Online and Observed: Student Privacy Implications of School-Issued Devices and Student Activity Monitoring Software

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts have introduced student activity monitoring software and other digital tools aimed at facilitating remote classroom management and driving student engagement. Though helpful, these tools can also be intrusive. This report examines whether students who receive school-issued devices are subject to more monitoring than their peers who have their own devices. Findings show that students using school-issued devices are monitored to a greater extent than their peers using personal devices; that local education agencies (LEAs) with wealthier populations are more likely to have access to personal devices, which are subject to less monitoring; how LEAs are working to hold device and student activity monitoring software vendors accountable; and more.