Resources

Resource Library

Resources developed by the Learning Technology Center (LTC) that provide practical guidance, research-based insights, and actionable strategies on essential K–12 education and technology topics.

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Maximizing Efficiency and Value through Cooperative Purchasing

What is cooperative purchasing? How can it save your district time, money, and effort while procuring educational must-haves? Learn the basics of collective purchasing power + meet the LTC Purchase Program, Illinois schools solution to…

White Paper
ResourceNew

Monthly Cyber Threat Intelligence for K-12 Schools and Districts

Awareness and action are key to keeping emerging cyber threats from landing. Each monthly report helps your district stay ahead of new exploits and understand each threat's relevance to K-12 technology environments.

Report
ResourceNew

Esports in Illinois K-12 Schools

In Illinois, scholastic esports has grown from informal after-school clubs into a statewide ecosystem that includes a sanctioned state series and collegiate pathways. This overview for school leaders offers background and rationale for esports' inclusion…

Guidance · Resource
Resource

Back-to-School CS Integration Activities

Sprinkle CS effortlessly into your back-to-school routines with simplified vocabulary, unplugged activities, and digital activities that promote strong problem-solving habits.

Activity · Collection
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3D Printing in Education Primer

A K-12 primer on bringing 3D printing into classrooms and libraries — how it strengthens STEM learning, hands-on problem-solving, and creativity, plus guidance on choosing a printer and starting a makerspace program.

Guidance
Resource

Toolkit Must-Haves for K–12 Edtech Leaders & Teams

Which physical and digital tools do all K-12 tech teams need? This guide outlines recommendations from current K-12 tech leaders, including what you need for maintenance, organization, troubleshooting, and more.

Best Practices · Tools and Apps
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Vendor Accessibility Compliance Email Template

Districts may collect digital accessibility compliance documentation from third-party vendors. This template helps district leaders initiate this process and communicate action items to vendors.

Best Practices
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Anatomy of an Accessible Website

What does an accessible page look like? This infographic illustrates key web accessibility best practices in action, including heading structure, meaningful links, alternative text, color contrast.

Best Practices
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Web Accessibility Checklist for Schools

These checklists can support a thorough digital audit and help your school track if its PDFs, videos, interactive learning tools, and website comply with WCAG 2.1 best practices.

Best Practices
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Implementing Digital Accessibility in Education

Developing and maintaining digital accessibility means more than checking a box. This primer offers school leaders a simple starting point for understanding relevant best practices and current accessibility mandates.

Best Practices
Resource

Cyber Incident Readiness & Recovery Framework & Assessment

Assess your K-12 district's cybersecurity preparedness with a free self-evaluation. Get scores, gap analysis, and a clear roadmap in under an hour.

Website
Resource

3D Printing Slicer Cheat Sheet

This cheat sheet offers a succinct look at slicing settings you or your students can use to ensure their 3D print comes out stable, strong, and accurate.

Best Practices
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Cyber Incident Response & Recovery Framework for Schools

This framework for K-12 technology leaders and district stakeholders defines the structured lifecycle for responding to and recovering from cyber incidents within an educational environment.

Best Practices · Standards
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Salary Explorer

The Salary Explorer is an interactive tool that lets K–12 IT staff in Illinois view self-reported average salaries by role and region, using data from the Learning Technology Center’s 2025 Technology Workplace Survey.

Resource
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Artificial Intelligence Resource Database

A curated, regularly updated library of vetted artificial intelligence resources for Illinois K-12 educators — tools, guidance, policy references, and classroom materials, organized by grade level, content area, and use case.

Collection
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Principles for Supporting Meaningful Tech Integration

Intentional and strategic integration can ensure technology enhances, not replaces, student-centered learning. This resource highlights five tech integration principles that can amplify authentic tech-powered learning.

Best Practices · Guidance
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Building Balance between Online Connections and the Offline World

Digital balance and digital wellness start at home. This parent-focused guide offers actionable insight and strategies for recognizing signs of excessive tech use, fostering self-regulating tech habits, responsibly managing social media use, and more.

Best Practices · Guidance
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2025 Illinois K-12 Technology Workforce Report

This report offers a detailed look at relevant K-12 workforce trends as well as the professionals who keep school technology operations running smoothly—from managing networks and cybersecurity to leading district technology teams.

Report
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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 Collections
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One-to-One Podcast

Conversations from the heart of education and technology with Brian and Linda.

Podcast
Resource

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.

Handout/Worksheet
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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.

Guidance
Resource

Esports Program Checklist

Empower Your New Esports Team at your School with Our Comprehensive Checklist! Unveil the potential of your budding esports squad using this all-inclusive checklist. From recruitment and practice schedules to team branding, our checklist ensures…

Handout/Worksheet
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Illinois Computer Literacy Guidelines Planning Document

This document is an adaptation of ISBE’s Computer Literacy guidelines, with added columns for resources and notes. It includes breakouts by grade band (K-1, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12).

Guidance
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IL CS Mastery Worksheet

This document is similar to the Alignment Worksheet, but can be used at the classroom level to align the standards to individual lessons or units of instruction. It includes a customizable 3-level scale to show…

Standards
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IL CS Alignment Worksheet

This document takes the Integrated View of all CS Standards and splits them out by grade band (K-1, 3-5, and 6-8). It provides additional columns to allow districts to self-assess their CS program for alignment…

Standards
Resource

Integrated View of CS Standards

This document combines the new IL CS Standards into a single view to make it easy to see how they are organized and follow their progression across grade levels. There is a K-12 view, as…

Standards
Resource

Coding for Littles Poster Series

Let's go on a journey to explore coding terms that you may already know by another name in this poster series. Download this one-of-a-kind resource for K-2 educators to integrate CS language into activities you…

 Resource

Getting Started with the K 8 Computer Science Standards

Getting Started with the K 8 Computer Science Standards Presenter: Sarah Phelps, Program Director of STEM and Computer Science 00:00:00 Introduction 00:08:30 Why CS Standards? 00:15:25 Computer Science Requirements 2023-24 100:8:25 The Good News! 00:21:23…

Video
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Technology Documentation Guide

Using Google Drive and Docs, this Technology Documentation Guide can help districts more effectively organize critical technology-related documents in a single digital repository.

Guidance
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Drones in the Classroom – Q&A for Curricular Integration and Funding

Why should drones be part of your school's curriculum? What classes can drones be used in? Find answers to these questions and more (including funding and safety recommendations) in this handy guide produced by the…

Guidance
Resource

Legal Reference Guide & Database

An annually updated introduction to the state and federal statutes, regulations, and rules that shape how Illinois K-12 schools may use technology — in the classroom and district-wide.

Guidance
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Sample Communications when using IL-NDPA

LTC resource for communicating with vendors about SOPPA and the IL-NDPA.

Guidance
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National Data Privacy Agreement + Illinois Exhibit

The National Data Privacy Agreement (NDPA) streamlines application contracting and sets common expectations between schools/districts and marketplace providers. The LTC created an Illinois-specific exhibit that modifies the NDPA for use in Illinois, making it compliant…

Report
Resource

Getting Started with SOPPA

LTC Resource sharing information about getting started with SOPPA.

Guidance
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Using ISPA to Comply with SOPPA

LTC Resource sharing a workflow for managing SOPPA in your District.

Guidance
Resource

Managing Agreements with ISPA

LTC Resource sharing a workflow for the management of data privacy agreements for SOPPA.

Guidance
Resource

Illinois-National Data Privacy Agreement v1.0a (IL-NDPA)

The IL-NDPA is a data privacy agreement that has been created at a national level by the Student Data Privacy Consortium and customized at a State of Illinois level by the Illinois Council of School…

Report
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Checklist for using the IL-NDPA – Originating or Subscribing

This checklist gives tips and suggestions on the best ways of using the IL-NDPA in combination with the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) database.

Tools and Apps
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Computer Science Resource Database

Vetted computer science and STEM resources for Illinois K-12 educators — curriculum, activities, tools, and standards spanning every grade level — to help schools build, grow, and sustain their CS programs.

Collection
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Resources for Careers in EdTech

This resource delivers concise information on specific certifications and endorsements, guiding individuals in their pursuit of professional development.

Resource Collections
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Instructional Technology Coach Funding

Despite their growing popularity and research to back their efficacy, funding for coaching programs can be sparse in many districts. These funding sources can help your district start and sustain a productive coaching program using state and…

Guidance
Resource

Copyright and Fair Use for Educators

This summary of copyright law relevant to K-12 educators offers best practices for sharing copyrighted works with students, colleagues, and online.

Best Practices · Standards
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Legislative Brief: Computer Science in Illinois

Updated November 29, 2022 In March 2021, Public Act 101-0654 was signed into law and included sweeping changes to education. One of the changes includes a focus on computer science and computer literacy. This bill…

Best Practices
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What is SOPPA? An Introduction

This introduction summarizes SOPPA's goals, as well as the basic requirements K-12 districts will need meet to achieve compliance.

Best Practices · Standards · Video
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Student Data Privacy Laws to Know

This legal brief summarizes both state and federal laws impacting how schools in Illinois collect, manage, and process student data, including FERPA, COPPA, and SOPPA.

Best Practices · Standards
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Reasonable Security Practices

The Learning Technology Center recommends 48 security best practices, aligned with CIS Controls and vetted by Illinois school technology leaders, to comply with the Student Online Personal Protection Act.

Guidance
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Legislative Brief: Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA)

This legislative brief summarizes SOPPA and provides an overview of the law's requirements for K-12 schools, including entering into written agreements with all service providers who collect student data.

Guidance