Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) is changing how it handles student voice recordings from the Amira AI reading assessment after receiving questions from elementary‑school families. In a letter sent to parents, the district explained that Amira is used in two distinct ways: Amira Assessment, which evaluates reading skills, and Amira Tutor, which provides practice without recording voices.
Assessment recordings now deleted within 48 hours
Amira Assessment records students as they read aloud to gauge proficiency and identify areas needing extra support, a requirement of the New Mexico Public Education Department. APS said it has already deleted all voice recordings from the previous school year and earlier, and it attached a certificate of data deletion to the parent letter.
Going forward, any new recordings made during the assessment will be automatically removed within 48 hours. The short retention window allows teachers to review the audio when necessary—particularly for students with speech or language differences—while still protecting family privacy.
Paper‑and‑pencil alternative available
Families who do not want their children to complete the computer‑based assessment may request a traditional paper‑and‑pencil version by contacting their child’s principal. APS emphasized that every student must complete a reading assessment, but the district will honor the alternative format for those who opt out of the digital tool.
Students who do not request the alternative will continue to take the computer‑based Amira Assessment on the district’s established schedule.
Amira Tutor operates separately
The district also clarified that Amira Tutor, a separate component of the platform, provides individualized reading practice and feedback but does not record or store any student voices. Elementary schools are required to deliver 30 minutes of reading tutoring each week, and APS said schools retain flexibility in how they meet that requirement.
What this means for families
Parents can now feel more confident that their children’s voice data will not be retained long‑term, and they have a clear path to request a non‑digital assessment if they prefer. APS encourages families to reach out to school administrators with any further questions about the new procedures.
These adjustments reflect APS’s response to community feedback while still complying with state assessment mandates and ensuring that every student receives the reading support they need.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
