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Website Cookies, Data Practices, and Why They Matter for Schools

  • bcurtis695
  • 2 days ago
  • 2 min read

As education becomes more digitally connected, school district websites are quietly collecting data that could have implications for privacy compliance, community trust, and legal risk. A new article from K-12 Dive sheds light on one of the most overlooked areas of school operations: how your website handles visitor data—and what that means for school leaders.


What’s Happening Behind the Scene

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According to the article, many K-12 websites now use third-party tools that collect personal and device information about users, such as:

  • IP address and location data

  • Device IDs and browsing behavior

  • Interactions with content on the site


This information is commonly used for:

  • Audience measurement

  • Personalized content delivery

  • Advertising optimization


In fact, some school websites work with as many as 13 advertising technology partners (also known as IAB TCF partners) to process data—often without clear communication to users or consistent oversight.


Why It Matters for District Leaders

District and IT leaders need to recognize that data collection is no longer confined to learning management systems or SIS platforms. Even your public-facing website could be collecting sensitive information that’s subject to state and federal privacy laws.


Here’s why this is important:

  • Transparency builds trust: Parents and community members deserve to know what data is being collected and how it’s used.

  • Regulatory compliance is evolving: Laws like COPPA, FERPA, and new state-level data privacy regulations are putting school websites under the microscope.

  • Risk mitigation is essential: Data mishandling—intentional or not—can lead to legal liability and public backlash.


What Schools Can Do


To stay ahead of the curve, districts should:

  • Conduct regular privacy audits of websites and connected tools

  • Create clear cookie consent banners and data policies

  • Offer users the ability to opt out or manage tracking preferences

  • Limit the number of third-party scripts embedded on websites

  • Work with legal counsel or privacy experts to maintain compliance

“Understanding your website’s data practices helps you stay compliant with privacy regulations and maintain transparency with your school community.” — K-12 Dive

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