CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) today announced two new recipients of the national Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal: Virginia’s Loudoun County Public Schools and Alabama’s Satsuma City Schools. Both schools were awarded the Seal for committing to rigorous practices and policies to protect student data.
 
Loudoun County Public Schools is the 47th largest school district in the country, supporting more than 80,000 students. Established in 2011, Satsuma City Schools, located in Mobile County, Alabama, currently serves more than 1,400 students and has a free and reduced lunch rate of 43 percent.
 
The districts, which will be recognized at the CoSN 2018 Annual Conference next week, reflect the diversity of small, large, urban and rural schools that have earned the Seal. They join the following Seal recipients: Baltimore County Public Schools (MD); Boulder Valley School District (CO); Butler County Schools (AL); Cambridge Public Schools (MA); Denver Public Schools (CO); Fulton County Schools (GA); Highland Local Schools (OH); Lewisville Independent School District (TX); Miami-Dade County Public Schools (FL); Park Hill School District (MO); Raytown Quality Schools (MO); Round Rock Independent School District (TX); and Zionsville Community Schools (IN).
 
“Privacy and security are among the biggest challenges schools face today. Meeting this challenge requires a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement across entire school systems. Loudoun County Public Schools and Satsuma City Schools have answered the call,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “We applaud the emphasis they have placed on this 21st-century issue. Congratulations to both districts.”
 
“This Seal serves as an external validation that will help us communicate to our community the seriousness with which we approach the privacy and security of student data. Our focus on meeting the high standards associated with the five core practice areas helped us take our work in this area to the next level,” said Dr. Eric Williams, Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools.
 
“Satsuma City Schools takes data privacy very seriously,” said Jana Hoggle, Director of Technology, Satsuma City Schools. “The TLE Seal is confirmation of the dedication of our stakeholders to provide our students a safe learning environment and assurance for their families that data security is a top priority.”
 
Loudoun County Public Schools and Satsuma City Schools received the Seal for demonstrating effective student data privacy practices in the following areas:
 
  • Leadership, by managing and collaborating with stakeholders regarding the use and governance of student data to inform instruction.
  • Business, by establishing acquisition vetting processes and contracts that, at minimum, address applicable compliance with laws while supporting innovation.
  • Data security, by performing regular audits of data privacy and security practices and publicly detailing these measures.  
  • Professional development, by requiring school staff to conduct privacy and security training and offering related resources to all stakeholders in the community.
  • Classroom, by implementing educational procedures and processes to ensure transparency while advancing curricular goals.
 
As Seal recipients, both school districts will be required to maintain their strong commitment to student data privacy and reapply for the TLE Seal every two years.
 
Developed for K-12 school systems of all governance structures, the TLE Seal was formed through decades of experience and expertise from 28 school system leaders nationwide, as well as the Program’s lead partners: AASA, The School Superintendents Association; the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO); and ASCD. Their collective input identified the steps schools should take – beyond regulatory compliance – to help ensure student data privacy and security.
 
Learn more about the TLE Seal Program at: trustedlearning.org.