Gwinnett County Public Schools Earns National Recognition for its Student Data Privacy Work

 

Washington, D.C. (August 21, 2024) – CoSN awarded Gwinnett County Public Schools in Suwanee, Georgia, the Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal. The CoSN TLE Seal is a national distinction awarded to school districts implementing rigorous privacy policies and practices to help protect student information. To date, TLE Seal recipients have improved privacy protections for over 1.2 million students.

Gwinnett County Public Schools joins TLE Seal recipient Fulton County Public Schools in setting the standard for the CoSN TLE program in Georgia.

The CoSN TLE Seal Program mandates that school systems uphold high standards for protecting student data privacy across five key practice areas: Leadership, Business, Data Security, Professional Development and Classroom. The newly introduced TLE Mini Seal Program enables school districts nationwide to gain recognition for one or more practice areas. This program offers districts feedback and guidance on their privacy practices, serving as a stepping stone before they undertake the comprehensive TLE privacy framework. Gwinnett County Public Schools is the first district to utilize this flexible pathway to earn the full TLE Seal.

“The CoSN TLE Seal program provides the framework for school districts to follow in order to grow organization-wide student data privacy programs. We’re excited to see the dedication from Gwinnett County Public Schools to this important work, and we welcome them into our growing community of TLE Seal recipients,” said Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN.

“It is imperative to emphasize the critical importance of maintaining robust student data privacy practices within our educational institutions. In today’s digital age, protecting student information is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental aspect of fostering a safe and trustworthy learning environment,” said Dr. Nikki Mouton, Deputy Superintendent, Gwinnett County Public Schools. “Strong student data privacy practices are essential for legal compliance, building trust, fulfilling our ethical responsibilities and enhancing educational outcomes. Attainment of this seal from CoSN is evidence of the strong work happening in Gwinnett County Public Schools to safeguard our data.”

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 Classroom Officials International (ASBO) and 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 Gwinnett County Public Schools
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is located north of metro Atlanta in Suwanee, GA. GCPS is Georgia’s largest school district. Our dedicated team of approximately 24,000 educators and support staff serves more than 182,000 students in 142 schools. We are driven by our mission to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student, resulting in measured improvement against local, national, and world-class standards.  Our vision is to become a system of world-class schools where students acquire the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and careers. Our Blueprint for the Future defines our strategic priorities in the following four areas: empathy, equity, effectiveness and excellence.  Our district demonstrates excellence in our work and is committed to protecting the privacy of our data. www.gcpsk12.org/

MEDIA CONTACTS:
For CoSN: Makenzie Carlin, mcarlin@fratelli.com
For Gwinnett County Public Schools: Melissa Laramie, melissa.laramie@gcsk12.org and Bernard Watson, bernard.watson@gcpsk12.org