CoSN is working with the Illinois Learning Technology Center to bring its Trusted Learning Environment Seal to more schools across the state.
by Rebecca Torchia is a web editor for EdTech: Focus on K–12.
CoSN is partnering with school districts in Illinois via the state’s Learning Technology Center to strengthen K–12 data privacy practices. Through the partnership, leaders at CoSN and the Learning Technology Center hope to expand schools’ adoption of the Trusted Learning Environment framework.
Currently, only one district in the state has earned the TLE Seal, which CoSN awards to schools that document their data privacy strengths in all five areas of the framework. That district, Community High School District 99, earned the accolade in summer 2022.
“Having spent the last five years focusing intently on improving the district’s information security posture, the TLE was the ideal next step to deeply assess how we were doing, improve where needed and publicly celebrate our successes,” Rod Russeau, the district’s director of technology and information services, said in a press release at the time.
While Illinois’s Learning Technology Center has historically worked with districts in the state on technology integration and professional development, the center is eager to dig deeper into data privacy with each district, says Executive Director Tim McIlvain.
“We already have several initiatives, such as partnering with the Student Data Privacy Consortium, which we’ve been doing for a number of years to help comply with Illinois’s [Student Online Personal Protection Act] related to data privacy,” McIlvain says. “But one thing we haven’t been able to do is provide ongoing, intensive support around creating policies and ensuring practices are implemented within a school district.”
Data Privacy Challenges for K–12 IT Leaders
While data privacy should fall under the umbrella of a K–12 IT leader’s role, the word “privacy” often doesn’t appear in anyone’s job description, says McIlvain. “It’s implied that they’re supposed to help with data privacy, but it’s not actually part of their responsibilities. We want to work with the tech leaders within districts to help them understand the TLE Seal framework and guide them through its five components.”
“We want to work with the tech leaders within districts to help them understand the TLE Seal framework and guide them through its five components.”Tim McIlvain Executive Director, Learning Technology Center
