Going Local: Virginia
Virginia Department of Education to Investigate Fairfax County Public Schools for Systemic Privacy Violations
VDOE has always had a reason NOT to initiate a systemic investigation — even after it was provided an internal FCPS document in which FCPS itself stated concerns with privacy breaches.
What changed VDOE’s mind this time? I have no idea.
Here’s hoping for a thorough investigation—and for the noncompliance to stop.
Office of Civil Rights Opens Investigation; FCPS Threatens to Call Attendance Officer if Parent Doesn’t Choose FCPS “Options”
FCPS’s Legal Actions Are A Sideshow; Please Focus On The Children
I’m in awe of the kindness and overwhelming support that complete strangers have shared in the past few days. It’s extraordinary — and truly appreciated. The journalists, parents, lawyers, advocates for children, advocates for free speech, and so many others.
One Comment:
FCPS’s legal actions are a sideshow.
Please don’t let them distract you from much bigger stories.
Fairfax County Public Schools Threatens Legal Action Against Parents Who Exercised Their First Amendment Rights And Right To FOIA
What did we do?
We shared a behind-the-scenes view that indicates FCPS is aware of the very issues parents have been concerned about for years. (As well as HIPAA failures, stolen credentials, negotiations to extend Scott Brabrand’s contract, the investigations into the cyber hacking and Blackboard failures, wastes of funds, and much more.)
8.11.21 VDOE Letter of Findings: Noncompliance for Convening Eligibility and IEP Meetings Without Parent
My hope is that the analysis made by VDOE and how it interpreted and applied different regulations will 1) help other parents as they advocate for their children and 2) help educate the educators who are ignorant of the process.
VDOE Required to Submit Plan to Improve Oversight of Special Education
Fast approaching: November 1, 2021, deadline for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to submit its plan to improve oversight of special education to Virginia’s General Assembly and Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC).
Just In: FCPS “Independent” Special Education Audit Reveals Disturbing Data
Although FCPS states that it is “committed to the consistent and equitable implementation of discipline policy, regulations, and practice across all schools and educational programs,” AIR’s report points toward a great divide between FCPS’s words and actions.
Fairfax County Public Schools Isn’t Able To Prevent Student Computers From Shutting Down
The newest tech issue: FCPS isn’t able to prevent student computers from shutting down for reboots/updates.
The newest poorly-thought-out plan: Someone made a decision to disable the ability to pause and/or postpone reboots/updates and no one developed a contingency plan to address times computers must not shut down, such as during an SAT exam.
Fairfax County Public Schools Violated Privacy of Chesterbrook ES Student and Family
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is at fault for another FERPA violation, this time for a Chesterbrook Elementary School student and family.
The document is a student’s care card, which (depending on the student) can include sensitive information such as medical issues, prescription medications, medical professionals the child is seeing, and so on.
FCPS Report Detailed How To Reduce Special Education Referrals; Predicted The Future; Confirmed Suspicions
It highlights a focus on denying services in the name of saving money and sheds light on one of the potential reasons why referrals and evaluations were such a battle when our seniors were younger, at points in their lives when early intervention special education services would have made the greatest difference—and could have resulted in very different realities for these students today.
But Wait, There’s More: FERPA Violations at FCPS Continue
I found one more breach.
FCPS Tech Problems Continue: FCPS Computer Shuts Down During SAT Exam
Today’s word for the day:
Negligence.
Definition:
Failure to take proper care in doing something.
Example:
Fairfax County Public Schools provided a student a computer that shut down while the student was taking the SAT exam.