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4000 Series - Students » 4705/7825 Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information

4705/7825 Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information

4705/7825 Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information

Wilkes County Board of Education recognizes the need to protect students and employees from the improper release of social security numbers and other personally identifiable information (PII). All school employees must comply with the Identity Protection Act of 2005 and any additional federal and state laws or local policies governing the collection, use, and disclosure of sensitive, confidential, or personally identifiable information. No person will knowingly disclose, transfer, or unlawfully use the social security number or other personally identifiable information of any employee, student, or other individual.
 
Personally identifiable information includes but is not limited to: social security numbers; employer taxpayer identification numbers; driver’s license numbers; state identification card numbers; passport numbers; checking accounts; savings accounts; credit card and debit card numbers; personal identification (PIN) codes; digital signatures; any numbers or information that can be used to access an individual’s financial resources; biometric data; fingerprints; and passwords.
 
The following rules and regulations provide that:
  1. the confidentiality of social security numbers and personally identifiable information is maintained consistent with legal requirements;
  1. the unlawful collection, disclosure, and use of social security numbers and personally identifiable information are prohibited;
  1. access to and dissemination of information or documents containing social security numbers and personally identifiable information is limited internally within the school system and externally with the general public;
  1. documents containing social security numbers and personally identifiable information are disposed of properly;
  1. social security numbers and personally identifiable information are redacted from public documents;
  1. social security numbers and personally identifiable information are collected only when specifically authorized by law, or if collection is imperative for the performance of the school system’s duties, and if the need has been clearly documented;
  1. staff members will secure programs containing social security numbers or personally identifiable information before leaving a computer unattended;
  1. board policies and procedures governing the maintenance and destruction of records are followed for all documents containing social security numbers and other personally identifiable information; and,
  1. in the event of a security breach, in which personal information is accessed and acquired without authorization, the notice requirements of G.S. 75-65 are followed.
Any individual who fails to comply with this policy and the superintendent’s rules and regulations will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion for students and termination for employees. In addition, the individual may be subject to criminal prosecution.
 
 
 
 
Legal References:  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, h, 34 C.F.R. pt. 99; G.S. 14-113.20; ch. 75, art. 2A; 132-1.10; 143-64.60
 
Cross References:  Student Records (policy 4700), Personnel Files (policy 7820)  
 
Adopted:  January 10, 2022