U.S. Education Department Investigates California Districts for Student Privacy Violations

The U.S. Department of Education has initiated investigations into three California school districts—North Monterey County Unified, Palo Alto Unified, and San Francisco Unified—over alleged violations of federal parental rights laws. The probes focus on reports that districts required students to share personal family details without parental consent, specifically through "Wheel of Power/Privilege" and "Mapping My Identities" activities. These investigations will determine if the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) was breached, potentially leading to enforcement actions or loss of federal funding.