As the year winds down and schools head into a well-deserved winter break, it feels natural to pause and take stock of everything 2025 brought to K-12 education.
Digital learning accelerated. Student behavior evolved. AI found its place in classrooms and counseling offices. And through it all, educators, IT teams, and student services leaders stayed focused on one thing: creating safe, supportive environments where students can learn and grow.
At Securly, we saw the same themes come up again and again. Schools wanted clarity. They wanted transparency. They wanted tools that make a meaningful difference. As we look ahead to 2026, these five topics capture the issues school communities spent the most time thinking about this year.
The 10 Types of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying now takes many forms, including exclusion, impersonation, harassment, doxing, trolling, and the sharing of private information without consent. Each type shows up differently on student devices and can impact a student’s mental and emotional health in unique ways. The full list helps educators and parents recognize behaviors that might otherwise be overlooked.
Why it matters: When adults understand how cyberbullying appears across platforms, they can spot it earlier and step in with the right support.
Read it here.
Securly safetyOS™ AI Transparency and the Future of Student Safety
AI has become a part of daily student life, from creativity and research to conversation-based tools. Many schools want visibility into how students are interacting with AI and how those interactions might impact well-being. AI Transparency in safetyOS™ gives districts insight into AI usage trends, classroom patterns, and even individual prompts, along with alerts when AI activity signals risk.
Why it matters: Schools need clarity to set thoughtful policies and ensure students use AI safely and responsibly. Transparency makes that possible.
Read it here.
How Digital Hall Pass Works
Digital hall passes give schools a way to track student movement more accurately and reduce unstructured time in hallways. Students request passes on their devices, staff review and approve them in real time, and administrators can view patterns that reveal meet ups, repeated requests, or areas where supervision may need to be strengthened.
Why it matters: Stronger visibility helps schools cut down on disruptions, sharpen campus safety, and return instructional time to the classroom.
Read it here.
Why Students Bypass School Web Filters
Students often try to bypass filters for entertainment, curiosity, or to access blocked content. Common methods include VPNs, proxies, hotspotting, and browser tricks. These attempts can expose students to unsafe websites, malware, or interactions that put their privacy at risk.
Why it matters: Understanding the motivations and methods behind bypassing helps schools strengthen their filtering setup and address the root causes driving students to work around controls.
Read it here.
Safe, Kid-Friendly YouTube Alternatives
Many teachers rely on video to keep students engaged, but open platforms can surface distractions or inappropriate recommendations. Several kid-friendly platforms offer curated, age-appropriate educational content that supports learning without exposing students to unwanted material.
Why it matters: Safe video options help teachers make the most of multimedia instruction while keeping students focused and protected.
Read it here.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The conversations happening in 2025 all point to a similar truth. Schools are navigating a digital world that is changing faster than ever, and they are doing it with intention, compassion, and a clear desire to support students in every space they occupy — online, in classrooms, or in hallways.
As you catch your breath this winter break and start planning for January, we hope these resources give you a helpful head start.
Wishing you a safe, restorative, and hopeful start to 2026.
