FERPA IN THE CONTEXT OF COUNSELING.
Counseling services often involve handling sensitive, personal information, making FERPA's guidelines crucial in protecting students' privacy.Confidentiality: Counseling records are protected under FERPA, and the information discussed within counseling sessions must not be disclosed without the student's or parent's consent, except under specific circumstances (e.g., threats of harm to self or others).Written Consent: In counseling contexts, schools must obtain written consent from students (or parents, if the student is a minor) before disclosing counseling records to third parties unless a FERPA exception applies.
Digital Safety
PRINCIPLE
STAFF
Manage Access: Regularly review who has access to sensitive or confidential information and adjust permissions as needed. Only share sensitive data with those who need it for their work responsibilities.
Secured Devices: Set up passwords or biometrics on all personal devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) to prevent unauthorized access to your information.
Confidentiality: When discussing confidential matters (such as student issues or sensitive administrative topics), use secure communication channels that are approved by your school or organization, such as encrypted email services or secure messaging platforms.
Files And Data: Make it a habit to back up important files, especially those related to student work or sensitive data. Having a backup ensures you can recover information in case of hardware failure or cyber incidents like ransomware.
Accounts: Always log out of school accounts, email, or any other system when you’re done using them, especially on shared or public computers. This helps prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Secure Your Devices: Set up passwords or biometrics on all personal devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) to prevent unauthorized access to your information.
Emails And Links: Be careful clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources, as they can lead to phishing attempts or malware. Always verify the sender before engaging with unsolicited emails.
Protecting Information: If participating in virtual counseling sessions, ensure that you are in a private, secure location.
Students
Resources
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- Website: www.nist.gov/cybersecurity
U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
- Website: www.cisa.gov
Cybersecurity & Education Resources (StaySafeOnline)
- Website: www.staysafeonline.org
SANS Institute
Google Online Security Blog
- Website: security.googleblog.com
Microsoft Security
- Website: www.microsoft.com/security
Cybersecurity and Privacy (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse)
- Website: www.privacyrights.org
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
- Website: www.eff.org
The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
- Website: www.owasp.org
Digital Security
General Principle
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Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
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Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts and applications.
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Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for additional security, especially for school-related platforms and counseling systems.
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Regular Software Updates: Ensure that all software (including operating systems, browsers, and apps) are up to date to prevent vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit.
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Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Communication: When accessing student records or engaging in counseling sessions online, avoid using public Wi-Fi unless you're using a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection.
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Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data, both in transit (when sent over the internet) and at rest (when stored on devices or cloud services).
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Limit Personal Data Sharing: Be cautious when sharing personal information online, both for students and staff. Only provide necessary information and avoid sharing sensitive data unless it's necessary and encrypted.
Digital\Safety.
Safe Learning in the Digital Age
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