Student Data and Privacy
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 the educational technology companies, and that data is used for beneficial purposes only (105 ILCS 85).
Parents have the right to inspect, review, and correct information maintained by the school, operator, and the Illinois State Board of Education.
What is SOPPA?
What happens to the student data that we send to a third-party vendor? Information like names, birthdates, etc. may be provided by Posen-Robbins 143.5 to a third party like IXL, NWEA MAP, etc. What protections do those companies have in place to make sure that our student's data is not sold or freely given to others? This is exactly what SOPPA looks to address. As part of SOPPA, these companies must enter into Data Privacy Agreements (DPA) with each district they work with. These agreements outline what data is stored, how it is protected, what the company can and cannot do with that data, and what they will do in the event of a data breach.
Important Data Privacy Laws:
Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA): Guarantees that student data is protected when collected by educational technology companies, and that data is used for beneficial purposes only.
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): Restricts the collection of personal information from children under 13 by companies operating websites, games, mobile applications, and digital services that are directed to children or that collect personal information from individuals known to be children.
Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA): Imposes certain requirements on schools that utilize the federal E-Rate program to receive discounts for internet access and other technology services, or that receive federal grants for other technology expenses.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Governs information in a student’s education record, restricting access and use of student information.
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA): PPRA is intended to protect the rights of parents and students in two ways:
- It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors make instructional materials available for inspection by parents if those materials will be used in connection with an ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their children participate; and
- It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors obtain written parental consent before minor students are required to participate in any ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals certain information.
PPRA applies to programs that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Read more.
ISBE Mandates and SOPPA
Your student's data may be transferred to some companies due to assessment mandates from the Illinois State Board of Education. ISBE is responsible for obtaining Data Privacy Agreements with these companies and making those DPA's available to families.
Posen-Robbins 143.5 Database Tool
RESOURCES