Reuters: Massive Student Database 'Jazzes Tech Startups, Spooks Parents'

March 4, 2013 | 5:21 PM

Sean Gallup / Getty Images

So far, Indiana isn’t among the states submitting information to what Reuters calls “a $100 million database built to chart the academic paths of public school students from kindergarten through high school.”

The money, reports Stephanie Simon, comes from a list of heavy-hitters — the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, a division of News Corp and “school officials from several states.”

Source: Reuters

In operation just three months, the database already holds files on millions of children identified by name, address and sometimes social security number. Learning disabilities are documented, test scores recorded, attendance noted. In some cases, the database tracks student hobbies, career goals, attitudes toward school – even homework completion.

Local education officials retain legal control over their students’ information. But federal law allows them to share files in their portion of the database with private companies selling educational products and services.

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