This page is intended to provide teachers with information about SOPPA, a list of approved vendors, and a method for requesting Channahon School District 17 enter into a DPA so a resource can be used with students.
SOPPA stands for Student Online Personal Protection Act.
It is an Illinois law that went into effect on July 1, 2021.
In short, the law states that before students can use online tools, the school district must first enter into agreements with the vendors to understand and disclose what types of student data is being collected and how it is being collected.
As a classroom teacher, you are likely going to find that SOPPA puts a little bit of a cramp in your style. Any websites or applications that collect student information (think: the student has to log in to use it) will have some rules attached to your use of it in the classroom.
Does our school district already have a contract with the operator? If so, you can go ahead and use that application or website! If not, you can't use it. In order for you, as the teacher, to have students use a website or application that collects student data (the student has to log in to use it), the district has to already have a signed contract in place. This is how the transparency happens: the operator shares what data they are collecting and how it is being used; the district reviews this to be sure it is compliant with SOPPA; the district posts this information to make it publicly available.
You will have to know where to find that list of contracts so you can see if the websites or tools you want to use are available. Easy! You can find the list here!
You will need to know how to go about making a request for being able to use a website or application that is not on the list. That's also easy -- just look below!
I'm sure your next question is, "How long will it take to get something approved?" Honestly, I have no idea. This is a new process for all of us, so that is TBD. Part of it will be reliant upon our efficiency; part of it will be reliant upon the operator's efficiency.
In short, bad news: it will take a little bit of legwork and time to get access to any new online tools for kids to use; good news: we will have a much clearer understanding of how student data is being used which will ultimately make it safer for students to be online.
Please follow these steps:
Gather the following information:
The name of the company/vendor (it may be the same as the website, it may not be -- for example, TeacherEase is owned by Common Goal Systems).
The full URL of the website.
Go to this website to see if we already have a signed agreement with the company/vendor.
If so, you are free to use the site with students.
If not, go to the next step.
Click here to fill out a request.
I will be notified if any new requests come through, and they will be addressed ASAP.
You will be kept updated on the progress of your request.
Please follow these steps:
Please have the name of the company/vendor as seen on the SOPPA list here.
Click here to complete an opt out letter request.
I will be notified of the request, and it will be addressed ASAP.
I will generate a complete opt out letter for you to be able to use:
Send hard copies home with parents
Copy/paste into an email
Attach to an email