New Castle County Head Start, Inc. (NCCHS) utilizes the Child Outcome Planning and Administration (COPA) software and Teaching Strategies Gold (TSGold) software. These software programs are designed to provide technology and guidance and also provide centralized and real-time data collection. There are reporting and monitoring tools for all levels of the organization including agency, site, child, and family. The COPA and TSGold software are web-based and comply with applicable laws, regulations, industry security standards, and contracts and agreements pertaining to the safeguarding of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Secure data centers are constantly monitored and tested for maximum security and continually review appropriate technical, administrative, and physical procedures to ensure data is protected from unauthorized access.
Protecting Student Privacy
Keeping each child’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII) confidential is important to us. We protect student and family records by:
- Keeping all records securely locked in filing cabinets.
- Assuring data collection software programs are password protected and comply with all industry security standards.
- Requiring training for all staff, governing bodies, consultants, or contractors on PII and also signing a confidentiality statement.
- Obtaining your signed and dated consent before child records are shared with a third party and maintaining a record of all individuals, agencies, or organizations to whom the disclosure was made and why.
- Student records will be adequately protected and maintained until records are no longer needed or required to be maintained. Parents have the right to inspect and review their child’s records and also have the right to request correction or deletion of information that is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the child’s privacy. NCCHS will consider all requests for correction or deletion and will issue a written decision for all requests that are denied. Parents have the right to a hearing when a request is denied, and if no corrections or deletions are made, an explanatory statement will be made available no later than 45 days after a written request is submitted.
Parental Consent
Parental consent is required when sharing child information from NCCHS for any third-party request; excluding specific requests listed below:
- Consent is not required, but notice is given to the parents with the opportunity to refuse when sharing child information from NCCHS to officials at a program, school, or school district in which the child seeks or intends to enroll. Parents are offered the opportunity to challenge and refuse consent for the sharing of PII information to officials at the program, school, or school districts on the “Consent, Authorization & Release” form that is reviewed with each family at the time of enrollment. The form provides notice to parents for the sharing of child information with officials at the program or district. Granting consent is voluntary and may be revoked at any time. If consent is revoked, it is not retroactive and does not apply to an action that occurred before the consent was revoked.
- Parental consent is not required at any time when requested from:
- Service providers with contracts with NCCHS. (The Center for Child Development)
- Audits and evaluations for State or Federal agencies (including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
- Emergency to protect the health or safety of children (including food allergies)
- Judicial order or subpoena
- Caseworkers (Division of Family Services DFS).
Topics:
What data do we collect?
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. collects personal identification information (Name, email address, phone number, etc.) in addition to student information.
How do we collect your data?
You directly provide New Castle County Head Start, Inc. with most of the data we collect. We collect data and process data when you submit a Contact Us form.
How will we use your data?
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. collects your data so that we can respond to your inquiry for more information about our programs.
How do we store your data?
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. securely stores your data in the Child Outcome Planning and Administration (COPA) software at our Administrative Office and Center locations.
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. will keep your contact information for one year. Once this time period has expired, we will delete all unused information in COPA.
You have the right at any time to stop New Castle County Head Start, Inc. from contacting you. If you no longer wish to be contacted by New Castle County Head Start, Inc., please send an email to [email protected] with your request.
What are your data protection rights?
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following:
- The right to access – You have the right to request New Castle County Head Start, Inc. for copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service.
- The right to rectification – You have the right to request that New Castle County Head Start, Inc. correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request New Castle County Head Start, Inc. to complete the information you believe is incomplete.
- The right to erasure – You have the right to request that New Castle County Head Start, Inc. erase your personal data, under certain conditions.
- The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that New Castle County Head Start, Inc. restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
- The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to New Castle County Head Start, Inc.’s processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us:
Call us at: (302) 452-1500
Or write to us: 256 Chapman Road, Suite 103, Newark, DE 19702
Cookies
Cookies are text files placed on your computer to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behavior information. When you visit our websites, we may collect information from you automatically through cookies or similar technology. For further information, visit allaboutcookies.org.
How do we use cookies?
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. uses cookies in a range of ways to improve your experience on our website, including keeping you signed in and understanding how you use our website.
What types of cookies do we use?
There are a number of different types of cookies; however, our website uses:
- Functionality – New Castle County Head Start, Inc. uses these cookies so that we recognize you on our website and remember your previously selected preferences. These could include what language you prefer and the location you are in. A mix of first-party and third-party cookies is used.
- Advertising – New Castle County Head Start, Inc. uses these cookies to collect information about your visit to our website, the content you viewed, the links you followed and information about your browser, device, and your IP address.
How to manage cookies
You can set your browser not to accept cookies, and the above website tells you how to remove cookies from your browser. However, in a few cases, some of our website features may not function as a result.
Privacy policies of other websites
The New Castle County Head Start, Inc. website contains links to other websites. Our privacy policy applies only to our website, so if you click on a link to another website, you should read their privacy policy.
Changes to our privacy policy
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. keeps its privacy policy under regular review and places any updates on this web page. This privacy policy was last updated on January 1, 2024.
How to contact us
If you have any questions about New Castle County Head Start, Inc.’s privacy policy, the data we hold on you, or you would like to exercise one of your data protection rights, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Call us at: (302) 452-1500
Or write to us: 256 Chapman Road, Suite 103, Newark, DE 19702
