Vermont Student Data Privacy Guide

Primary Law
Student data privacy protections and expectations for vendors and school use of student information

Citation
Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 16, § 2773a (Student privacy)

Official Text
https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/005/02773a

Overview

Vermont's student privacy requirements emphasize protecting student information and limiting collection, use, and disclosure to appropriate educational purposes. For districts, the practical compliance approach is to require signed, enforceable vendor agreements whenever student data is shared with third-party tools, and to ensure vendors follow clear security and data lifecycle expectations.

Applicability and Scope

This is most relevant when:

• Student data is collected, stored, or processed using vendor-hosted educational tools
• Vendors or subcontractors access student information to provide services
• Districts need consistent documentation and monitoring across many edtech tools

Vendor Controls and Security Expectations

Districts should ensure that vendor agreements or documented vetting outcomes clearly address:

• Purpose limitation – Student data is used exclusively for legitimate educational or school purposes
• Security safeguards – Administrative, technical, and physical protections appropriate to the sensitivity of student data
• Disclosure and subprocessor controls – Clear limits on data sharing, redisclosure, and subcontractor compliance requirements
• Data retention and deletion – Defined expectations for retention periods and secure data return or destruction
• Incident reporting and response – Timely breach notification, investigation cooperation, and coordinated response obligations

This framework helps districts apply consistent, defensible controls across vendors, regardless of whether compliance is managed through formal agreements, structured vetting, or both.

How Can EdPrivacy Help Vermont Schools

Vermont compliance is easier when districts can track which vendors handle student data and store signed agreements and supporting artifacts in one system. EdPrivacy helps districts centralize approvals and monitoring so oversight remains consistent across many tools and years.

The platform helps districts:

• Inventory tools/vendors that receive student data
• Store signed contracts/DPAs and vendor privacy/security documentation
• Document approval conditions and required safeguards
• Monitor vendor changes and schedule periodic re-review

Summary

Vermont districts should be prepared to:

• Apply written agreements, documented vetting, or both when student data is involved, based on risk and data sensitivity
• Limit vendor use and sharing of student data to legitimate educational purposes
• Evaluate security safeguards and confirm workable data retention, deletion, and return practices
• Maintain ongoing oversight through documented approvals, monitoring, and periodic re-review

Vermont’s student privacy framework supports a flexible, risk-based approach to protecting student data in vendor-hosted systems, allowing districts to demonstrate compliance through structured vetting, contractual controls, or a combination of both.

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