Annual Notice to Parents About Educational Technology Vendors Under the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPAA)

School districts throughout the State of Illinois contract with different educational technology vendors for beneficial K-12 purposes such as providing personalized learning and innovative educational technologies, and increasing efficiency in school operations.  Under IL Student Online Personal Protection Act, or SOPAA (105 ILCS 85/), education technology vendors and other entities that operate Internet websites, online services, online applications that are designed, marketed and primarily used for K-12 school purposes are referred to in SOPPA as operators.  SOPAA is intended to ensure that student data collected by operators is protected, and it requires those vendors, as well as school districts and the Illinois State Board of Education, to take a number of actions to protect online student data.

Depending upon the particular educational technology used, Vienna District #55 may need to collect different types of student data, which is then shared with educational technology vendors through their online sites, services, and/or applications.  Under SOPAA, educational technology vendors are prohibited from selling or renting a student's information or from engaging in targeted advertising using a student's information.  Such vendors may only disclose student data for K-12 school purposes and other limited purposes permitted under law.  In general terms, these types of student data may be collected and shared include personally identifiable information (PII) about students or information that can be linked to PII about students, as:

• Basic identifying information, including student or parent/guardian name and student or parent/guardian contact information, username/password, student ID number

• Demographic information

• Enrollment information

• Assessment data, grades, and transcripts

• Attendance and class schedule

• Academic and extracurricular activities

• Special indicators (e.g., disability information, ESL, free/reduced meals, homeless, etc.)

• Conduct/behavior data

• Health information

• Food purchase

• Transportation information

• In-application performance data

• Student-generated work

• Online communications

• Application metadata and application use statistics

• Permanent and temporary school student record information

Operators may collect and use student data for K-12 school purposes, which are purposes that aid in the administration of school activities, such as:

• Instruction in the classroom or at home (including remote learning)

• Administrative activities

• Collaboration between students, school personnel and/or parents/guardians

• Other activities that are for the use and benefit of the school district

Vienna District #55 Academic Program Agreements

*This listing should NOT be considered a comprehensive listing going into the 2021-2022 school year as this listing continues to be work in progress.

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 Online Privacy Protection Act (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):

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.

Questions about SOPAA and Student Data Privacy and the District #55 SOPAA Compliance can be made to Dr. Greg Frehner, Vienna District #55 Superintendent, 618-658-8286 or Email Dr. Greg Frehner