Data Privacy & SOPPA
Resources, training, and support for student data privacy issues and SOPPA.
Need to get in touch?
Contact a member of our team for more information.
Chris Wherley
Director of Technology Services
cwherley@ltcillinois.org
Supporting school districts with student data privacy issues and SOPPA implementation.
The Learning Technology Center provides support and services specifically designed to assist school districts and schools with cybersecurity, data security, and student data safety. During the 2020-2021 school year, our focus is on assisting school districts with SOPPA implementation through virtual PD, one-on-one consultations, and free resources and tools for managing workflows.

Student Data Privacy Laws for School Districts
Today’s education-focused technologies enable the easy and often unseen transfer of student data from one system to another. In Illinois, school districts and staff are now responsible for understanding how student data is handled in order to comply with relevant state and federal laws. Learn more about your district’s obligations to protect student data privacy below:
Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA)
Effective July 1, 2021, school districts will be required by the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA) to provide additional guarantees that student data is protected when collected by educational technology companies, and that data is used for beneficial purposes only (105 ILCS 85).
- Legislative Brief on SOPPA
- SOPPA Introduction Video
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recommended Reasonable Security Practices
- Learn more at Illinois Student Privacy Alliance (ISPA)
Third-Party Resources
- Robbins Schwartz’s In Brief on SOPPA
- SOPPA Amendments 2021: Requirements for Written Agreements and Strategies for Risk Mitigation – This webinar was presented in collaboration with Robbins-Schwartz, the Learning Technology Center of Illinois, Gallagher, and Secure Halo to discuss SOPPA’s contract requirements and related cyber liability security measures and risk management strategies and solutions.
Upcoming Data Privacy Events
All Things SOPPA
Model Policies
- FERPA Model Notification of Rights for Elementary & Secondary Schools, U.S. Department of Education
- FERPA Model Directory Information Notice (En español), U.S. Department of Education
- PPRA Model General Notice of Rights, U.S. Department of Education
- PPRA Model Notice & Consent Opt-Out for Specific Activities, U.S. Department of Education
- Model Form for Disclosure to Parents of Dependent Students, U.S. Department of Education
- Model Form for Disclosure to Parents of Dependent Students and Consent Form for Disclosure to Parents, U.S. Department of Education