Kansas Student Data Privacy and Disclosure Guide

Primary Law

Student Data Privacy Act (governs student data disclosure, requires data-sharing agreements in specified circumstances, and restricts biometric data collection)

Citation

K.S.A. 72-6312 through 72-6320 (notably §§ 72-6314 and 72-6315)

Official Text

https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch72/072_063_0014.html
https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch72/072_063_0015.html

Overview

Kansas protects student data through the Student Data Privacy Act, which establishes clear rules for when student data may be disclosed from district or statewide systems. The law requires written data-sharing agreements for certain disclosures to agencies or service providers and places specific limits on biometric data collection and student monitoring technologies.

For districts, compliance centers on documenting disclosures, using written agreements when required by statute, and confirming that recipients of student data follow defined purpose, security, and data destruction expectations.

Applicability and Scope

Kansas requirements are most relevant when student data is:

• Stored or accessed through district or state student information or assessment systems
• Shared with edtech vendors providing instructional, assessment, reporting, or data-processing services
• Exchanged between agencies or external partners for authorized functions

Districts should treat the law as in scope whenever student data will be disclosed outside routine internal access.

Disclosure Rules and Required Data-Sharing Agreements

Kansas permits disclosure of student data to authorized school personnel and to students or parents for access to the student’s own records.

For disclosures to other state agencies or service providers performing instructional, assessment, reporting, or longitudinal data functions, the statute requires a written data-sharing agreement that defines and enforces:

• Purpose limitation – data may only be used for the authorized function
• Security and access controls – protections appropriate to the sensitivity of the data
• Destruction timing – data must be destroyed when no longer needed or when the agreement ends
• Disposition standards – destruction must follow recognized secure disposal practices

These agreements serve as the legal mechanism that authorizes and constrains disclosure.

Aggregate Data and Consent

Kansas encourages limiting disclosure where possible by allowing the use of aggregate or de-identified data for many evaluation, audit, or research purposes.
When personally identifiable student data is needed outside authorized disclosure contexts, written consent is generally required.

Biometric Data and Student Monitoring Limitations

Kansas restricts the collection of biometric data and the use of tools that assess a student’s physiological or emotional state. Districts may not use such technologies unless written consent is obtained from the adult student or, for minors, the parent or legal guardian.

This includes heightened scrutiny of tools involving facial recognition, voiceprints, or emotion/behavior detection.

District Governance and Practical Implementation

Kansas compliance is easiest to sustain when districts use repeatable, scalable processes:

• Maintain records of data-sharing agreements and covered data elements
• Standardize vendor review questions on access, security, and retention/deletion
• Apply least-privilege access for staff and vendor accounts
• Reassess approvals when data flows, integrations, or vendor terms change

How Can EdPrivacy Help Kansas Schools

Kansas districts benefit from centralized documentation of disclosures and agreements, along with tools to keep vendor reviews current as products evolve.

EdPrivacy helps districts:

• Track which tools receive student data and what categories are involved
• Store data-sharing agreements, privacy policies, and security documentation in one system of record
• Document approval conditions such as permitted uses, access limits, and destruction requirements
• Monitor vendor changes and schedule periodic re-reviews

Summary

Kansas districts should be prepared to:

• Use written data-sharing agreements when required by statute
• Define purpose, scope, security safeguards, and destruction timelines
• Prefer aggregate data disclosures and obtain consent when necessary
• Avoid biometric or emotion-monitoring tools without written consent
• Maintain consistent documentation and ongoing oversight

Kansas’s Student Data Privacy Act supports a disclosure-driven governance model built around defined authorization, enforceable agreement terms where required, and heightened protections for sensitive data categories.

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