EDWARD J. MARKEY
MASSACHUSETTS
COMMITTEES:
COMMERCE, SclENc-E. TRANSPORTA"ON
SMALL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
FOREIGN
CHAIRMAN:
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE. ECONOMIC
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PHOTFCT'ON. AND
PEACE CORPS
U.S. SENATE CL'MATE CHANGE CLEARING House
The Honorable Arne Duncan
Secretary
U .S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Dear Secretary Duncan:
unitcd Statcs Scnatc
October 22,
2013
SR-218
RUSSELL BUILDING
DC 20510-2107
202-224-2742
THOMAS P. O'NEILL. JR. FEDERAL BUILDING
10 CAUSEWAY STTIEFT. 559
BOSTON, MA 02222
61 7-5658519
222 MILLIKEN BouLEVAFn. 312
FALL RIVER. MA 02721
508-677-0523
1550 MAN STREET. 4TH FL00H
SPRINGFIELD, MA 01 101
413-785-4610
The efficient collection, analysis and storage of K-12 students' academic records holds promise
for improving scholastic performance and closing the achievement gap. By collecting detailed
personal information about students' test results and learning abilities, educators may find better
ways to educate their students. However, putting the sensitive information of students in private
hands raises a number of important questions about the privacy rights of parents and their
children.
According to a recent article in The New York Times ("Deciding Who Sees Students' Data",
t torace functions to