ISES: Q & A for Parents

Answers to parents’ questions about the new federal discipline data collection requirements

2006-07

Why does Wisconsin plan to collect student discipline data?
Wisconsin has been gathering student discipline data for many years to meet state and federal laws. New federal requirements mean that Wisconsin, like other states, must gather data about the discipline of indivdual students. These data will be used to make decisions about school discipline and safety-related issues.
How will the student discipline collection work? What student data will be collected?
All school districts will take part in the student discipline collection beginning with the 2006-2007 school year. The collection will include data such as the types of behaviors that lead to suspensions and expulsions (drugs, alcohol, weapons, assault, endangering behavior, violations of school rules), how often these occur, and for how long students are removed from school. It will also include whether or not students received educational services while they were removed and whether or not students returned to school.
Will student privacy be protected? How?
Protecting student privacy is the highest priority of the student discipline collection. Wisconsin residents have regarded the privacy of student records as extremely important. Privacy will be protected by including the data in the Individual Student Enrollment System (ISES). Under ISES, student records are expected to be as secure or more secure than most districts now keep them. DPI will minimize the amount of confidential data stored at DPI by only collecting student discipline data required by law. DPI will also destroy these data after requirements are met. Student information is also protected by strict state and federal student privacy laws. Confidential data about individual students will not be available to the public. The public will not have access to the DPI confidential data base. Only data about student groups, rather than specific students, will be publicly reported. Measures that will be used to protect privacy rights include:
- Encryption, or the conversion of a set of characters or numbers to a different set of characters or numbers through use of encryption software. For example, the name "Jane" might be converted to "k/+RQ[O." Countless software variations are possible.
- Firewalls, or hardware and software that control access to secure networks. DPI will store student data in a secure location within a secure network.
- Authentication, a process that verifies through a trusted third party source that a person is who they say they are.
- Logins and passwords, or unique identification codes assigned to authorized school personnel. School boards will authorize staff access to student data on a need-to-know-basis as the work of the staff member requires. For example, if an authorized school staff member enters her login and password and her identification is verified, she can view certain student data not accessible to other staff or to the general public. If any other person tries to view the data, physical and network security measures, such as firewalls and the scrambling of data through encryption, will bar access and keep data private.
How will the use of Wisconsin Student Numbers help protect privacy?
Districts will use Wisconsin student numbers (WSNs) instead of names to submit discipline data. This will protect student privacy and make reporting easier. In addition, WSNs will be encrypted before storage at DPI to provide an extra measure of privacy. Student discipline data, always confidential, will be attached to encrypted WSNs rather than to student names, and will then be stored in a secure location on the network. Confidential data will be accessible only to legally authorized persons with legitimate educational interests.
When will the new system begin operating?
The system will begin operating in the summer of 2007. Districts will submit to DPI selected 2006-07 discipline data for each student involved. Data collected will be limited to that which is required to comply with state and federal law and will be far less than what is currently collected about students by your school.
Is this system in use anywhere else?
Most states already collect discipline data at the student level and other states are currently moving in this direction.
Where can I get more information?
More information about Wisconsin Student Numbers and the Individual Student Enrollment System is available at http://dpi.wi.gov/lbstat/isesdiscip.html. To learn more about protecting the privacy of student records locally, contact your school or district.

Submit questions, comments, and suggestions about the WSLS or ISES to dpistats@dpi.wi.gov or call 800-507-5744.

Last updated on 2/28/2008 7:42:35 AM

Wisconsin's Individual Student Enrollment System

Answers to parents’ questions about the new federal discipline data collection requirements