Kentucky Student Data Privacy for Cloud Computing Service Providers

Primary Law
Restrictions on how cloud computing service providers may use personally identifiable student information when providing services to educational institutions

Citation
KRS 365.734

Official Text
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=43327

Overview

Kentucky regulates student data in the context of cloud computing services provided to schools. KRS 365.734 focuses on limiting prohibited uses of personally identifiable student information by a cloud computing service provider and sets expectations for how student information is handled when services are provided to educational institutions.

For districts, the practical compliance approach is vendor governance: confirm that cloud providers and edtech services are limited to school-authorized purposes, apply reasonable safeguards, and do not repurpose student information for advertising or unrelated commercial use.

Applicability and Scope

Kentucky's cloud computing student data protections are most relevant when:

• A district uses a cloud-based platform, application, or hosted service that receives student identifiers or student records
• A vendor collects, stores, or processes personally identifiable student information in providing services to an educational institution
• Districts enable integrations that move student data into a third-party cloud environment

Vendor Use Limitations and Prohibited Practices

Kentucky's framework is designed to prevent secondary use of student information by cloud service providers. Districts should verify that vendors do not use student data for advertising, marketing, or other unrelated commercial purposes and that sharing is limited to what is necessary to provide the service.

District reviews commonly document:

• What student information is collected and whether collection can be minimized via configuration
• Whether the vendor restricts use to the district-authorized educational purpose
• Whether disclosures to subcontractors are controlled and contractually limited
• Retention and deletion practices when the district stops using the tool

Security and Operational Controls

Because cloud services centralize student information, districts should ensure vendors apply safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of student data and provide a clear incident response path.

How EdPrivacy Supports Kentucky Schools

Kentucky districts benefit from having a consistent, centralized way to understand which tools interact with student information and how each vendor relationship is governed. EdPrivacy helps districts organize vendor reviews, documentation, and approval decisions so privacy oversight remains clear and repeatable across a growing number of cloud-based services.

With EdPrivacy, districts can:

• Catalog applications and cloud services that collect, store, or process student information
• Centralize vendor privacy terms, contracts or DPAs, and security documentation for easy access and reference
• Document approval guardrails aligned to Kentucky expectations, including purpose limitation, restricted sharing, and retention or deletion requirements
• Monitor vendor policy or practice changes and refresh reviews when risk profiles evolve

This structure supports disciplined oversight without adding administrative burden.

Summary

Kentucky districts should be prepared to:

• Apply written agreements, documented vendor vetting, or both to ensure student information is handled solely for legitimate school purposes
• Confirm that student data is not used for advertising or other prohibited secondary uses
• Assess reasonable security safeguards and establish clear data retention and deletion expectations
• Maintain consistent documentation and monitoring practices to support repeatable approvals over time

KRS 365.734 supports a practical, oversight-driven compliance approach focused on limiting vendor use of student data and enabling districts to demonstrate accountability through contracts, structured evaluations, or a combined governance model.