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Learn about upcoming events, K-12 edtech insights, back-to-school tips, student mental health resources, software implementation and utilization, and more, from the experts at Lightspeed on the Lightspeed Systems® blog.

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Tackling Cyberbullying: What UK Schools Can Do Today to Keep Students Safe

Cyberbullying has been prevalent for young people and schools over the last 20 years. An increase in screen-time and overall use of tech and internet has caused an increase in incidents of cyberbullying and harassment too. What does this look like for students?

From Overload to Order: How Lightspeed Signal Reduces Helpdesk Tickets by Detecting Performance Issues Early

Technology plays a pivotal role in delivering lessons and managing classrooms. But what happens when an essential app suddenly goes down? Often, teachers are the first to notice performance issues, and the ripple effects can disrupt learning and overwhelm IT support teams.

Student Safety in Action: Webinar Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined our recent “Student Safety in Action” webinar, and for leaning into this critical conversation. After 23 years in education, I know school safety isn’t optional, it’s essential, and it belongs to all of us. Our collective responsibility is to protect every student, every day.

AI Is Supercharging Cyberattacks on Schools. Here’s How to Fight Back

Ransomware attacks against K–12 schools are rising fast, and getting smarter. According to Comparitech, ransomware incidents in education jumped 23% in the first half of 2025, with an average ransom demand of $556,000. Semperis reports that 61% of IT and security leaders in education say their organizations were targeted in the past year.

Protecting Students in a Digital Age: Why Safety and Privacy Must Go Hand in Hand

We appreciate the Associated Press for shining a light on the rising use of safety monitoring technology in schools. These are complex, emotional topics and they deserve open, honest discussion... This isn’t just a product line for us, it’s a mission. And it’s one we take seriously.

The Real-World Impact of Anonymous Reporting: How Lightspeed StopIt™ is Changing School Safety

Ultimately, the power of anonymous reporting, and therefore of Lightspeed StopIt, goes beyond compliance or technology. When students know their voices matter, when staff feel supported, and when parents trust that their concerns will be heard, we create a community where everyone can thrive.

From Anonymity to Accountability: How Lightspeed Signal Tackles VPNs and Proxies

Students are increasingly finding ways to bypass web filters using VPNs, proxies, and anonymizers on school-issued devices. This trend poses significant risks to network security and compliance, making it a pressing concern for IT leaders in K-12 schools.

The 2025 State of Student Safety Deep Dive Webinar Recap

During yesterday’s webinar, product managers Gregory Artzt and Jennifer Duer shared not only a data-driven overview of current challenges in K-12 safety, but also real-world stories and actionable strategies for early intervention.

Webinar Recap: Meet BOB, The AI Assistant Purpose-Built for Schools

Hi everyone! I’m Amy Bennett, Chief of Staff at Lightspeed Systems, and I just have to say, I was absolutely thrilled to share the latest about BOB 3.0 with my colleague and long-time partner-in-webinars, Rob Chambers. Over the past 17 years, we’ve done a lot of these, but honestly, this one felt truly special.

Lightning Chat Episode 5 Recap: Safety Challenges, Strategies, and How Lightspeed Can Help

In Episode 5 of Lightning Chat, Jennifer Duer (Director, Product, Safety and Wellness Solutions) and Brock Anderson (Senior Director, Strategic Programs) take on the topic of K-12 student safety—exploring the real-world challenges faced by schools, what makes safety strategies effective, and how Lightspeed’s solutions are designed to help.

Lightning Chat Episode 4 – How Schools Can Strengthen Safety and Prevention with BTA

In the latest Lightning Chat, Theresa Rooter from Lightspeed StopIt and Wes Lawrence, VP of Operations at Lightspeed, sat down to talk about school safety from every angle. Their conversation focused on how schools can combine both active (human-driven) and passive (technology-driven) safety tools to create a more complete safety net for students, staff, and the wider community.

Breaking Down Barriers: How Teletherapy is Improving Mental Wellness in Schools

Teletherapy is becoming a game-changer for mental wellness in schools, bringing flexibility and accessibility that conventional approaches often can't match. With remote counseling, students can connect with licensed professionals right from their school campus or home.

AI Use in the Classroom

AI is a hot topic in our modern landscape – it’s on our phones, our laptops, even on our television sets. The classroom is no exception. AI is making its way there too. In this blog, we’re hoping to help you find solutions to make AI a safe and useful tool in your classrooms.

5 Critical Mental Wellness Issues Affecting Today’s Students

Many teenagers walk our school halls carrying an invisible weight that affects every interaction, assignment, and friendship they experience. Understanding the root causes for this becomes essential for those of us committed to nurturing their wellbeing. For responsible educators and caretakers, the goal is always to create effective support systems for each student. But first, it helps to understand what complex issues play into the problems at hand.

The Real Cost of Inaction: Why Proactive Tools Save Lives and Resources in K–12 Schools

School safety is evolving—and for good reason. The rise in mental health concerns, online threats, and acts of school violence has forced districts to rethink their approach. Today, being proactive isn’t optional. It’s essential. While most schools have safety plans in place, the biggest risks often emerge when early warning signs are missed or unreported.

From Reactive to Proactive: How Actionable Intelligence Transforms K–12 School Safety

School safety is evolving. No longer is the focus only on reacting after tragedies occur—today’s schools need to detect and address risks before harm happens. This is the essence of proactive intelligence: using real-time data and student input to identify concerning behavior early, so schools can act quickly and effectively.

BOB 3.0 Is Here — Lightspeed’s AI Assistant Gets a Major Upgrade

There’s a new hero in town—and it’s a bot. We’re introducing BOB 3.0, the AI assistant built for K–12 education. If you’ve ever wished your edtech platform came with a brilliant, tireless teammate to help you make sense of data, streamline your tasks, and keep students safe—BOB 3.0 is your new favorite coworker.

High Quality Training: Nurture Holistic Wellness in Your K-12 Classrooms

As an educator, you very much want to help. But do you have the right tools and training to make a real difference? That's exactly why Lightspeed Systems created a safety and wellness focused training program, accessible through our Student Reporting technology. Let’s unpack...

STAT Threat Assessments: A Trusted Framework to Prevent School Violence

The Salem-Keizer-Cascade Student Threat Assessment System™ (STAT) has significantly improved how schools handle these tense moments. Instead of punitive measures that push struggling students away, this evidence-based framework brings together multidisciplinary safety teams to assess, intervene, and support both the student in crisis and their broader community.

5 Smart Back-to-School Moves for Stretched IT Teams

With so many demands on tech, it’s easy for IT teams to lose momentum before the year even starts – especially in districts where staff, budget, and time are tight. Here’s how tech leaders are staying clear-headed and building systems that don’t rely on constant intervention.

Implementing the “5Rs” of A Restorative School Culture

The "5Rs" disciplinary framework is more than another educational buzzword. It’s a concrete roadmap for educators hungry to remake school environment from the ground up. This article digs into how schools can turn these principles into daily reality while navigating the inevitable growing pains of environmental reinvention.

How to Build School-Community Partnerships that Work

What if schools and mental health providers dismantled these artificial boundaries? This is precisely why school-community mental wellness partnerships are so helpful. They create integrated ecosystems where expertise flows freely between classrooms and clinics, strengthening support networks that catch students before they fall.

From Inefficiency to Visibility: How Lightspeed Signal is Helping Schools Maximize Budgets

IT leaders face the daunting challenge of managing tighter budgets while ensuring that technology remains effective and efficient. With the increasing reliance on digital devices for learning, the need to maximize the lifespan and utility of these devices has never been more important.

Georgia HB 268: Understanding Georgia’s New School Safety Mandates Webinar Recap

This week, we hosted an incredibly insightful webinar on Georgia HB 268, the new school safety legislation that’s set to transform how schools across the state approach campus security. Here’s the full recap of the key topics discussed, the Q&A session, and some important takeaways.

UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) Policy Updates 2025

Schools and colleges across the UK are increasingly relying on technology in the learning space, making the need for digital and online safety a top priority for IT and Safeguarding leads. Our social and cultural landscape is changing – UKSIC’s standards are changing to reflect that and to keep children and young people safe in the online learning space.

Lightning Chat Episode 3: Spring Summit Retrospective

Welcome back to the Lightning Chat blog! In Episode 3, we join Colin McCabe, General Manager of the International Market at Lightspeed Systems, and Craig Chanoff, Chief Revenue Officer at Lightspeed Systems, as they reflect on their recent global tour hosting the Lightspeed Spring Summit.

Colorado HB21-1110 Accessibility Compliance: What You Need to Know Before July 1, 2025

Beginning July 1, 2025, HB21-1110 requires that all public-facing digital content and software used by state and local government entities — including K–12 districts — meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.

Lightspeed Product Roadmap Webinar: Part 2 Recap

This week, we wrapped up the second part of our Lightspeed Product Roadmap webinar series, where we showcased the latest innovations and upcoming features across our product suite. For those who missed it, Part 2 focused on Lightspeed Alert, Stop It, Classroom, and the Parent Portal.

Real-Time Alerts Help Portage Central Uncover Hidden Crises

One such moment came when a Lightspeed alert flagged a Google Doc where a student was expressing deep anxieties around body image. A follow-up review of search history revealed patterns of concern, including related topics. It was the first time anyone—school staff or family—realized just how much the student was carrying.

Complying with Georgia’s School Safety Act: A Guide for K–12 Leaders

In April 2025, Governor Brian Kemp signed Georgia House Bill 268—the School Safety Act—into law, setting a new statewide standard for school safety and crisis response. Taking effect on July 1, 2026, the legislation mandates that public schools...

Acer Trust: Enhancing Digital Safety and Management

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