How will the use of Wisconsin Student Numbers help protect privacy?
Districts will use Wisconsin student numbers (WSNs) instead of names to submit data about student educational progress, such as attendance, grade level placement, dropout, graduation credentials, or acquisition of English proficiency. This will protect student privacy and facilitate reporting. In addition, WSNs will be encrypted before storage at DPI to provide an extra measure of privacy. Student progress data, always confidential, will be attached to encrypted WSNs rather than to student names, and will then be stored in a secure location on the network. Confidential data will be accessible only to legally authorized persons with legitimate educational interests. • Will personal student contact information or social security numbers be used by the new system? No personal contact information, such as addresses or phone numbers, or social security numbers will be collected or used by the WSN locator system. Following student progress over time can be done efficiently if WSNs are used;
