Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA)

District 35 takes the privacy and online safety of our students very seriously. We have always taken steps to guard closely the student data collected within our networks or by the online resources we use in our schools. Effective July 1, 2021, all school districts are 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 the data is used for beneficial purposes only. The goal of SOPPA aligns with District 35's goals to increase transparency, protect student data, and protect our students.

View District 35's approved online resources.

The list includes the online services or applications that the District uses, the contracts signed by the District, and any data collected by those tools or by the District. Prior to adding any new app or software, teachers and staff submit a form to request the District to verify if an application or tool is SOPPA compliant. The District regularly updates and verifies applications and tools.

Parents can request to review and correct any information maintained by the District or any online/application provider by contacting the District 35 privacy officer, Randy Saeks.

Video Overviews of Data Privacy Laws

STUDENT ONLINE PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT (SOPPA)

SOPPA guarantees that student data is protected when collected by educational technology companies, and that data is used for beneficial purposes only.

CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT (COPPA)

COPPA restricts the collection of personal information from children under 13 by companies operating websites, games, mobile applications, and digital services that are directed to children or that collect personal information from individuals known to be children.

CHILDREN’S INTERNET PROTECTION ACT (CIPA)

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)

FERPA governs information in a student’s education record, restricting access and use of student information

Data Breaches

District 35 will post details here about data breaches involving 10% or more of the District's students, including the number of students whose covered information was involved in the breach, date of breach (or estimate) and operator name.

Parent Guides

Parents play a key role in overseeing the online safety of their children. ConnectSafely, a nonprofit dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy, security and digital wellness, developed a series of parent guides to help parents navigate the digital world with their children.

View Policy 7:345: Use of Educational Technologies; Student Data Privacy & Security