CoSN today awarded the Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal to Rockingham County Public Schools (RCPS). The TLE Seal is a prestigious national distinction that school districts earn for demonstrating a commitment to protecting student data through modern, rigorous policies and practices.
 
A small, rural district in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, RCPS is responsible for managing the privacy of more than 11,600 students. It is the second school system in Virginia to receive the Seal.
 
“We are thrilled to be recognized by CoSN through the TLE Seal for our efforts to implement student data privacy best practices,” said Dr. Oskar Scheikl, Division Superintendent of RCPS. “Over the last two years, Director of Technology Kevin Perkins has led a Rockingham County Public Schools partnership with our families, teachers and students to promote the responsible use of digital resources and reinforce digital behaviors that protect personal security and privacy. Our in-house Data Privacy Team is committed to staying up to date on our community’s latest needs, as technologies and privacy issues continue to evolve.”
 
 The TLE Seal serves as a critical privacy framework for school districts of all sizes across the country working to protect their students’ information. Earning the TLE Seal requires that school systems take measurable steps to ensure strong data privacy practices in the following areas:
 
  • Leadership, by providing the guidance, frameworks and resources to direct the use and governance of student data in a manner that is transparent to all stakeholders.
  • Business, by establishing vetting processes and contracts for technology providers that, at a minimum, comply with applicable laws while supporting innovation.
  • Data security, by implementing strong data protection practices across all media and auditing regularly to maintain high thresholds over time.
  • Professional development, by requiring school staff to conduct privacy and security training and offering related resources to all community stakeholders.
  • Classroom, by implementing educational processes and procedures to ensure transparency and build privacy knowledge while advancing curricular goals.
“Congratulations to Rockingham County Public Schools for their leadership in implementing robust practices to help protect their students’ privacy. In this era of data-driven education, a school district’s commitment to improving privacy practices is essential to protect the well-being of its students and build trust with parents and other community members. RCPS joins an exemplary group of districts that have earned this national Seal. We are excited about its continued growth in Virginia and across the country,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN.
 
Rockingham County Public Schools joins a select group of school districts in small, large, urban and rural communities that have earned the Seal. As a recipient, RCPS has committed to ongoing improvement of their student data privacy practices. To maintain their status as a TLE Seal recipient, RCPS will be required to demonstrate that improvement through a reapplication process every two years.
 
MEDIA CONTACTS:
For CoSN: Heidi Payter, hpayter@fratelli.com, 202-822-9491
For RCPS: David W. Burchfield, dburchfield@rockingham.k12.va.us, 540-564-3207
 
To learn more about the TLE Seal Program visit trustedlearning.org.
 
 
About CoSN
CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community best practices and advocacy tools to help leaders succeed in the digital transformation. CoSN represents over 13 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. 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 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. trustedlearning.org
 
About Rockingham County Public Schools
Living in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Rockingham County students attend 15 elementary, 4 middle, 4 high schools, a governor’s school, a technical center and an alternative education center. The student enrollment of over 11,600 students is supported by nearly 2,000 full-time employees. Dr. Oskar Scheikl is Rockinghan’s Division Superintendent. rcps.net