For years, when K–12 IT leaders talked about access, they meant one thing: getting students online. But today’s definition has expanded beyond bandwidth to include security — both digital and physical — as well as the ability for students and families to experience an educational environment on a level playing field, with the same resources as their peers. In these situations, technology can enable, control or prohibit access, and K–12 IT teams can use it to their advantage to create an optimal learning experience for all.
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Security, Networking and Emerging Technologies Keep Districts and Their Students Connected
As technology evolves at a rapid pace, it requires money, time and expertise to implement fully in K–12 schools — three things that can be in short supply in many districts. For rural schools, which historically have fewer resources than their urban and suburban counterparts, it can be especially difficult to access emerging tools for students and staff. Some rural districts are getting creative when it comes to bringing students and teachers up to speed on using the latest artificial intelligence technology.
AI is going a long way toward keeping schools connected, both digitally and interpersonally. AI-enabled networking solutions are ensuring school networks can adapt to changing demands and self-heal when there’s an issue, providing uninterrupted connectivity when schools need it most. And AI language translators are simplifying communication between students, families and teachers, building a bridge that allows families to participate in their students’ education, no matter what language they speak.
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Prioritizing access means controlling it, both physically and digitally. Multifactor authentication solutions ensure only authorized users can access tools and view files that may be off limits to others. This level of control requires careful communication to achieve buy-in from users. Some districts are even extending MFA to students to further strengthen their defenses. Visitor management software and building access control solutions ensure that everyone on school property is where they’re supposed to be. Remote solutions ease the burden on school staff members while making it easier for visitors and staff to enter areas they’re authorized to be in.
As districts continue modernizing their systems, access will keep evolving alongside the technology that supports it. What once centered on devices and connectivity now extends to identity, safety, communication and capacity. By approaching access as a multidimensional goal rather than a single metric, K–12 leaders can build environments where learning is protected, people are connected and every student, family and staff member has a secure way in.
