Focus Area

Data Privacy

Resources, professional learning, services, and support for helping districts protect student and mission-critical data.

Supporting school districts with student data privacy issues and SOPPA implementation

Securing and managing mission-critical data is not a one-person job. That’s why the Learning Technology Center provides support for implementing the latest data security protocols and complying with state and federal mandates, including SOPPA.

Our team stays at the forefront of K-12 data privacy and security innovations. Through our one-on-one consultations, events, and resources, we can put that knowledge to work for you by creating productive workflows and data management solutions for your district.

Data Privacy Laws

Overview

Today’s education-focused technologies enable the easy and often unseen transfer of student data from one system to another. In Illinois, school districts and staff are now responsible for understanding how student data is handled in order to comply with relevant state and federal laws.

Overview of Illinois Student Data Privacy Laws

Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA)

Effective July 1, 2021, school districts will be required by the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA) to provide additional guarantees that student data is protected when collected by educational technology companies, and that data is used for beneficial purposes only (105 ILCS 85).

Today’s education-focused technologies enable the easy and often unseen transfer of student data from one system to another. In Illinois, school districts and staff are now responsible for understanding how student data is handled in order to comply with relevant state and federal laws.

Overview of Illinois Student Data Privacy Laws

Effective July 1, 2021, school districts will be required by the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA) to provide additional guarantees that student data is protected when collected by educational technology companies, and that data is used for beneficial purposes only (105 ILCS 85).

Upcoming Events

Data Privacy Events

ROE 28 Technology Round Table

| Free

Join us for an open discussion on current educational technology topics and trends. This networking meeting is open to all educational technology positions including technology directors, instructional technology coaches, and any other positions interested in discussing the current state of technology in our schools. While a short presentation may lead off our time together, the majority of the meeting will be open for participants to share their experiences and challenges with the group.

Ben Sondgeroth
Ben Sondgeroth
Lead Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Northern Illinois, Learning Technology Center

Navigating the Digital Seas our Students & Children Explore

| Free

Join us as we chart technology’s profound impact on today’s students and their developing brains. On this voyage, we’ll explore how digital media, social medial, computer literacy, and AI all intersect with daily life for today’s youth. Along the way, we’ll also uncover how digital stressors contribute to negative mental health and discuss strategies for supporting our children’s mental wellness – even as they are raised in an era vastly different from the one we grew up in.

Holly Kelly
Holly Kelly
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | East Central Illinois, Learning Technology Center

ROE 1 Tech Leadership Meeting

| Free

This networking session welcomes all edtech professionals – directors, superintendents, coaches, and anyone passionate about technology’s role in education. We may kick things off with a brief presentation, but the real magic happens when we open the floor. Share your experiences, challenges, and ideas in a supportive space, and learn from peers!

Lisa Schwartz
Lisa Schwartz
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | West Central Region, Learning Technology Center