Illinois Participation in TLE State Partnership Program Advances Student Data Privacy in Districts Statewide

 

Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2025) — CoSN today announced that East Maine School District 63 in Des Plaines, Illinois, has been awarded the Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Mini Seal for the Leadership Practice. The district is one of seven in Illinois to earn a TLE Seal or TLE Mini Seal. To date, TLE Seal recipients nationwide have improved privacy protections for over 1.3 million students.

The CoSN TLE Seal is a national distinction awarded to school districts that uphold high standards for protecting student data privacy across five key practice areas: Leadership, Business, Data Security, Professional Development and the Classroom. The TLE Mini Seal allows districts to demonstrate progress in one or more of these areas as they work toward earning the full Seal.

In September 2024, Illinois joined the TLE State Partnership Program, providing all districts in the state with unlimited free TLE Seal applications and renewals, statewide benchmarking across 25 core privacy and security practices, and targeted resources to close identified gaps. Through this state initiative, East Maine School District 63 joined one of two pilot cohorts focused on the leadership and business practices.

To qualify for the Mini Seal in the Leadership Practice, districts must:

  • Build and maintain leadership knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, community expectations and best practices in student data privacy;
  • Develop and update policies that establish requirements for compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations and school system rules;
  • Set clear expectations for the protection of student data privacy and security, as well as the transparent use of data;
  • Designate an executive leader responsible for the development and implementation of data privacy and security policies and practices;
  • Provide transparent, up-to-date and accessible communications to the community about student data practices; and
  • Allocate adequate resources to support data privacy and security needs.

“Today’s digital world brings new challenges to keeping student information secure. By earning the TLE Mini Seal in Leadership Practices, East Maine School District 63 is demonstrating its dedication to putting student safety first. Using the CoSN TLE framework as a guide, the district is not only protecting student data but setting the bar for others to follow,” said Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN.

“Receiving the CoSN Trusted Learning Environment Mini Seal for Leadership Practice shows our community that we’re serious about protecting student and staff data. This recognition isn’t just about ‘talking the talk’ — it’s a testament to the measurable steps we’re taking to ensure our privacy standards are truly top-notch,” said Becky Lim, Director of Technology, East Maine School District 63.

The CoSN TLE Seal is the only privacy framework designed specifically for school systems. Earning the TLE Seal requires that school systems have taken measurable steps to implement, maintain and improve organization-wide student data privacy practices. All TLE Seal recipients are required to demonstrate that improvement through a reapplication process every two years.

CoSN recently released a case study, “Improving Data Privacy in Illinois With CoSN’s TLE State Partnership Program,” showcasing how Illinois school districts — including East Maine School District 63 — are using the TLE framework to accelerate progress in student data privacy and security across the state.

To learn more about the TLE Seal Program, visit: www.cosn.org/trusted

About CoSN
CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 EdTech leaders, stands at the forefront of education innovation. We are driven by a mission to equip current and aspiring K-12 education technology leaders, their teams, and school districts with the community, knowledge, and professional development they need to cultivate engaging learning environments. Our vision is rooted in a future where every learner reaches their unique potential, guided by our community. CoSN represents over 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. www.cosn.org

About the CoSN Trusted Learning Environment Seal Program
The CoSN Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal Program is the nation’s only data privacy framework for school systems, focused on building a culture of trust and transparency. The TLE Seal was developed by CoSN in collaboration with a diverse group of 28 school system leaders nationwide and with support from AASA, The School Superintendents Association, the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) and ISTE+ASCD. School systems that meet the program requirements will earn the TLE Seal, signifying their commitment to student data privacy to their community. TLE Seal recipients also commit to continuous examination and demonstrable future advancement of their privacy practices. www.cosn.org/trusted

About East Maine School District 63
East Maine School District 63 offers a rich learning environment and multicultural perspective to more than 3,600 students in the diverse communities of Des Plaines, Niles, Glenview, Park Ridge, and Morton Grove in Illinois. Committed to teaching excellence that provides all students with the specific opportunities they need to succeed and thrive, District 63’s preschool, five elementary schools (K-5), Gemini Middle School (6-8), and afterschool programs foster each student’s academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth and achievement. www.emsd63.org

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:
For CoSN: Makenzie Carlin, mcarlin@fratelli.com
For East Maine School District 63: Janet Spector Bishop, jbishop@emsd63.org