Vad skolor i Alabama behöver veta om HB 166 (FOCUS Act) och hur man följer reglerna utan att offra digitalt lärande

On May 14, 2025, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 166—the FOCUS Act—into law, introducing sweeping new guidelines that restrict student access to cell phones and wireless devices during instructional hours. The legislation becomes effective July 1, 2025, and aims to reduce distractions, encourage deeper engagement, and ensure safer digital behaviors among students.

While the FOCUS Act presents a pivotal opportunity to reinforce student focus and data security, it also challenges districts to rethink how technology is managed in the classroom. The question now is: How can schools meet the letter of the law without compromising the educational value of digital tools?

Why Alabama Took Action

The FOCUS Act mandates strong safeguards to block inappropriate content, protect personal data, and control student access to online communication and social platforms.

Under HB 166, districts must:

• Restrict access to age-appropriate digital content.
• Establish strict procedures around email, chat rooms, and electronic communication.
• Prevent access to illegally obtained or harmful information.
• Block access to tools that expose student personal data.
• Prohibit use of social media platforms, unless explicitly required for instructional purposes.

How Lightspeed Systems Supports HB 166 Compliance

To help Alabama districts meet the July 1 deadline while maintaining instructional momentum, Lightspeed Systems offers a suite of purpose-built tools:

Lightspeed Insight™

Lightspeed Insight gives IT teams real-time visibility into all third-party app usage across the district. With centralized dashboards and automated approval workflows, it highlights unapproved or potentially non-compliant tools before they become a risk. Insight also monitors app privacy policy changes and flags those that may violate FERPA, COPPA, or state-level data protections. For example, districts can build and publish an approved apps list—ensuring teachers only access pre-vetted, secure tools—while staying informed about changes that could impact compliance and student data safety.

Lightspeed Filter™

Ljushastighetsfilter delivers a K–12 filtering that enables districts to block access to social media platforms (unless teacher-directed), unlawful or inappropriate websites, and online tools that collect or misuse student personal information. With customizable filtering categories—including chat, gaming, AI, and proxy avoidance—districts can apply policies by grade level, device type, location, or time of day. Our proprietary technology ensures enforcement across all devices and browsers, while real-time activity reporting and automated lockouts help keep students focused and protected during instructional time.

Staying Focused and Forward-Thinking

HB 166 marks a pivotal shift for Alabama schools, calling on districts to enhance digital discipline and safeguard student data privacy. With smart filtering, real-time visibility, and policy-aligned tools from Lightspeed Systems, educators can create a safe and compliant digital learning environment without compromising instructional quality.

Lightspeed is ready to partner with districts as they prepare for the July 1 deadline. Together, we can meet HB 166 requirements—and elevate digital learning in the process.