K-12 private schools can offer unique educational opportunities and distinct advantages for students and their families. The ability to offer smaller class sizes makes it more manageable to support students’ individual learning needs, as well as their social-emotional development. A smaller school community also creates a feeling of safety and community that’s more difficult to find in traditional public schools.

While these and other benefits make independent schools appealing to many families, independent schools aren’t immune to challenges. Many are questioning how they’ll maintain financial sustainability amid increasing competition and decreasing enrollment. Like their public counterparts, independent schools are also feeling the squeeze of a teacher shortage and the urgency to support their students’ mental health.

There is no simple panacea to these problems. However, there are technology solutions that can help private schools ease the burden and reinforce their strengths.

4 Educational Technology Tools Tailor Made for Private Schools

1 | A Cloud-based School Web Filter Simplifies Student Online Safety

A cloud-based school web filter is an affordable investment that enhances student safety with minimal staff requirements. By blocking access to harmful or inappropriate websites, web filters ensure students don’t happen upon content they shouldn’t. 

School web filters that are cloud-based are particularly ideal for schools with limited IT resources because the burden of maintaining and updating the filtering software is managed by the vendor. This alleviates the need to hire expert IT resources and ensures the filter is always up-to-date with the latest security features and content categorization.

A cloud-based web filter can also keep students protected on any school device, whether on or off the network. This ensures your students’ safety isn’t sacrificed when the dismissal bell rings. Even when devices go home, they can still be filtered to protect students from dangerous and/or distracting content. 

The most common web filters used in educational settings also maintain compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), enabling schools to meet eligibility for the federal E-Rate Discounts on telecommunications and internet services.

Securly Filter is a flexible and affordable cloud web filter that does the heavy lifting of keeping kids safe and on task, while also offering features unique to K-12 education like:

• Compatibility on any device or operating system, on or off the school network
• Customizable YouTube control to address individual teacher requests
• Generative AI for students with guardrails to teach responsible use
• Compliance with the most stringent data security and student privacy protocols
• Dedicated and responsive customer support

2 | An App Specifically for Parents & Caregivers Encourages School-Family Engagement and Collaboration

A close-knit community and opportunities for family involvement are among the benefits of private schools. However, forging school-family relationships can still present challenges for any school. With the Securly Home parent app, independent schools gain an innovative tool to increase school-family engagement. 

Securly Home gives parents and caregivers real-time visibility into their students’ online activities on their school-issued devices. They can periodically check-in to see what their students are learning and doing online, and stay informed through weekly activity reports.

The Home app also helps schools provide families with equitable access to internet controls on their students’ school devices. They can monitor and manage their children’s internet usage, set screen time limits, and reinforce school policies on technology use to create a consistent experience between home and school. They can also be notified when their students’ online activities indicate signs of safety or wellness concerns.

By providing transparency and facilitating a shared responsibility for safety and digital citizenship between schools and families, Securly Home helps independent schools demonstrate their commitment to keeping students safe and building close-knit communities.

3 | Classroom Management Software

Student devices in the classroom open up new opportunities for learning, but they can also introduce digital distractions. Classroom management software helps teachers keep students focused and on task on their school devices.

Securly Classroom gives a teacher the ability to see their students’ screens from their own desktop or laptop screen. They can supervise students’ online activities and redirect students back to classroom content when needed. Visibility into students’ work also gives teachers the ability to identify and assist students who may be struggling with particular concepts.

By simplifying class monitoring and providing device management capabilities, Classroom helps teachers regain control of their classroom. When teachers can spend less time worrying about what students are doing online, they can devote more time to delivering the high-quality instruction and personalized learning that private schools are known for.

4 | Student Wellness Monitoring Demonstrates a Commitment to Students’ Mental Health and Overall Wellbeing

Independent schools are typically favored by families seeking a safe and supportive learning environment for their students. Student wellness monitoring enhances student safety and wellness by providing school support staff the ability to proactively identify early warning signs that students are struggling.

Securly Aware student wellness monitoring scans students’ online activities for indicators of distress, including depression, cyberbullying, self-harm, suicide, and violence. Designated school personnel are notified if indicators are detected so they can reach out to struggling students before things get worse. 

In addition to providing timely alerts, Securly Aware also generates continually updated Wellness Levels for each student based on the risks associated with their online activities. When wellness levels drop, they’re brought to school staff’s attention. From within Aware, they can drill down to gain additional context into the students’ online activities and web search history, helping them investigate quickly and intervene early.

Innovative edtech like Securly Aware provides resource-constrained school teams with invaluable peace of mind. They can know exactly which students need support, even those students who are harder to reach and may not be showing any visible signs. Providing additional insight, wellness levels can be monitored individually, by grade, or across the entire school to keep a pulse on school climate and quickly identify negative trends that need attention.

By taking a proactive and preventative stance on students’ safety and wellness, an independent school can bolster its reputation as a safe haven for learning. Securly Aware provides the tools and insights to feel confident students’ mental health is being prioritized.

Demonstrate Your Commitment to Student Safety and Wellness, School-Family Engagement, and Educational Excellence

Prospective families considering an independent school often do so because they value safety, community, academic rigor, and holistic student support. Private schools that can demonstrate their commitment to providing a high-quality education in a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment are positioned for long-term sustainability and success.

By implementing innovative technology tools, independent schools can differentiate themselves and feel confident they’re providing the best possible education and environment for their students.

To learn more about educational technology tools tailored to the needs of independent schools, visit www.securly.com