Gates-, Carnegie-funded student data group to close after NY pulls out amid privacy fears

AP ^ | April 21, 2014

[opentalk]

The student data processing organization inBloom will shut down in the coming months, its chief executive officer said Monday following criticism that led to the recent loss of the startup's last active client — New York state.

...Launched in 2013 with $100 million in financing from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Carnegie Corp., the nonprofit's goal was to give educators a data-based tool to personalize instruction. InBloom, based in Atlanta, offered to store and synthesize student data, such as grades, disciplinary actions and disability records in cloud-based servers.

Nine states initially signed on but backed out as parents, school administrators and lawmakers raised questions about privacy and security

[MNGal]

They may be closing down their initial run at this, but I would bet that they are only retreating in order to regroup. People like this never give up when they get something in their head—even though the vast majority of people have told them that it’s a horrible idea.

[Resolute Conservative]

The whole cloud thing is a crock. If the data is not on your local machine that you can touch, you have no control over it and no security. I don’t care what some IT guys tell you.

[Red Badger]

Both Sides Now
written by Mitchell, Joni.

Bows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
When every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
But now it’s just another show
You leave ‘em laughin’ when you go
And if you care don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away

I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say, “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
But something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

[MNGal]

Right! Just the name “cloud” gives me the mental picture of private data floating around in the sky for anyone to grab!

[Pagey]

Just another angle of the wretched Common Core and The Bill + Melinda Gates Foundation . “From Cradle To Grave”, that’s their intention. Think abou this: WHY would they need to know which kids were disciplined or which kids are disabled, HMMM? What business is it of theirs to record that information FOREVER? Thankfully the N.Y. State Parents stood up and made a big stink about it!