What is a FERPA violation?
FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. A FERPA violation occurs when a BloomBoard participant violates student privacy by uploading evidence that includes a student’s personally identifiable information, including but not limited to full names, social security numbers, and student ID numbers.
All identifying information must be removed from what is considered “protected student information” such as student work, assessment results, grades, academic status, running records, etc.
Where does a FERPA violation most often occur?
BloomBoard participants are responsible for monitoring any written evidence, as FERPA violations most often occur in template responses, student work samples, assessment results, etc.
Can I use first names or is it best to use initials or some other identifier?
In order to avoid a FERPA violation, participants are responsible for removing any student’s personally identifiable information, like a student’s first and last name. Some alternative replacements include first names (Ella), initials (E.B.), numbers (Student 1), letters (Student A), symbols (★), or masking a student’s name (J****n).
Does recording virtual learning on a platform like Zoom or Google Meet count as a FERPA violation since students’ names are typically included in their display profile?
For video recordings, BloomBoard requires participants to adhere to their school or district’s student privacy policies. For more information view our support article on Student Privacy and BloomBoard's Terms of Use. In addition, to avoid video violations we ask that participants refrain from displaying and recording student names during virtual learning.
Can I include student faces in a video?
Always be sure to adhere to your school or district’s student privacy rules and rules for video recording students. For more information view our support article on Student Privacy and BloomBoard's Terms of Use. It is imperative that participants follow their school/district privacy policies for photographing and recording students. If a participant is following their school/district’s privacy rules for recording, student faces can be shown.
Can I record my class from behind and still meet the requirements?
Participants are encouraged to review the pre-assessment checks and competency indicators that are specific to the micro-credential and artifact for which they are submitting evidence. The checks and indicators will describe what is necessary.
Most often, pre-assessment checks for video artifacts will assess general audibility and visibility to ensure an authentic lesson with students has occurred and that the assessors can observe and review the evidence for competency.
Always adhere to your school or district’s student privacy rules. For more information view our support article on Student Privacy and BloomBoard's Terms of Use.
Can masks be worn in videos? Will that affect assessment?
Most often, pre-assessment checks for video artifacts will assess general audibility and visibility to ensure an authentic lesson with students has occurred and that the assessors can observe and review the evidence for competency. Masks can be worn as long as they do not impede the audio or visual quality of the recording.