High School Considers Students Wearing ID Cards

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 06/24/08

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[Editor's note: Corrections have been made to this article since it was originally published June 24. We had incorrectly labeled the ID cards in this case as "smart" cards, which they are not. --D.N.]

An Illinois school district is considering making students, teachers, and staff wear identification badges, according to coverage in the Schaumburg Review. High School District 211 is considering the plan after one high school in the district--Hoffman Estates High--tried an ID badge program with just faculty and staff during the school year.

Although the school has had a number of "nonspecific" threats, principal Terri Busch said the program was implemented as part of a "heightened awareness" of security. Hoffman Estates already had a policy in place mandating students to keep their school IDs with them; but in the new program, the cards were worn. Also, all school visitors had their driver's license scanned and were issued a visitor pass to wear.

Should the new district-wide plan be implemented, schools might also set up access to school buildings through specific doors, for which the ID cards would be used, according to the news coverage.

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About the author: Dian Schaffhauser is a writer who covers technology and business for a number of publications. Contact her at [email protected].

Proposals for articles and tips for news stories, as well as questions and comments about this publication, should be submitted to David Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].