The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) unveiled its 2023 report on K-12 cybersecurity policy developments on Jan. 18, detailing the boom in state and federal education cybersecurity bills and laws that emerged last year. The comprehensive resource highlights notable policy ideas and trends, and offers […]
Category: Safety
National snapshot of school violence and crime shows mixed findings
The good news: Schools are reporting less violent crime and drug use across most grade levels. The bad news: Availability of vital student supports has declined as well — a troubling finding given the continued need among young people still recovering mentally and emotionally from […]
Report calls for national overhaul of social media ed, standards and more to support youth
A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls on social media companies, Congress, the U.S. Department of Education and others to minimize the harm of social media use on adolescents’ health while maximizing its benefits. “Many of our children have grown […]
Building community and inclusion through dialogue
Conflict is inevitable but managing it effectively can promote inclusivity and help build a positive school climate where all students feel a sense of belonging and can participate fully. Experts provided tips for schools to help students and staff in addressing conflict in ways that […]
Communicating before, during and after a crisis: Expert tips for LEAs
A Jan. 23 CSBA webinar featured expert tips from local educational agency leaders on best practices for crisis communications before, during and after a safety incident. Whether handling a social media, email or other anonymous threat or the presence of a trespasser or suspicious object […]
Webinar covers how to foster restorative practices in schools
The benefits of restorative practices and the conditions needed to successfully implement restorative approaches in educational systems were discussed during a recent webinar hosted by the Learning Policy Institute. As K-12 communities grapple with the psychological trauma students have experienced and continue to encounter, research […]
Experts cite the need for healthy digital habits among youth
Educators know that bullying doesn’t stop at the edge of school property, but supporting students experiencing cyberbullying has proven difficult as much of the harassment takes place outside of school hours and off campus. A Nov. 8 webinar hosted by the U.S. Department of Education […]
New K-12 cybersecurity and AI resources available
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has recently made available new resources to support local educational agencies’ cybersecurity efforts and policies surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). Tailored specifically to meet the needs of K-12 institutions, CoSN’s new NIST [National Institute of Standards and Technology] Cybersecurity Framework […]
New resource calls on state support for small and rural LEA cybersecurity
The State Educational Technology Directors Association’s (SETDA) Cybersecurity & Privacy Collaborative — a network that includes Microsoft and the K12 Security Information eXchange (K12 SIX) — published guidance on Oct. 17 detailing how state agencies and other support organizations are empowering their smallest school districts […]
Harms of edtech surveillance outlined in ACLU report
Threats to student safety and well-being such as school shootings, bullying, self-harm and suicide have led to major investments in educational technology surveillance, but the products and practices meant to protect young people may also cause harm, according to a new report from the American […]