In this Act:
"Community College Board" means the Illinois Community College Board.
"Community colleges" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-2 of the Public Community College Act.
"Early learning" means any publicly funded education and care program supporting young children not yet enrolled in kindergarten.
"Elementary" means kindergarten through eighth grade.
"Institution of higher learning" means a public or non-public entity that meets one or more of the following:
"Longitudinal data system" means a student unit record data system that links student records from early learning through the postsecondary level, which may consist of separate student unit record systems integrated through agreement and data transfer mechanisms.
"Privacy protection laws" means the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 ( 20 U.S.C. 1232g) , the Illinois School Student Records Act, the Personal Information Protection Act, and any other State or federal law relating to the confidentiality and protection of personally identifiable information.
"Research organization" means a governmental entity, institution of higher learning, public policy or advocacy organization, or other person or entity conducting educational research that (i) is qualified to perform educational research and protect the privacy of student data, (ii) is seeking to perform research for a non-commercial purpose authorized by privacy protection laws, and (iii) agrees to perform the research pursuant to a written agreement meeting the requirements of privacy protection laws and this Act.
"School" means any elementary or secondary educational institution, charter school, vocational school, special education facility, or any other elementary or secondary educational agency or institution, but does not include a non-public school.
"Secondary" means ninth through twelfth grade.
"State Board" means the State Board of Education.
"State Education Authorities" means the State Board, Community College Board, and Board of Higher Education.
105 ILCS 13/10