District 64 achieved another major milestone in our ongoing commitment to protecting student data privacy. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) announced that D64 has been awarded three new Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Mini Seals in the areas of Data Security, Professional Development, and Classroom Practices.
Having previously earned a Mini Seal in Leadership, we have now secured four out of the five core components of the national TLE framework, further strengthening protections for our approximately 4,500 students.
The CoSN TLE Seal is the only data privacy framework developed specifically for K-12 school systems. The Mini Seals recognize school districts that make measurable, documented progress in implementing rigorous policies to safeguard student information.
“Earning the CoSN TLE Seal is one of education’s highest honors. This prestigious award proves our privacy strategies are working and highlights the intensive effort we put into protecting our district’s data. It’s a major win for our schools and a clear sign that student security is our top priority,” said Director of Innovation and Technology Matthew Tombs.
To earn these three additional distinctions, District 64 demonstrated comprehensive practices across several critical areas:
- Data Security: Implementing clear policies for secure data access, storage, and retention; limiting access to sensitive systems; establishing disaster recovery procedures; and performing regular safety audits.
- Professional Development: Integrating data privacy protections into mandatory staff training across all operations and instruction, ensuring practices align strictly with state and federal laws while keeping families informed.
- Classroom Practices: Promoting student digital citizenship and internet safety; vetting online classroom tools; modeling responsible data use; and maintaining transparent communication with parents regarding data practices.
“Park Ridge-Niles School District 64’s continued progress across the Trusted Learning Environment framework demonstrates what sustained commitment to student data privacy looks like in practice,” noted Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “By strengthening policies, professional learning, and classroom practices, the district is reinforcing a culture of trust and transparency that benefits students, families, and educators.”
D64 is one of seven districts in the state to earn a TLE Seal or Mini Seal. To date, TLE Seal recipients nationwide have improved privacy protections for over 1.4 million students.