Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC)

The Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) is a national group, part of the Access 4 Learning (A4L) Community, that builds shared tools and agreements for student data privacy. Each state has its own alliance. The Illinois Student Privacy Alliance (ISPA) is the Illinois one, and LTC runs it. When you join ISPA, you use SDPC’s database with Illinois agreements and settings.

No. ISPA membership is free for every Illinois K-12 district. If you’d like expert help processing agreements and negotiating with vendors, LTC also offers an optional SDPC Add-On Service in partnership with The Education Cooperative (TEC).

Usually whoever manages technology contracts or student data privacy, such as your technology director or the person your district has put in charge of SOPPA compliance.

The Illinois National Data Privacy Agreement (IL-NDPA) is SDPC’s National Data Privacy Agreement (NDPA) with an Illinois exhibit added. The Illinois Council of School Attorneys (ICSA) workgroup of the Illinois Association of School Boards customized it so it meets SOPPA’s requirements. The current version is 1.0a. View the IL-NDPA.

When a vendor signs the IL-NDPA with one Illinois district, it can also sign a general offer (Exhibit E) that extends the same terms to other districts. Your district can then accept that offer and be covered by the same agreement, instead of negotiating a new one. The IL-NDPA Checklist walks through both originating and subscribing.

Version 1.0a updated Exhibit G, the Illinois-specific terms, based on review by an ICSA working group. See the redlined Exhibit G for the exact changes.

Yes. SOPPA requires districts to post a list of the vendors they share student data with, along with copies of the written agreements, on the district website. ISPA’s public district list is an easy way to do that and keep it up to date. For the full requirements, see ISBE’s SOPPA guidance.

SOPPA requires a written agreement with any vendor that collects covered student information, but it doesn’t require that agreement to be the IL-NDPA. You can negotiate another agreement that meets SOPPA’s requirements, or choose a different tool. Contact us if you need help, or consider the SDPC Add-On Service for help negotiating with vendors.

Teachers should check with the district before using a new app or website with students, so the district can make sure an agreement is in place first. The SOPPA for Teachers slides are a good place to start.