By: Diane Benjamin
Read the McLean County GOP press release below.
To summarize: Colleges across the country send personal student data to the National Student Clearinghouse. That organization then hands the data to Democrat-aligned NGOs in violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Those NGOs distribute students’ personal data to Democrat activists, who then have the ability to contact students directly and get them out to vote—of course, for Democrats.
Republican candidates never had access to this student data. As a result, college students only heard from Democrats. Understand how many local elections are now decided by college student votes? This is an election integrity issue!
Other national organizations have reported the same pattern at colleges across the country. The easiest fix would be to make the National Student Clearinghouse’s current practices illegal—or even shut it down entirely. That’s just my opinion.
These statements are on the Department of Education website: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-takes-actions-protect-integrity-of-us-elections
The NSVLE, which is housed at Tufts, states its mission in collecting student data is to increase civic engagement through analysis of student voting behavior. The NSC has agreements with participating colleges and universities that allow the organization to access and share student data. SPPO has reason to believe there could be significant FERPA compliance issues regarding what data is being collected, how the data is shared, who it is shared with, and whether proper consent was obtained from students. The reports submitted to SPPO allege that students’ personally identifying data is shared not only with the NSC and participating institutions, but also with political organizations which aim to influence elections.
This guidance rescinds all Biden-era guidance and policies that encouraged institutions of higher education to participate in the NSLVE and use the data to target certain student populations. SPPO makes clear in this guidance that any institution that utilizes NSLVE data – set to be released this year – could be at risk of being found in violation of FERPA.
We need to wait to see what happens from here. Colleges guilty of allowing FERPA violations risk federal funding.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2026
McLean County Republican Party
Re: U.S. Department of Education Investigation into Potential FERPA Violations Involving Universities and NSLVE
On Saturday, February 7, the McLean County Republican Executive Board held a press conference addressing the U.S. Department of Education’s February 5 announcement that it has opened an investigation into Tufts University and the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to determine whether participation in the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) resulted in violations of student privacy under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The McLean County Republican Executive Board has supported the investigative work that led to the Department’s decision. While the Department of Education is beginning its review with Tufts University, local leaders voiced hope that the investigation will also examine Illinois State University (ISU), where similar concerns and evidence of potential privacy violations have been identified. The student data disclosed was used for political purposes.
During the press conference, Desi Anderson detailed findings she and her husband, Nick Anderson, uncovered through extensive research and public records. Their findings, along with related investigations nationwide, contributed to increased scrutiny of university agreements with NSLVE. Illinois State University is reported to have maintained an agreement with NSLVE similar to the one currently under review at Tufts University.
Congressman Darin LaHood has supported efforts to gather evidence and pursue accountability from universities regarding the handling of student data. He issued the following statement:
“Universities in Illinois and across the country should not share students’ personal data without clear consent,” said Rep. LaHood. “Providing that information to third-party organizations, especially for political purposes, raises serious privacy concerns. This practice deserves a comprehensive investigation to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place and students’ private data is protected.”
In response to these concerns, Congresswoman Mary Miller, Congressman LaHood, and Congressman Mike Bost are introducing legislation aimed at preventing third-party organizations, such as NSLVE, from having unrestricted access to private student data. The McLean County Republican Party strongly endorses this legislative effort and calls for full transparency and accountability from institutions of higher education regarding the handling of student information.
The Press Conference was held in conjunction with the 2026 Candidate Townhall where over 80 voters gathered to hear from eight Republican Candidates. The following candidates spoke: Tim Ruestman, Candidate for 105th State House District; Kathy Michael, running for reelection as County Clerk; Rebecca McNeil, running for reelection as County Treasurer; Jon Albee, running for County Sheriff; Molly Allen, running for Regional Education Superintendent; Jerry Klinkner, candidate for 4th County Board District; Jeff Lord, candidate for 5th County Board District and Geoff Tompkins, running for reelection for the 7th County Board District. .
Media Contact:
Connie Beard
McLean County Republican Party
info@McLeanCountyRepublicans.org
Those Dems are sneaky and they never take their foot off the gas. The bottom line is they just want it more than we do.
Saving democracy by destroying it
A natural outgrowth of the politization of education. It began decades ago. Radical democrat’s (Marxist’s) long march through the institutions continues. Only one thing can stop it.
Vote. Vote now before they make voting inconsequential.
Republicans saw the radical left taking over education and they let it happen. Now we wonder what’s wrong with our kids. Next the radicals figured out how to cheat the vote and republicans yawned.
Now, much too late, the cheating thing is out of the bag. So, the radicals have turned to nullifying the vote of republican citizens by importing foreigners to voter for them. What are republicans doing? Uhm, well… they’re talking about it! There’s even a bill proposed to take care of it. But that’s a bridge too far for republicans.
Here’s what we’ll get in the end – a book or two written by the republican talking heads whining about how terrible democrats are. They better get busy on that now before democrats regain control and put them all in prison.