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Learn about upcoming events, K-12 edtech insights, back-to-school tips, student mental health resources, software implementation and utilization, and more, from the experts at Lightspeed on the Lightspeed Systems® blog.

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What does Oklahoma HB 2371 represent for student safety?

Senate Bill S5025, currently under legislative review, introduces new provisions focused on student safety and digital threat management, reinforcing schools’ responsibilities in protecting students from cyber threats and online harassment.

Stay Ahead of New DASA Compliance Requirements

New York schools must prepare for the latest compliance updates under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). Senate Bill S5025, currently under legislative review, introduces new provisions focused on student safety and digital threat management, reinforcing schools’ responsibilities in protecting students from cyber threats and online harassment.

What Student Safety Monitoring Tools Don’t Do (And Why That Matters)

Schools are increasingly turning to student safety monitoring tools to help protect students from online threats, self-harm, cyberbullying, and other digital dangers. While these tools play a crucial role in creating a safer learning environment, there are still plenty of misconceptions about what they actually do—and what they don’t do.

5 Key Reports Every Curriculum & Instruction Leader Needs

Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) leaders aim to ensure that instructional strategies and materials—both digital and traditional—are effective and aligned with district instructional and compliance standards. Within are five essential reports that an advanced K12 platform can provide.

5 Key Reports Every K-12 Finance Leader Needs

Today, K-12 finance leaders are tasked with balancing tight budgets, maximizing returns on technology investments, and ensuring transparency for stakeholders. Having the right data at the right time is crucial.

5 Must-Have Reports for School Board Decision-Making

School board members face a monumental task: steering the district toward academic excellence while ensuring fiscal responsibility, compliance, and overall student well-being. In a landscape where technology permeates every classroom, data and reporting have become essential tools for making informed decisions.

5 Essential Reports for K-12 IT Admins

K-12 technology administrators are the unsung heroes of today’s digital classrooms, juggling everything from device rollouts and network security to software updates and user support. A key part of this role is having clear, actionable data that informs everything from budgeting to bandwidth allocation.

5 Essential Reports for K-12 Safety and Student Services Teams

Student safety is a top priority for K-12 schools, and data plays a crucial role in identifying risks, ensuring compliance, and supporting well-being. With the right reports, safety and student services teams can proactively address concerns and create a secure learning environment.

How 7 Critical K-12 IT Challenges Sparked Lightspeed Signal’s Creation

K12 IT leaders have a tall order: keep devices secure and compliant, manage assets effectively, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and respond to outages before chaos erupts—all with limited time and resources. Rather than guess what districts need, we asked them directly.

Great Debate: Monitoring Student Online Activity — Safety Net or Invasive Surveillance?

With school safety incidents and mental health crises on the rise, monitoring student online activity is becoming a critical issue. But there’s tension between the need for proactive protection and concerns about student privacy. Is digital monitoring essential to keep students safe—or a step too far?

Is Everyone Too Freaked Out About Student Screen Time?

Just two words, and yet they spark debates in school board meetings, parent forums, and education conferences across the country. The concern is understandable—parents, educators, and policymakers all want what's best for students. But like most hot-button topics, the conversation around screen time in schools often lacks nuance.

Webinar Recap: Lightspeed Classroom 2025 Roadmap – What’s New, What’s Coming, and Your Questions Answered

Yesterday, the product team hosted an engaging webinar to share the latest updates, upcoming features, and future plans for Lightspeed Classroom. The session, led by Charlotte Lescroart, Strategic Account Manager, and Mike Ruby, Director of Product Management for Classroom, provided valuable insights into how Lightspeed is addressing challenges in digital learning and empowering educators with innovative tools.

Great Debate: Sending Devices Home — Essential for Connectivity or Asking for Trouble?

As schools aim to close the digital divide, many districts are grappling with a tough question: Should students take school-provided devices home, or is it safer and more cost-effective to keep them at school? Here’s why this decision matters—and what schools need to weigh before deciding.

5 Key Reports Your Superintendent Wants

Superintendents carry the vital responsibility of setting the vision and strategic direction for their entire school district. From overseeing academic performance to ensuring financial accountability and efficiency, data is central to making informed decisions that positively impact students and staff.

Moving Beyond Reactive Student Safety to Proactive Early Detection & Intervention

Traditional security measures—such as metal detectors, surveillance cameras, fences, and door locks—serve as essential components of school safety protocols. However, these measures often act as reactive solutions, addressing threats only after they have materialized.

Proactive School Safety: How SROs and K-12 Safety Professionals Can Collaborate for a Safer, Healthier Campus

School safety demands more than just emergency drills and secure entries. From preventing potential threats to nurturing mental well-being, School Resource Officers (SROs) and other K-12 safety professionals play a critical role in creating a holistic environment where students can thrive.

A New Chapter in Proactive Student Safety: Lightspeed Systems + STOPit Solutions

We’re not just merging companies. We’re merging missions. And we’re just getting started. Learn more about how Lightspeed Alert + STOPit can help enhance safety at your school.

Rethinking Digital Learning Management: The Role of Interoperability

The key to success isn’t just adopting new tools – it’s ensuring those tools work together seamlessly to enhance visibility and control of your online ecosystem. Lightspeed Systems is designed to meet these needs, offering a unified platform that brings together filtering, classroom management, analytics, device monitoring, and student safety solutions.

Great Debate: YouTube in Schools — Block or Allow?

For school leaders, the debate around whether to block or allow YouTube is heated. Should districts block the platform entirely or embrace its educational potential while setting limits?

The #1 Way to Reduce K-12 IT Support Tickets

Lightspeed Signal is the first solution designed specifically to deliver the comprehensive IT visibility districts need by consolidating device, app, and internet health data into a single platform.

Exciting 2025 Product Updates from Lightspeed Systems

Missed our inaugural Product Roadmap webinar? No worries! From innovative new features to upcoming product enhancements, we covered everything you need to know.

Why Middle School is the Peak of Screen Time — and What Schools Can Do About It

Screen time peaks during middle school for valid reasons, but this doesn’t mean it should go unmanaged. By analyzing trends, implementing limits, and promoting intentional digital use, schools can ensure that middle schoolers stay focused and healthy, rather than overwhelmed by the negative effects of screen time.

Why Do Districts Love Lightspeed Systems Data?

Known for its innovative solutions tailored for K-12 education, Lightspeed Systems empowers districts with actionable data that enhances learning, ensures safety, and optimizes resources. Why do districts across the world love it? Because data is at the heart of what we do.

How to Simplify App Approvals & Public List Management

With thousands of educational apps available and in use in your district, visibility of which are in use and managing which are approved for classroom use is a critical responsibility – and…

Breaking Down K-12 Screen Time: What Every Parent and School Leader Should Know

Parents and educators alike are worried about the amount of time students spend glued to screens; our latest data shows that the average K-12 student spends 98 minutes a day on school-issued devices in class and 117 minutes total when factoring in after-school use.

How a Free App Audit Can Help Schools Manage Privacy, Security, and Compliance

With hundreds of apps in use across a district, IT teams need a way to ensure these tools are safe, compliant, and aligned with educational goals. A free App Audit can help by providing a clear picture of app usage, identifying compliance risks, and supporting better decision-making for IT leaders.

Texas SB 1893 Updates: Navigating Compliance as the Banned Apps List Grows

TikTok may be back – but not on Texas school devices. With SB 1893 compliance remaining a priority, Texas districts must ensure that prohibited applications, including TikTok, stay off school networks. As the list of banned apps continues to grow, ongoing monitoring is essential to maintain compliance and prevent security risks.

3 Steps to Building a Culture of Student Data Privacy in Your School District

A strong data privacy culture goes beyond compliance – it helps safeguard student information and builds trust with educators and families. Here’s how districts can integrate privacy best practices into daily operations.

A Focus on Focus: Technology, Education, and Student Success

Technology in education is here to stay—and it should be. The digital skills students gain today are critical for success in college, careers, and life. But as we’ve seen from our work with schools, the key is striking the right balance between the benefits and challenges of technology.

Introducing Lightspeed Signal: Smarter IT Management for Schools

Lightspeed Signal equips K-12 IT teams with integrated insights to proactively minimize classroom disruptions, streamline inventory management, and support districtwide initiatives.

Success for All Education Trust Ensure Compliance and Financial Viability with Lightspeed Insight

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