Which statement best describes the balancing of open data with protecting sensitive information in assessment administration?

Which statement best describes the balancing of open data with protecting sensitive information in assessment administration?

• A. Open data should include PII whenever requested.
• B. Publish only non-sensitive data without redaction.
• C. Public data should be non-sensitive; redacted or aggregated information should be provided when necessary; access to PII should be restricted.
• D. No data should be published publicly.

Answer: (C)

Balancing openness with privacy means sharing information that supports transparency and accountability while protecting individuals’ privacy. Public data should be non-sensitive; when details could reveal someone’s identity or sensitive information, provide redacted or aggregated versions. Access to personally identifiable information should be restricted to authorized personnel who have a legitimate need to know. This approach lets stakeholders see overall performance and system effectiveness without exposing individuals. Publishing PII is unsafe and inappropriate for public release, and providing data without any redaction could still expose sensitive information. At the same time, keeping everything completely private eliminates the benefits of transparency.

Balancing openness with privacy means sharing information that supports transparency and accountability while protecting individuals’ privacy. Public data should be non-sensitive; when details could reveal someone’s identity or sensitive information, provide redacted or aggregated versions. Access to personally identifiable information should be restricted to authorized personnel who have a legitimate need to know. This approach lets stakeholders see overall performance and system effectiveness without exposing individuals. Publishing PII is unsafe and inappropriate for public release, and providing data without any redaction could still expose sensitive information. At the same time, keeping everything completely private eliminates the benefits of transparency.