What type of data is considered particularly sensitive in SPED environments?

In SPED environments, personally identifiable information (PII) of students is considered particularly sensitive because it includes data that can directly identify an individual student, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, and other identifiers. The sensitivity of PII is underscored by the legal protections that govern such information, including laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These regulations emphasize the importance of protecting student information to ensure privacy and prevent unauthorized access or misuse. Given this context, the handling of PII is critical to maintaining trust within educational environments and safeguarding the rights of students and their families.

The other types of data mentioned, while they may be important in their own right, do not carry the same level of sensitivity or legal protection as PII, which is why they are not considered to be as critical in terms of privacy concerns in SPED settings.