Student Data Privacy
Joliet Township High School District 204 takes the privacy of our student's data seriously. This page intends to make transparent and provide information regarding student data privacy laws. Most recently the Student Online Personal Protection Act, or SOPPA, a new Illinois data privacy law effective July 1, 2021 regulates student electronic data collection and use by schools, ISBE, and education technology operators.
What is SOPPA?
What happens to the student Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data that we send to a third-party operator? Information like names, birthdates, etc. may be provided by to a third party to support instruction. What protections do those companies have in place to make sure that our student's data is not sold or freely given to others? This is exactly what SOPPA looks to address. As part of SOPPA, these companies must enter into Data Privacy Agreements (DPA) with each district they work with. These agreements outline what data is stored, how it is protected, what the company can and cannot do with that data, and what they will do in the event of a data breach.
What are Data Privacy Agreements (DPA)?
Joliet Township High School District 204 leverages the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC), which is a collaborative of schools, districts, regional, territories and state agencies, policy makers, trade organizations and marketplace providers addressing real-world, adaptable, and implementable solutions to growing data privacy concerns. If you would like to read more about the SDPC, click here. If you would like to view the DPAs that Joliet Township High School District 204 currently holds, please click the following link: Joliet Township High School District 204 Data Privacy Agreements
Parent/Guardian Data Review
Contact the Director of Information Technology Services Matt Kellett mkellett@jths.org to request copies of, to inspect or to request corrections to your child’s covered information.
Important Data Privacy Laws
Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA): Guarantees that student data is protected when collected by educational technology companies, and that data is used for beneficial purposes only.
Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA): Imposes certain requirements on schools that utilize the federal E-Rate program to receive discounts for internet access and other technology services, or that receive federal grants for other technology expenses.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Governs information in a student’s education record, restricting access and use of student information
