During a recent meeting of the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), a concerned parent from the Davis School District raised significant questions regarding the state's initiative to store student data in a digital cloud. The parent highlighted the importance of parental rights and the need for transparency in the handling of personally identifiable student information.

Referencing Utah Code 53E-9-304, which asserts that students own their personally identifiable data, the parent emphasized the dual nature of data collection—its benefits and risks. They expressed concern over the lack of clear choices available to parents regarding the digitization and storage of their children's personal information. The parent called for the USBE to establish policies that respect parental authority and protect privacy rights.

Specifically, the parent proposed three actions: notifying parents about data storage practices, allowing them to opt-out of digital storage, and clarifying whether the data stored is personally identifiable or de-identified. The parent concluded by urging the board to create a framework that honors parental interests while aligning with the mission of Utah's public education system.

The board acknowledged the parent's comments and noted that a presentation on the Utah Student Information Management System (USIMS) would follow later in the meeting, which may address some of the concerns raised.