Illinois District Recognized for Advancing Student Data Privacy, Supported by Illinois Participation in TLE State Partnership Program

Washington, D.C. (December 16, 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 Business Practice — the district’s second Mini Seal earned in 2025. After earning a Mini Seal in the Leadership Practice in October, East Maine School District 63 became one of seven Illinois districts to earn a TLE Seal or Mini Seal.

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. To date, TLE Seal recipients nationwide have improved privacy protections for over 1.4 million students.

With Illinois’ entry into the TLE State Partnership Program in September 2024, all districts in the state gained access to free, unlimited TLE Seal applications and renewals, among other resources, to improve data privacy practices. Through this initiative, East Maine School District 63 joined one of two pilot cohorts focused on the leadership and business practices — laying the foundation for the district’s two Mini Seal achievements this year.

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

  • Implement a process for vetting online services for data privacy and security;
  • Regularly educate staff on the importance of and expectations for using the vetting process for online services;
  • Incorporate student data privacy and security expectations into contract language and data-sharing agreements; and
  • Apply enforceable privacy and security standards to all business processes associated with student data.

“We congratulate East Maine School District 63 on this achievement. Strong business processes are critical to the success of any effective student data privacy program, and the district’s demonstrated progress in this area reflects a clear commitment to continuous improvement,” said Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN.

“At East Maine School District 63, we are committed to creating a secure digital environment founded on trust and best practices. The CoSN TLE Mini Seal in Business Practices validates the thoroughness of our staff in vetting online services, educating employees on data privacy and establishing protections for student data across all business processes,” 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.

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