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Board presses staff over University of Florida data‑sharing tied to state tutoring grant
Summary
Board members raised privacy and opt‑in concerns about an exhibit allowing parent/student PII to be shared with researchers and vendors in a state‑funded high‑dosage tutoring program; the board postponed action to let staff and legal counsel clarify the agreement and opt‑in language.
The Broward County School Board paused action on a data‑sharing agreement with the University of Florida after several members said Exhibit D appeared to allow the transfer of parents’ and students’ names, addresses and contact information to outside vendors.
“There's no value in the efficacy study having names in it,” said Dr. Michael Zeman, a board member who pressed staff to require de‑identified unique identifiers instead of PII. “If it has unique identifiers, it can tell you whether or not high‑dose tutoring works.”
Superintendent Dr. Fabian Hepburn and district staff said the agreement is a state‑required companion to a state‑approved high‑dosage tutoring grant and that the district’s primary data‑share with the researcher is de‑identified student performance data. They told the board that one component — the New World Reading initiative — is an opt‑in program where parents register to receive books and would supply contact information only if they consent.
Board members were not reassured by that explanation. Board member Rivera said he wanted a formal follow‑up showing how many other vendor agreements include similar PII and asked staff to separate the opt‑in New World Reading component if necessary. “I have some real concerns with Exhibit D,” he said, citing phone numbers and email addresses on the list.
After extended public comment and a long round of questions to district staff and counsel, a substitute motion to table the item until staff returns with clarified language and any changes the University of Florida would accept passed. Staff said the pause will allow them to ask UF to remove the opt‑in New World Reading component from the broader agreement and to supply a clearer explanation for the public. The board did not vote on the substance of the agreement at this meeting.
What’s next: Staff will work with legal counsel and the University of Florida to rework the item and return with revised wording and a clearer description of which fields require parent opt‑in. The board instructed staff to produce a follow‑up that identifies other district vendor agreements with similar data fields.
