities. Though useful, the additional information provided would not tip the scales in determining the quality of earlier education. There is no imperative reason to risk students’ privacy.
