CCPS Student Data Access and Use Guidelines

STUDENT DATA

ACCESS AND USE GUIDELINES

CATOOSA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS


Introduction

Data on student status and performance linked to a unique numerical identifier is collected by Catoosa County Public Schools (CCPS) for the purposes of satisfying federal and state mandates and reporting requirements and improving education for all students in the District. This collection of data is facilitated by the Catoosa County Student Information Management System (Infinite Campus).

The confidentiality of this data must be protected. Therefore, CCPS will not release or disclose personally identifiable student level data regarding students in the public schools of Georgia unless permitted by law.

The purpose of these guidelines is to prescribe how data will be collected, maintained and disseminated in compliance with applicable federal and state laws. These guidelines apply to all organizational units, their agents and staff within CCPS, their authorized agents and any contractors, subcontractors and their agents.

CCPS personnel with specific questions regarding the release of student information can direct those inquiries to the Office of Technology and Information Services. Any other individual with any questions regarding student information or these guidelines should contact the CCPS Division of Technology or the Division of School Improvement.

Background Information

These guidelines pertain to individual student data collected and maintained by CCPS. Individual student data are used for state and federal reporting, including the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, state assessments, state aid, special education and program participation, as well as to satisfy other data requests from CCPS, the state legislature and other authorized entities.

Individual student data are managed by CCPS in accordance with state and federal laws. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. §1232g, and its implementing regulations found at 34 CFR Part 99, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. §1417(c), 1439(a)(2), and its implementing regulations found at 34 CFR § 300.123 and §300.622, and Georgia statutes, regulations and policies govern the confidentiality of, and access to, students’ educational records. These guidelines contain information about the procedures that will be used to ensure the confidentiality of student information and data maintained by CCPS. These guidelines do not expand or in any way change the allowable uses by staff of these data or the availability of student data to any other educator or member of the public.


The student data collected in Infinite Campus is intended to support better decisionā€making and policies for improving the performance of students and schools. CCPS intends that Infinite Campus will ultimately reduce the reporting burden, help to facilitate the entry of students into a new local education agency (LEA) and ensure that timely, high quality data are available to authorized users.

Data is collected on all Georgia students in public schools, as well as students in participating private or nonpublic school entities. The data are collected periodically in a prescribed format and reflect what is needed for reporting and educational decisionā€making. Student data are consistent with best practice definitions as identified by state and national standards groups, such as the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

The Technology Director or his/her designee has the authority to establish a system that maintains data in accordance with FERPA and other relevant state and federal laws and regulations.

Please click here to view the entire CCPS data use and guidelines document.