K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief - Version 1 - Examples Are Not Endorsements

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief focuses on privacy-enhancing, interoperable, and useful education data infrastructure, outlining goals, roles, and key considerations for K-12 systems. It explains how education infrastructure functions as critical infrastructure and presents a guiding scenario for practical progress. The brief covers privacy protections, relevant federal privacy laws, interoperability for putting data to work, and usefulness for helping data tell stories, including examples and technical assistance resources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction & Overview

Key Considerations

Digital Infrastructure Should be Privacy-Enhancing, Interoperable & Useful

Technical Assistance Resources at the U.S. Department of Education

Data Interoperability: Putting Data to Work

Usefulness: Helping Data Tell Stories

Data Portability

K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Privacy Enhancing, Interoperable, and Useful AUGUST 2023 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [https://tech.ed.gov](https://tech.ed.gov) August 2023 Version 1.0 Examples Are Not Endorsements This document contains examples and resource materials that are provided for the user’s convenience. The inclusion of non-Federal resources in this document is not intended to reflect its importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, initiatives, or products or services offered. Any opinions expressed in these materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education or the Federal government. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any outside information included in these materials. Licensing and Availability This report is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce this report in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the suggested citation is: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief: Privacy Enhancing, Interoperable, and Useful, Washington, D.C., 2023. This report is available on the Department’s Website at [http://tech.ed.gov](http://tech.ed.gov). Requests for alternate format documents such as Braille or large print should be submitted to the Alternate Format Center by calling 1-202-260-0852 or by contacting the 504 coordinator via email [at](at om_eeos@ed.gov)[ ](at om_eeos@ed.gov)[om_eeos@ed.gov](at om_eeos@ed.gov). Notice to Limited English Proficient Persons If you have difficulty understanding English, you may request language assistance services for Department information that is available to the public. These language assistance services are available free of charge. If you need more information about interpretation or translation services, please call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (TTY: 1-800-437-0833) or email us at: [Ed.Language.Assistance@ed.gov](Ed.Language.Assistance@ed.gov. Or write to:)[. Or write to:](Ed.Language.Assistance@ed.gov. Or write to:) U.S. Department of Education, Information Resource Center, LBJ Education Building, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202. Contents Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction & Overview ........................................................................................................................... 5 Education Infrastructure is Critical Infrastructure ............................................................................. 5 What Are We Working Toward? ........................................................................................................... 6 A Guiding Scenario ............................................................................................................................. 6 Whose Job Is It? ..................................................................................................................................... 8 Key Considerations ................................................................................................................................. 9 Digital Infrastructure Should be Privacy-Enhancing, Interoperable & Useful.................................. 11 We Were Promised Flying Cars .......................................................................................................... 11 Making Data Useful Now ..................................................................................................................... 11 Privacy Enhancing: Keeping Data Protected .................................................................................... 11 Federal Privacy Laws and K-12 Education ................................................

FAQs

What is the main goal of the K-12 Digital Infrastructure Brief?

To support K-12 digital infrastructure that is privacy-enhancing, interoperable, and useful for education stakeholders and data use cases.

Why does the brief emphasize privacy-enhancing data practices?

It stresses keeping student data protected and aligns education efforts with federal privacy laws and guidance.

How does the brief describe data interoperability and data usefulness?

It explains interoperability as enabling data to work across systems and emphasizes usefulness by helping data tell stories that support student success.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai