Focus Area

Data Privacy

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

Consulting, resources, and support

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.

Services
Service
Professional Learning

Be Connected Series

Monthly
Free

A weekly webinar series hosted by the LTC’s Technology Services Team.

Service
Service

Cybersecurity Audits & Assessments

Free

Free district cybersecurity assessments for Illinois public school districts.

Service
Consulting

Education Consulting

Free

Consulting on all tech-related teaching and learning topics.

Service
Professional Learning

IETC Conference

November
$175+

The Illinois Education and Technology Conference, held annually in Springfield, brings together educators and tech experts to explore innovative teaching methods and leverage technology for enhanced learning statewide.

Service
Service

ILTPP Purchasing Cooperative

Free

Save money and time through ILTPP cooperative purchasing contracts.

Service
Network

LTC Online Community

Free

A free online community for educators, admin, and technology leaders.

Professional Learning

Online Courses

Free & Paid

Online courses focusing on educational technology trends and best practices in a format that fits educators’ busy schedules.

Service
Service

Phishing Awareness Program

Free

Free phishing campaigns to public school districts in Illinois.

Service
Professional Learning

Regional Workshops and Events

Variable

Over 650 regional events and conferences on educational technology topics.

Service
Service

SDPC Add-On Service

$550/year

Strengthen student data privacy compliance in your district with our SDPC add-on service, providing Illinois schools expert support, streamlined NDPA processing, and vendor negotiations.

Service
Professional Learning

SecurED Schools

Secured Schools is the LTC’s annual virtual cybersecurity and data privacy conference, aimed at bolstering security measures within K12 school systems.

Service
Service

Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC)

Free

Join SDPC to manage data privacy agreements in accordance with SOPPA.

Resources
Resource
Resource Collections

Incident Response Plan Templates

Curated by the LTC’s Technology Services team, 11 templates and example playbooks for developing comprehensive incident response plans based on core objectives, actions, and communications.

Resource
Guidance

Legislative Brief: Student Data Privacy Laws to Know

Under state and federal law, Illinois schools are legally required to keep student data secure and safe. 

This legislative brief provides a summary of several relevant privacy laws, including how they may impact school operations.

Resource
Handout/Worksheet

District Website Checklist

The District Website Checklist is a component of the more extensive Legal Reference Guide published by the Learning Technology Center and is designed to assist school districts in navigating the landscape of legal obligations.

Resource
Guidance

CyberGuide

Strengthen your district’s cybersecurity posture with this free guide for technology leaders, which includes step-by-step instructions on how to implement auditing, professional development, incident response and disaster recovery planning, and much more.

Resource
Best Practices

CISA K-12 Cybersecurity Recommendations & Toolkit

This report, created by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, provides recommendations and resources to help K-12 schools and school districts address systemic cybersecurity risk.

Resource
Best PracticesReport

Protecting Our Future: Partnering to Safeguard K–12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats

This report, created by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, provides recommendations and resources to help K-12 schools and school districts address systemic cybersecurity risk.

Resource
Resource CollectionsStandards

What Is Data Privacy?

When you think of privacy, what comes to mind? Closing your window shades? Keeping your phone screen locked? Shutting the door when you have a sensitive conversation? We do all of these things to preserve

Resource
Resource CollectionsStandards

6 Ways To Help Employees Be Privacy Aware

Teach your employees how to update their privacy and security settings on their devices and promote awareness about privacy, safeguard data and enable trust throughout the workplace with these tips. pieces of data. This data

Resource
Resource CollectionsStandards

How To Be A Data Snob

Data privacy might seem like an abstract concept, but it couldn’t be more personal. You generate a long scroll of data every time you access the internet, and sometimes when you don’t – your home

Resource
Resource CollectionsStandards

Data: The Story of You – Infographic

Ever wonder how important your data is for large companies? Well this infographic will show you what percentage of people care about their data and how many are unable to protect their data effectively.

Resource
Resource CollectionsStandards

Respect Customer Privacy Infographic

Here’s an infographic on how important customers data privacy really is, from what percentage of consumers appreciate that companies gives them control over what information is collected about them to what percentage wanted a greater

Resource
Tools and Apps

Google’s Phishing Quiz

Identifying phishing can be harder than you think. Phishing is an attempt to trick you into giving up your personal information by pretending to be someone you know. Practice telling what is fake using Google’s

Events

Be Connected: Building a 5-year Tech Plan

May 21, 2025
Free

Where do you see your school’s technology in 5 years? Come chart a course toward a strong, realistic 5-year technology plan on this week’s Be Connected. From aligning with district goals to planning for infrastructure,

Eric Muckensturm
Eric Muckensturm
IT Strategy Manager, Cybersecurity, Learning Technology Center

The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks

May 29, 2025
$20

This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community.

Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center

The Day the Internet Died: A Teacher’s Toolkit for Cyberattacks

May 29, 2025
$20

This immersive workshop plunges you into the heart of a cyberattack, where carefully crafted digital lesson plans become useless, administrators scramble to communicate, and anxiety ripples through the school community. But amidst the chaos, resilience

Emily Flach
Emily Flach
Regional Educational Technology Coordinator | Southern Region, Learning Technology Center

Physical and Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure (SummIT Pre-Conference)

Jun 23, 2025
Free

Open to SummIT attendees and all K-12 technology leaders, this course lays the groundwork for collaboration among individuals and organizations responsible for both physical and cybersecurity – including K-12 schools, law enforcement, and more.

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, Learning Technology Center

SummIT

Jun 24, 2025
$100

Gain valuable insights and practical strategies for tackling the toughest IT issues facing your school district while connecting with fellow tech directors and IT staff in a collaborative environment.

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, Learning Technology Center

Illinois Education and Technology Conference 2025 (IETC)

Nov 12, 2025
$250

Learn, collaborate, and connect with fellow edtech enthusiasts and leaders during a multi-day professional learning experience ideal for collaborating one-on-one with peers and forging meaningful connections.

Tim McIlvain
Tim McIlvain
Executive Director, Learning Technology Center
Articles

“That’s a wrap!” – Highlights from IETC 2020

The 27th annual Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) wrapped up on Saturday, November 21. This year marked the conference’s first venture into the virtual realm, with all sessions, workshops, and networking held online. Read

“A Big Year Ahead” – Takeaways from SecurED Schools 2021

The 4th annual SecurED Schools conference concluded back on Thursday, January 14. Though this year’s gathering was held virtually, technology leaders from around Illinois still participated in plenty of insightful conversations about the future of

AR/VRNetworkingProfessional LearningRobotics

“Keeping it real with real educators” – Takeaways from IETC 2021

The 28th annual Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) wrapped up on November 19 after three days packed with exploring edtech’s latest integration strategies and best practices. Read up on highlights from this year’s conference,

Tim McIlvain
Tim McIlvain
Executive Director, Learning Technology Center
CybersecurityData Privacy

“We need to act. Now.” 4 Takeaways from SecurED Schools 2025

January’s conference was packed with actionable cybersecurity insights. Here’s what we learned from this year’s conversation leaders – including K-12 tech leaders and national experts.

Duane Shaffer
Duane Shaffer
Director of Technology Services, Learning Technology Center
NetworkingProfessional Learning

2023 Education Conferences for Teachers, Administrators & Coaches

No matter your role in education and technology, conferences remain one of the best places to explore new strategies, discover new resources, and connect with peers. Check out all of these note-worthy edtech conferences coming

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

4 Cybersecurity Tips for School Staff & Students

Each October, the US recognizes Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a multi-week opportunity for everyone – including K-12 school districts – to recommit themselves to protecting digital networks and data. Here are a few quick tips to

Eric Muckensturm
Eric Muckensturm
IT Strategy Manager, Cybersecurity, Learning Technology Center