Photo ID cards have come a long way in the past two decades, especially those prevalent in the K12 school segment. In fact, based on a survey we conducted, more than 90% of schools use ID cards to make the most out of their ID card printer investment. School ID cards are used primarily for:
- building and facility access
- visual identity
- lunch programs
The vast majority also print their cards in-house versus outsourcing them to a third-party service bureau.
Although there is no question that student and faculty safety in schools is a top priority, IDs can be used for much more than just school building access and visual identification purposes. Using badges for a variety of functions not only defrays the initial investment of the printer or system, it leverages the technology to serve multiple purposes.
Because the budget is likely one of the primary deciding factors when it comes to the printer model a school will ultimately purchase, it's important to understand the many ways IDs can improve processes and maximize resources.
By expanding the use of ID badges throughout a school's campus with some (or all) the following applications, the efficiencies in other vital facets of academia can also be optimized.
Control building access for student and visitors
Monitoring who is entering and exiting school facilities each day with an ID badge is the foundation of a safer school environment. The leading means for tracking this kind of information with badges include the use of
magnetic stripe,
proximity and
smart card technologies. When these are integrated with an automated access control system, all traffic into and out of school facilities is tracked and recorded, as well as the length of time each individual spends within the building.
Color-coding badges is a popular method to easily differentiate the faculty, staff and student body. With color-coding, an area of the ID badges are printed in a color that represents a group of people: red for administration, green for teachers, blue for students, and so on.
Temporary expiring badges expire gradually and reveal a distinctive color change that's highly noticeable from a distance and are an inexpensive solution to monitoring short-term visitors.
Maximize the real estate on ID cards
Most school ID cards feature a student's name, photo, the school's name, and a grade level. However, more than 60% of schools indicated they only print information on one side of a student ID card.
By taking advantage of both sides of an ID card and supplementing the basic details with class schedule information, medical or allergy details, or emergency contacts, school IDs become exponentially more beneficial, especially if a crisis arises. Additional data that can be used on IDs includes emergency preparedness instructions, bus stop information and graduation year.
For more information on how to get the most from your school ID cards and badges, call an ID Professional today at (800) 321-4405. We're here to help!
