Cuomo urges caution in handling of student data

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo expressed concern Friday over potential privacy issues with the high-tech data collection of New York's schoolchildren but said he will not join Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and 40 other Democrats in their campaign to suspend the project.

On Thursday, Silver (D-Manhattan) sent a letter to state Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. citing "serious concerns about the potential flaws" in sharing data with the Atlanta-based corporation inBloom, which would store academic and disciplinary records for about 2.3 million students.

Cuomo shared his views on the issue Friday while touring the Island Harvest food distribution center in Hauppauge -- where New Yorkers donated more than 400 coats and 200 toys for needy residents in Bay Shore and Brentwood for the holidays.

Cuomo said he believes the data collection is "necessary" but said he is waiting to see King's response before acting. "We want to make sure that data collection is kept private and personal," Cuomo said.