Fulton Schools Recognized For Protecting Student Privacy

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- On Tuesday, the Fulton County School System received a new designation that recognizes its leadership in student privacy protection and data security.

Awarded by CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking), the Trusted Learning Environment Seal identifies school systems that demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the privacy and security of student data.

Only seven school systems nationwide received the TLE Seal during its inaugural year.

“Fulton County Schools is pleased to be named among the nation’s top leaders in this important area,” said Serena Sacks, the school system’s chief information officer. “Our parents entrust their children’s information to us daily, and we take our charge seriously to be responsible stewards of that data.”

TLE Seal-designated districts were selected based on their effective practices for managing student privacy and data security, such as:

• Leadership, including managing and collaborating with stakeholders regarding the use and governance of student data to inform instruction.
• Business, including establishing acquisition vetting processes and contracts that, at minimum, address applicable compliance with laws while supporting innovation.
• Data Security, including performing regular audits of data privacy and security practices and publicly detailing these measures.
• Professional Development, including requiring school staff to conduct privacy and security training and offering related resources to all stakeholders in the community.
• Classroom, including implementing educational procedures and processes to ensure transparency while advancing curricular goals.

The designation was formed by CoSN using input from school system leaders and lead partners AASA, The School Superintendents Association; the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO); and ASCD. Their collective expertise and experiences pinpointed the steps school districts should take – beyond regulatory compliance – to ensure student data privacy and security.

“Fulton County Schools has built a culture of trust and transparency," said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. "It continues to make these efforts every day while taking advantage of the benefits and promise of technology in modern learning settings."

Joining Fulton County Schools on the TLE Seal list are Butler County (AL) Schools, Cambridge (MA) Public Schools, Denver (CO) Public Schools, Lewisville (TX) Independent School District, Miami-Dade (FL) County Public Schools and Raytown (MO) Quality Schools.

The schools districts are required to maintain their commitment to digital privacy and reapply for the TLE Seal every two years.

CoSN is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. The mission of CoSN is to empower educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments.

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