When schools choose a partner to help educate their students, they aren’t just choosing a vendor. They’re choosing someone to share responsibility for instruction, for student success, and for keeping sensitive student data secure.
At Elevate K-12, we uphold the highest standards of data privacy. And now, we’ve taken it one step further. As of April 11, 2025, Elevate K-12 has successfully completed a System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 examination. This is more than a checkbox or a seal of approval. It is a rigorous, independent review that validates the safeguards and systems we’ve put in place to protect student and district data.
For the school districts we work alongside, this milestone offers added peace of mind: Elevate’s systems are built to keep data safe, available, and confidential, just as your IT, legal, and data privacy teams expect.
But compliance doesn’t stop at certification. Our commitment to privacy and security is woven into everything we do, from product design and data handling to educator onboarding and service delivery. In this post, we’ll walk through what our SOC 2 certification means, how it supports our partners, and how Elevate K-12 continues to evolve our practices to meet the highest standards in student data protection.
Download Elevate K-12’s 2025 SOC 3 report→
What is SOC 2 and Why Does It Matter?
SOC 2 is a cybersecurity compliance standard created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It is designed for organizations that handle sensitive information, particularly those offering cloud-based services, such as Elevate.
Our examination focused on the Common Criteria and Security scope and was conducted by A-LIGN, a leading firm trusted by thousands of global organizations for cybersecurity compliance. The result: Elevate K-12 met the standards and earned certification.
“Achieving SOC 2 certification is a meaningful milestone that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the data entrusted to us by schools, educators, and students,” said Tim Schmucker, Vice President of IT and Security at Elevate K-12. “We’re proud of the maturity of our security program and will continue to strengthen it in alignment with best practices.”
What It Means for Our District Partners
For district leaders, IT directors, and data privacy officers, SOC 2 compliance is a meaningful signal. It shows that a company isn’t just saying the right things. It is doing the right things and has the audit to prove it.
Here’s how SOC 2 compliance benefits our district partners:
Peace of Mind for Student Data
You trust us with sensitive student and classroom information, such as names, IEP status, assessments, and more. SOC 2 validates that Elevate has controls in place to protect that data from breaches or misuse.
Systems Designed for Availability and Integrity
LIVE teaching only works if systems stay up and running when schools need them most. Our certified infrastructure ensures consistent and stable service, as well as the integrity of data shared in real-time.
Alignment with District Privacy Requirements
Many districts require vendors to meet state-specific data protection agreements or federal standards, such as FERPA and COPPA. SOC 2 helps demonstrate that Elevate is aligned with those expectations, saving your team time during procurement and contract reviews.
Proactive, Not Reactive, Compliance
By investing in a third-party audit, Elevate is opting to exceed minimum legal requirements. We are not just reacting to compliance trends. We are staying ahead of them, with a robust security posture that will scale as education technology evolves.
Elevate’s Broader Commitment to Privacy
SOC 2 is one part of the picture. Elevate’s entire approach to data protection is built on a foundation of transparency, responsibility, and continuous improvement.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
A Privacy Policy Built for Education
Our Privacy Policy outlines how we handle personal information across our website, systems, and services. Importantly, it reflects key principles that guide every aspect of our work:
- We never sell or rent personal information.
- We don’t use student data for marketing.
- We don’t claim ownership of district or student data.
- We only use data to deliver and improve educational services.
Purpose-Bound Use of Student Data
Elevate only collects and uses student data to fulfill our agreements with districts. This involves providing instruction, enhancing student outcomes, and fostering classroom learning. Nothing more.
When teachers deliver live instruction, they only access the student data they need—such as a student’s first and last name, IEP status, or participation data—within secure, role-based systems. Every teacher is trained on secure data handling practices as part of their onboarding.
Secure Infrastructure and Risk Management
We maintain an information security program that includes:
- Access control and identity management
- Risk assessments and vulnerability scans
- Ongoing employee training and awareness
- Secure data storage on U.S.-based servers
- Incident response protocols aligned with legal obligations
In the event of a data breach, Elevate will notify affected districts promptly and take swift steps to address the issue in accordance with state and federal requirements.
For Districts, It’s About Trust
When districts choose Elevate K-12, they’re choosing more than certified teachers or a classroom solution. They’re choosing a partner they can trust both academically and operationally.
Every district we work with expects us to deliver excellent instruction. But just as importantly, they expect us to be responsible stewards of their data.
With SOC 2 certification now in place, a robust foundation of internal security controls, and a public, evolving commitment to privacy, we’re proud to meet that expectation and continually raise the bar.
We’ll continue to share updates and insights as our privacy practices evolve. In the meantime, if you have any questions about Elevate’s privacy or compliance policies, we invite you to connect with our team or reach out directly at [email protected].