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Original Research on EdTech, Student Privacy, & Civil Rights

Since 2020, CDT’s Equity in Civic Technology team has been conducting quantitative and qualitative research to understand public school teachers, parents, and students’ experiences with educational data and technology, including student privacy practices, student activity monitoring, content filtering and blocking software, and AI. This growing body of work sheds light on the tangible impacts of edtech on students’ educational experiences, both positive and negative, and includes recommendations for school leaders to put these findings into action to ensure edtech is being used in responsible, equitable, and rights-respecting ways.

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Layers of glitch effects, in shades of blue, purple, and pink. White text: "Out of Step." Green text: "Students, Teachers in Stride with EdTech Threats While Parents Are Left Behind."

Out of Step: Students, Teachers in Stride with EdTech Threats While Parents Are Left Behind
CDT report, entitled "In Deep Trouble: Surfacing Tech-Powered Sexual Harassment in K-12 Schools." Illustration of a cell phone and social media and messaging posts, floating amongst a dark and choppy body of water.

Report – In Deep Trouble: Surfacing Tech-Powered Sexual Harassment in K-12 Schools
CDT report entitled “Up in the Air: Educators Juggling the Potential of Generative AI with Detection, Discipline, and Distrust.” Illustration of an “AI-generated apple” with a parachute flying through an open sky, and “AI-generated” schoolwork, book, pencil & eraser falling behind. Note: this illustration was created solely by a human.

Report – Up in the Air: Educators Juggling the Potential of Generative AI with Detection, Discipline, and Distrust 
CDT brief, entitled "Late Applications: Disproportionate Effects of Generative AI-Detectors on English Learners." White and dark blue document on a grey background.

Brief – Late Applications: Disproportionate Effects of Generative AI-Detectors on English Learners
Graphic for CDT report, entitled "Off Task: EdTech Threats to Student Privacy and Equity in the Age of AI." A browser with a warning symbol.

Report – Off Task: EdTech Threats to Student Privacy and Equity in the Age of AI 
Graphic for CDT report, entitled "Late Applications: Protecting Students’ Civil Rights in the Digital Age."

Report – Late Applications: Protecting Students’ Civil Rights in the Digital Age
CDT Research report, entitled "Beyond the Screen: Parents' Experiences with Student Activity Monitoring in K-12 Schools." Illustration of a laptop, browser windows and social media posts being monitored – and the hands of adults reaching in to understand not just what's being flagged, but the system itself and its impacts.

Report – Beyond the Screen: Parents’ Experiences with Student Activity Monitoring in K-12 Schools
CDT report, entitled "Hidden Harms: The Misleading Promise of Monitoring Students Online." Text in white and pink, on a dark blue gradient background. Subtle images of a computer with student activity monitoring software on the screen, and monitoring reports underneath it, are on the bottom.

Report – Hidden Harms: The Misleading Promise of Monitoring Students Online
CDT's report, entitled "Online and Observed: Student Privacy Implications of School-Issued Devices and Student Activity Monitoring Software." White background with black text and blue artifacts. Three laptops, lined from left to right, have a variety of pop-ups and open windows on their screens, as well as purple-colored alerts to demonstrate the monitoring and flagging of student activity.

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

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