Ed Dept launches investigation into organization allegedly leaking student data to ‘influence elections’

(Daily Caller News Foundation) – The Department of Education (ED) on Thursday opened an investigation into a program that may be illegally collecting and sharing student information for the purpose of “influencing elections,” the Daily Caller News Foundation has learned.

The Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) is investigating whether a research and advocacy program out of Tufts University is complying with federal privacy laws, ED shared with DCNF exclusively. The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) is afforded access to student data from thousands of campuses through its partnerships, raising red flags about with whom that data is being shared and how it is being used.

ED is concerned, based on multiple reports it has received, that the data is being shared with third-party political organizations that “aim to influence elections.”

Two investigations were launched: one into Tufts University, which houses the organization, and another into the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), which has a partnership with the program and access to data from thousands of colleges. The investigations seek to discover whether the data collection and sharing constitute violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which gives students — and parents of minor children — the right to decide how their personal data is disclosed.

The partnership was created following pressure from the Obama administration universities to play a bigger role in student voter participation.

A Tufts spokesman told the DCNF they have received notice of ED’s investigation and are in the process of reviewing it. 

“American colleges and universities should be focused on teaching, learning, and research – not influencing elections,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. “The Biden Administration, with little to no regard for student privacy laws, openly encouraged institutions to share and utilize student data in order to target certain populations. Our Student Privacy Policy Office will thoroughly investigate this matter to protect students’ private data and ensure that our campuses are fully aware of and comply with their responsibilities under FERPA.”

Tufts claims to provide reports to “more than one thousand campuses” through the NSLVE program for the purpose of helping colleges and universities “understand their students’ voting and registration rates.” It also “offers tailored resources and research for institutions to deploy these data to strengthen civic and political learning, close equity gaps in participation, and promote engagement on campus and beyond.”

NSC collaborates with “nearly 100% of America’s colleges and millions of students,” collecting personal student information, enrollment details and academic records.

NSC told the DCNF it is complying with the investigation and insisted it is upholding its privacy obligations under FERPA.

“As a politically neutral 501(c)(3) nonprofit, our mission is to provide trusted data and services to the education and workforce communities, supporting educational success nationwide,” NSC told the DCNF. “NSLVE is designed to encourage student civic engagement rather than advance any political agenda, and we are presently reviewing our involvement to ensure the continued integrity and impartiality of our services to institutions.”

Historically, Democrats have taken advantage of the left-leaning base on college campuses, pushing voter registration drives and often campaigning at school-sanctioned events. Voter registration groups, in partnership with universities, have made their political biases clear by promoting federally-funded jobs for campus ambassadors with “anti-racism” values.

ED is also issuing guidance reminding colleges and universities of their obligation to protect students’ privacy. Institutions using NSLVE data are at risk of violating FERPA, ED said.

The department accused the Biden administration of encouraging reckless data sharing and stated it is revoking “all Biden-era guidance and policies that encouraged institutions of higher education to participate in the NSLVE and use the data to target certain student populations.”

(Image credit: Screenshot/Tufts.edu)