In middle and high schools across the country, a quiet revolution is taking place. Traditional hall passes, once a staple of the school experience, are rapidly giving way to a better alternative: the digital hall pass. The idea of using paper hall passes is pretty old school when you think about the technology available in schools today. But the shift to a digital hall pass isn’t driven by modernization alone. Schools are making the switch because a digital hall pass has obvious advantages over its traditional counterpart.
The Problems with Traditional Hall Passes
For decades, schools have relied on manual hall pass systems, often consisting of a simple piece of paper or a laminated card. While this system benefits from simplicity, it also suffers from obvious flaws.
- Detracts from Instruction
Teachers must interrupt their lessons to write out passes, taking valuable time away from instruction - Prone to Abuse
Paper passes are easily lost, discarded, forged, or reused, making it too easy to circumvent the system - Unnecessary Confrontation
Administrators and teachers don’t know which students have valid reasons to be out of class without confronting them directly - Unreliable Records
Administrators have no way of knowing how many students are in class or using hall passes at any time, making it hard to account for students in the event of an emergency or an investigation - Limited Data for Decision Making
Without reliable data on hall pass usage, schools can’t quantify misuse or identify hall pass usage patterns that could inform better policies - Inconsistent Enforcement
Different teachers may have varying standards for issuing passes, leading to inequitable treatment of students and a lack of clear expectations - Privacy Risks
Students’ personal information and reasons for leaving class are documented publicly, creating privacy issues
The issues with traditional hall passes may not seem that significant, especially if you’ve never experienced a better way. Yet, these “small” issues often contribute to the big issues administrators must navigate every day, like vaping, vandalism, bullying, safety concerns, and teacher burnout.
Why School Principals Make the Switch to a Digital Hall Pass
Principals who’ve already implemented a digital hall pass like Securly Pass know firsthand their advantages. When they’re asked how a digital hall pass has improved their school climate and culture, each one has a unique story to tell. But here are the five things they consistently mention.
1. Know Who Has Approved Hall Passes, Without a Confrontation
Securly Pass keeps a real-time record of all students with active passes. Staff and teachers can quickly confirm if a student is authorized to be out of class or not. If a student is found in the hallway without an approved digital pass, both the staff member and the student immediately understand the situation. There’s no need for arguments or debates; the system provides a straightforward, indisputable record.
“With Securly Pass, when a faculty member sees a student in the bathroom, they can check their phone and know if the student is approved to be there or not. There’s no confrontation or arguing. The student either has a pass or they don’t. If they don’t, they go back to class.”
Justin Lansley, Assistant Principal, Queensbury High School, Queensbury, NY
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2. Stop Student Meetups, Limiting Opportunities for Bullying, Vaping, and Vandalism
With Securly Pass, you can restrict the number of passes in use at any one time, set limits by grade, prohibit specific students from using passes at the same time, and more. With controls in place to restrict hall pass abuse and misuse, you’re able to maximize in-class time and minimize opportunities for risky and problematic behaviors.
“When I asked our middle school principals for feedback about Securly Pass, they said the first thing they noticed was an improvement in the destructive behavior in school bathrooms. That behavior immediately started to turn for the better after we implemented Pass.”
Jaime Arnts, Supervisor of Education Technology, Easton Area School District, Easton, PA
3. Create Accountability and Community
Because Securly Pass formalizes policies around hall pass usage, there’s no guesswork about what’s acceptable and what isn’t. This clarifies expectations for students, as well as for teachers and staff. Everyone knows what’s expected of them, which can have a profoundly positive impact on school culture and climate.
“Securly Pass is the cornerstone of a cultural shift on our campus. Our school is a totally different place. I’ve never used any tool in my whole career that has had such an immediate and profound impact.”
James Arndt, Head Principal, Camelback High School, Phoenix, AZ
Read the case study
4. Reduce Student Suspensions and Discipline Issues
With Securly Pass, schools are able to minimize hall pass abuse and misuse. Students’ opportunities to engage in undesirable or unsafe behaviors are severely limited. Plus, with formalized processes and clear expectations in place, most students naturally make better decisions.
“In our first year since implementing Securly Pass, we have seen a 64% decrease in suspensions and a 23% decrease in course failures. The culture among our staff is filled with joy, hope, and gratitude.”
Casey Fries, Principal, Lincoln East High School, Lincoln, NE
5. Implement a Tool that Teachers Love, Too
Getting teachers to adopt technology can be notoriously challenging. But this is rarely the case with a digital hall pass. Teachers are generally excited about using a digital hall pass because of the many advantages they provide over manual hall pass processes.
“This is one of the few implementations where our teachers were already wanting more training and were excited. Securly Pass is a no-brainer when it comes to safety and knowing where your students are.”
Dr. Rob Furman, Principal, South Park Elementary Center, South Park Township, PA
Isn’t It Time You Experience a Digital Hall Pass for Yourself?
Asking your peers about their experiences with a digital hall pass is a great way to understand what’s possible. But the best way to determine if a digital hall pass is right for your school is to experience it first-hand.
Our team of former educators is ready and waiting to answer your questions and show you how Securly Pass can help you regain control of student movement.
