THE Journal

Did you know that Google Workspace for Education offers four different licenses, all bursting with tools and features to elevate teaching and learning? Now the question is, “which one best suits teachers, admins, and students at my school?” Read More

Ready for the ultimate Windows vs Chrome showdown? Tailored specifically to use cases in K-12 education, this snappy side-by-side of Windows OS and Chrome OS gives you the tools you need to choose the “perfect fit” device for teachers and admin at your school. Read More

Coming out of the pandemic, Hoover City School District’s Chief Technology Officer knew that they needed a new technology solution to identify students in crisis via their online behavior. They required a technology provider that would be a true partner and provide a team to work alongside district and school leaders to identify students in need of help. Read More

School districts across the nation are facing an uphill battle when it comes to providing adequate mental health and safety support to their students. The Great Resignation has left school safety teams short-staffed and overwhelmed—a dangerous combination as school violence is on the rise and student mental health is on the decline. Read More

In addition to increased student engagement and learning opportunities, Fayette County Public Schools sought to foster student responsibility and independence and bridge summer learning gaps through supplemental educational programs. However, Fayette County knew that ensuring student data privacy on the school-issued devices was going to be a challenge. Read More

Hays Consolidated Independent School District’s safety, IT, and classroom leaders joined Lightspeed for the next webinar in the Powered by Lightspeed Series. Read More

Online learning doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Explore blended learning with FlexPoint Education Cloud™. Read More

Recently, the use of video streaming, virtual learning and online instruction has increased greatly, as digital learning became more widely adopted in the classroom. This has caused many school districts to adapt at a faster pace than some are prepared for. Read More

Cyber incidents result in school closures, student and educator data breaches, and the theft of millions of dollars, but the current lack of public reporting requirements nationwide actually results in frequent underestimates of the challenges facing school districts. Many systems lack the personnel and expertise to defend against ever-evolving cybersecurity threats. Read More

In a ransomware attack, malicious actors lock up data and systems, holding them hostage in an effort to extort a fee from the victim. The rising frequency of this type of attack has profound implications for K–12, beyond just the potential financial loss. Read More

Since in-person learning has returned, students have continued to expect secure, remote access to documents and processes from wherever they are. In response, schools and colleges need permanent, well thought-out solutions that support and enable remote and hybrid workflows. Read More

Building an effective edtech ecosystem relies on evidence. District administrators have a lot of information at their fingertips — but if it cannot be shared with and applied by those who need it, when they need it, then it loses its potential. Read More

Edtech solutions can have significant impact on student outcomes–but understanding whether the tools your district is investing in are producing academic returns can be a challenge. How can district leaders get answers to tough questions about where edtech budget dollars are going and which tools are truly moving the needle for students? Read More

There are thousands of edtech solutions and with so many tools in the market, it is challenging to know which are safe, which “play nice” with other systems, which are compliant with regulations and policies, which are eligible to be purchased using federal funds, and which will have the most impact for which students in which context. Read More

Building an equitable, efficient and effective technology ecosystem requires intention and precision. The reality is that this work is accelerating and occurring in many school districts with limited technical personnel to manage the systems, processes and procedures that allow for smooth adoption, implementation and sustainability. Read More

Each year, U.S. schools and districts spend billions of dollars on edtech product licenses, but they lack the tools and resources necessary to enable educators and administrators to conduct practical evaluations of edtech effectiveness in a timely manner. Read More

The long-tail impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues in K-12 education, providing rich lessons learned from the experience for both educators and parents and continuing to stimulate new energy around how to improve educational experiences for all students. The jump start for this newfound interest was certainly the seismic jolt to the traditional school paradigm resulting from the shift to virtual learning in most schools and communities due to the pandemic. Read More

Large school districts face some of the most multifaceted computing demands of any organization today. Teachers and students need fast networks and constant connectivity, while administrators and IT teams require tight security and system flexibility. Read how a recent migration project in Portland, Oregon, demonstrates how modern cloud technologies can help school IT leaders meet and exceed these demands. Read More

School and district leaders can leverage new technologies and the collective knowledge of education organizations and their partners to protect their schools and the communities they serve from threats like ransomware. Read this issue brief to find out how. Read More

Read this case study to find out how the Austin Independent School District is using the cloud to drive the district’s three essential technology goals: simple, standard and secure. Read More

In recent years, many schools and universities have started incorporating esports into their curriculum, recognizing the many benefits that it can provide for students, such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Read More

Don't let staff shortages limit your ability to provide safe, secure, and equitable education for your students. Lightspeed Systems' centralized platform simplifies the way districts of all sizes operate and frees up staff time to focus on what matters most: students and their learning. Read More

The fact is: ensuring equitable access to digital learning is a uniquely complex and challenging problem to solve. District teams often lack the necessary data and time needed to effectively identify and resolve connectivity issues that prevent students from accessing learning outside of school. Read More

Despite the desperate drive to empower hybrid learning in K-12 schools, the lack of proper equipment, connectivity, and a secure learning environment for students acts as a trifecta of obstacles. Leading to a distressing surge in failing grades across the nation. Read More

The 2022 Edtech App Report offers K-12 district leaders powerful and practical data surrounding the use of technology in today's school districts. It provides valuable insights on district safety, cybersecurity, and budgeting, gleaned from national trends. Read More

Caddo Parish Public Schools is one of the state's top-performing schools and has been recognized with over a dozen merit-based awards from the U.S. Department of Education. They turned to Lightspeed Systems for support in optimizing their edtech ecosystem by harnessing actionable insights from educational app usage and simplifying data management and analysis. Read More

For those who are currently assessing their edtech ecosystem and preparing their digital technology budget for 2023-2024, our in-house experts at Lightspeed Systems® have joined forces with K-12 district leaders to create a comprehensive five-step guide. Read More

After years of discussion around the homework gap and digital divide in K-12 education, are today’s students today better equipped to access learning materials outside the classroom? Districts have invested in access points and other devices, and students have returned to the classroom, but recent data suggests that this remains a persistent and unresolved issue. Read More

Building an equitable, efficient and effective technology ecosystem requires intention and precision. Technology teams juggle budget management, existing tech ecosystems and exploring new solutions, making it challenging to navigate a noisy marketplace to find the best solutions for their educators and students. Read More

In most K-12 districts, outdated spreadsheets and manual processes define the financial management toolset. That’s increasingly problematic these days, when an influx of federal funding has elevated the level of public scrutiny. Read More

Zero Trust acknowledges there is no longer a traditional network perimeter to be defended, because applications now exist in the cloud and users can log into the network from any location. Read More

While Zero Trust can be challenging to implement for any district, its potential for reducing risks and improving network security is significant. Read More

As malicious threat actors increase their attacks on K–12 networks, with “potentially catastrophic” effects on educators, students, and their families, U.S. government agencies such as the GAO and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are stepping up to help schools and districts secure their cyber infrastructure. Read More

Rising cyberattacks, new federal requirements, and an evolving education landscape have pushed cybersecurity to the forefront for just about every district IT leader. Read More

As campus leaders look to shield network from attacks, the nature of cybersecurity is changing. With more applications running in the cloud and users accessing resources from any location, college and university networks can no longer be protected by merely establishing strong perimeter defenses. Read More

Adopting Zero Trust is a multistep process and quite a journey for most K-12 institutions — but the journey isn’t necessarily linear. Read More

Today’s hybrid, remote workforce has extended organizations’ attack surfaces, spreading them thin with users requesting access from their own devices, on public and personal Wi-Fi, and from locations around the world. A survey by Gartner Peer Insights and Cisco found that network, security, and IT experts are looking for solutions that work in this complex world. How can they secure access to corporate resources while lowering the friction of authentication? The answer is an adaptive solution that frustrates hackers, not users. Read More

The modern workforce is rapidly becoming more mobile and hyperconnected, and attackers are taking note. Exploiting multiplying devices and login-fatigued employees has become a valuable currency for threat actors, so organizations need a strong access management solution in place to ensure that only trusted users and devices have access to their networks, applications, and data. Read More

Detect and remediate compromised accounts proactively and harden network defenses with Duo Trust Monitor, which delivers advanced anomaly detection by surfacing risky access events. Read More

In a fast-changing world, equipping young people with the right skills for the future is not only more important than ever – it’s more challenging than ever. Learn how you can adopt 3D printing in a way that not only helps students succeed, but delivers value and efficiency for your institution. Read More

Get an in-depth look at the state of additive manufacturing within Higher Education, Career Technical Education, and Research and a how-to on leveraging 3D printing to unlock new frontiers in research, academic and manufacturing settings. Read More

The role of technology as an agent for creating more leveled playing fields for student learning is not new – but it has not been fully articulated before now. As a result of using technology as a platform for remote learning, both teachers and administrators now place a higher valuation on the role of technology to support students’ future success. Read More

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to online education. By selecting the right tools and asking the right questions, you can build your own path to success – and FlexPoint is here to help! Read More

The pandemic and resulting seismic shifts in school models opened the eyes of many to see technology use through a new lens. Now, armed with these experiential sightlines, many K-12 teachers, principals, administrators, and staff are investigating how to more effectively use technology resources to drive greater efficiency and effectiveness, including in teaching and learning. Read More

There are many considerations to take into account in order to ensure technology is best serving learners and educators. These include reviewing current edtech investments and their impact, setting clear goals and objectives for your investments, confirming privacy policy compliance, and developing a budget allocation strategy. Read More

School districts across the nation are facing an uphill battle when it comes to providing adequate mental health and safety support to their students. The Great Resignation has left school safety teams short-staffed and overwhelmed—a dangerous combination as school violence is on the rise and student mental health is on the decline. Read More

In response to the pandemic, schools very rapidly deployed technologies for teaching, learning, and collaborating in an online or hybrid environment. They also developed the capacity of teachers and students to use all these tools. But now what should their plan be moving forward? Read More

With the unprecedented declines in academic achievement, many educators, along with parents, community groups, and school partners have aggressively pursued equity and improved outcomes through high-impact tutoring. Read More

Historically, K-12 School Systems have taken a “do-it-yourself” approach to deploying and managing their network infrastructure. However, K-12 leaders are starting to rethink this method as they look for ways to solve for a shortage of IT talent. Read More

In the wake of recent world events a flood of federal funding has unleashed the power of digital learning. IT leaders now have a pressing obligation to ensure the security of both student data and school systems. Read More

With the sudden increase of the virtual campus, the number of vulnerable endpoints has expanded exponentially. This new normal calls for security resilience--the ability to protect the integrity of every aspect of the system and withstand unpredictable threats or changes, and then emerge stronger. Districts must embrace multi-layered endpoint security solutions and the latest technologies, such as unified platforms and extended detection and response (XDR) capabilities, in order to protect their networks. Read More

This 2022 Security Visibility Report surveyed 278 cybersecurity professionals to reveal the key challenges regarding security visibility, how organizations solve this issue, and the security capabilities organizations prioritize. Read More

In this guide, you will learn: Why Cisco invested in Zero Trust when remote work initially gained foothold, How Cisco Zero Trust facilitates stakeholder engagement & buy-in, The effects that integrating a Zero Trust security strategy will have on helpdesk and IT talent, The respective behavior of Zero Trust solutions both on-premises and within SaaS, What the Zero Trust deployment timeline looked like at Cisco. Read More

To gain deeper insights into the state of application security, Cybersecurity Insiders conducted an in-depth study in partnership with Cisco in July 2022. The resulting report reveals the latest application security trends, how organizations protect critical applications, and the tools and best practices cybersecurity professionals prioritize. Read More

This guide is designed to help you find quick wins in your zero trust journey and continue making progress toward zero trust security. By studying enterprises with mature implementations of zero trust, we found: Zero trust progress is possible regardless of organization size or IT infrastructure complexity. Institutions with high zero trust maturity are twice as likely to achieve resilience. Read More

The Security Outcomes Report, Volume 3: Achieving Security Resilience, explores seven data-backed success factors K-12 campuses can implement to boost cyber resilience. By analyzing data collected from over 4,700 security professionals across 26 countries, we set out to identify the vital organizational, IT and security components businesses of all sizes need to move toward greater resilience in the face of emerging threats. Read More

As global conflicts spill into the digital realm, protecting people through to the enterprise is increasingly urgent. In the Duo 2022 Trusted Access Report, learn how organizations are responding with zero-trust strategies and passwordless solutions. Read More

In March 2021, the US government passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to stimulate the economy in the wake of a devastating public health crisis. Through that bill, almost $123 billion will go to the public K-12 system. Read More

With UCaaS platforms accelerating innovation and sharing in productivity resources like chat, voice, and video collaboration, it’s crucial for organizations to scrutinize how their UCaaS vendor-of-choice handles security, data privacy, and compliance to mitigate the rise of serious financial and brand threats. Read More

Cloud-based communications solutions offer obvious benefits over traditional on-premises PBX systems, including peace of mind, unsurpassed scalability, and overall cost-effectiveness. But while cloud technologies can drastically reduce management and implementation complexity, the transition from legacy PBX solutions to cloud-based solutions can still involve unforeseen complications and challenges. Read More

Download this Future Ready Schools white paper to learn more about creating unique partnerships that focus on the collection and utilization of student data to improve learning outcomes and to ensure equitable access for all. Read More

At FlexPoint we know that in-person and online instruction do not need to be independent of each other; rather, the two can work together in a blended learning format that can be customized to meet the needs of your school or district. We are here to help guide your team through that process to develop the best learning environment for your students. Read More

As the digital footprint expanded dramatically during the pandemic, K–12 districts are under greater pressure than ever before to shore up their data defenses. Read More

As schools began the 2020 – 2021 school year, many students and teachers had to learn how to learn and teach remotely. Through that process they learned that one of the most important aspects of this remote learning scenario is connectivity. Read More

Web-based attacks are as various as they are dangerous. Whether it's a Business Email Compromise, a Lure/Task Scam or a Payroll Redirection Attack, the first step in avoiding a cyber-attack is always being aware of what is out there. Read More

When the COVID-19 crisis hit, K-12 school districts experienced the limitations of legacy systems. Now, with government funding available, opportunities have been created for K-12 schools to modernize and bring resilience to their expense and invoicing systems. Read More

Richland School District upgrades technology, increases efficiency, and reduces costs with VDI. Read More

Schools must continuously provide a flexible desktop environment for their students, teachers, and administrators. Download this white paper to learn more about desktop virtualization solutions that are uniquely positioned to deliver rapid deployment of desktops and offer superior control and security of centralized desktops—all while reducing overall desktop total cost of ownership. (TCO). Read More

Indianapolis Public School District installs virtual desktops to increase student access to new learning materials. Read More

Oak Hills Local School District supports academic success by providing students with more access to the classroom. Read More

Cisco VXI delivers an end-to-end virtual workspace solution that provides the security, scalability, and flexibility of desktop virtualization together with voice and video capabilities for an uncompromised and productive user experience. Read More

School District uses web-based tools to help teachers share information and enhance instruction. Read More

With each one of your students bringing their unique perspectives to the classroom, how can you take advantage of technology to help them learn more effectively, develop specialized skills, and provide the foundation for their success in the 21st century global economy? Read More

Learn how Fontana Unified School District increases student, faculty, and staff collaboration utilizing Cisco TelePresence solution. Read More

Unified Workspace is a strategy for delivering Cisco Smart Solutions within your educational environment, helping you empower learners, improve agility, and operate more efficiently. Read More

Learn how Katy ISD transforms education with mobile learning. Read More

Learn how Farmington Public Schools installed network solutions resulting in increased mobility for students and staff. Read More

Learn how Mooresville’s “Digital Conversion” puts kids first. Read More

Download this white paper to learn how the Cisco BYOD Solution for Education helps to get mobile devices connected both simply and securely. Read More

At FlexPoint we know that in-person and online instruction do not need to be independent of each other; rather, the two can work together in a blended learning format that can be customized to meet the needs of your school or district. We are here to help guide your team through that process to develop the best learning environment for your students. Read More

In recent years, many schools and universities have started incorporating esports into their curriculum, recognizing the many benefits that it can provide for students, such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Read More

The role of technology as an agent for creating more leveled playing fields for student learning is not new – but it has not been fully articulated before now. As a result of using technology as a platform for remote learning, both teachers and administrators now place a higher valuation on the role of technology to support students’ future success. Read More

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to online education. By selecting the right tools and asking the right questions, you can build your own path to success – and FlexPoint is here to help! Read More

School and district leaders can leverage new technologies and the collective knowledge of education organizations and their partners to protect their schools and the communities they serve from threats like ransomware. Read this issue brief to find out how. Read More

With UCaaS platforms accelerating innovation and sharing in productivity resources like chat, voice, and video collaboration, it’s crucial for organizations to scrutinize how their UCaaS vendor-of-choice handles security, data privacy, and compliance to mitigate the rise of serious financial and brand threats. Read More

Rising cyberattacks, new federal requirements, and an evolving education landscape have pushed cybersecurity to the forefront for just about every district IT leader. Read More

Hays Consolidated Independent School District’s safety, IT, and classroom leaders joined Lightspeed for the next webinar in the Powered by Lightspeed Series. Read More

Building an equitable, efficient and effective technology ecosystem requires intention and precision. The reality is that this work is accelerating and occurring in many school districts with limited technical personnel to manage the systems, processes and procedures that allow for smooth adoption, implementation and sustainability. Read More

Web-based attacks are as various as they are dangerous. Whether it's a Business Email Compromise, a Lure/Task Scam or a Payroll Redirection Attack, the first step in avoiding a cyber-attack is always being aware of what is out there. Read More

Zero Trust acknowledges there is no longer a traditional network perimeter to be defended, because applications now exist in the cloud and users can log into the network from any location. Read More