FERPA Fails & Fixes: Lessons from the Front Lines

What do an accidental CC, an exposed spreadsheet, and a misbehaving data system have in common? They all star in real-life FERPA fiascos that left school leaders scrambling, and learning. In this session, we’ll unpack some of the most common (and cringe-worthy) mistakes districts make when handling student data and show how each failure became a teachable moment. From honest slip-ups to systemic oversights, we’ll explore the fixes, the fallout, and how to future-proof your practices. Laugh, wince, and leave smarter.

In this session we will explore the complexities of student privacy and FERPA compliance by examining current trends and explore case studies that highlight common failures, pitfalls, and challenges, and feature some benchmarks where schools are getting it right.