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Enforcement ActionLow RiskMultistate

State AGs Sue DoE Over Unlawful Student Data Collection

Department of EducationMarch 11, 2026Connecticut Attorney General

Summary

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, joined by 17 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education to block new IPEDS data reporting requirements that demand student information disaggregated by race and sex. The coalition argues the rushed implementation is unlawful, invades student privacy, and risks unreliable data and baseless investigations. They seek an injunction to halt the data collection and protect student privacy.

Remedy

The lawsuit seeks a court injunction to prevent the Department of Education from enforcing the new IPEDS data reporting requirements and to stop the collection of detailed student data, citing privacy and procedural violations.

Injunction

Contract Impact

In-house legal teams should review contracts for clauses that mandate data sharing with government entities, particularly regarding student information. Ensure contracts include robust data protection provisions, limits on data use, and compliance with privacy laws like FERPA. Assess risks associated with new federal reporting mandates and include indemnification for potential privacy violations or inadvertent errors.

Contract Search Terms

student data privacyIPEDS compliancefederal data reportingeducation data sharingprivacy by designdata minimizationgovernment data demandsadmissions data collectionrace and sex data disaggregationFERPA compliance

Violation Types

Entity Details

Entity

Department of Education

Industry

Other

Multistate Coalition

CaliforniaColoradoDelawareHawaiʻiIllinoisMarylandMassachusettsNevadaNew JerseyNew YorkOregonRhode IslandVermontVirginiaWisconsinWashington

Official Sources

Source Evidence

Entity Name
"Department of Education"
Violation Types
"jeopardize student privacy"
Violation Types
"ED failed to provide definitions for critical terms"

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