The Life of School Data: Promote Compliance, Safety, and Institutional Stability Through Data Audits

Data has become an increasingly valuable commodity, and schools have a responsibility to students, employees and communities to protect it throughout its lifecycle. This round table discussion introduces a practical framework for conducting a school or district data audit that examines how data is collected, stored, accessed, shared and disposed of. Explore the benefits and challenges of an audit, the roles of key stakeholders and support personnel, and the policies and procedures that may emerge from the work. Trace the flow of student, employee and institutional data through your organization, identify points where it may be vulnerable and discuss strategies for strengthening security and mitigating risk. Leave with an initial action plan for your institution, including identifying data stewards, outlining procedures for safeguarding data and creating a strategic framework for ongoing data governance and oversight.