Don’t mess with Texas’s new student locator program. Northside Independent School District is piloting a program that uses microchips to track students’ whereabouts. The Radio Frequency Identification System (RFID) will be utilized in the form of smart ID cards to be worn around the neck. This technology will be used in two San Antonio schools this upcoming year.
The student locator program has three objectives. It is meant to increase student safety and security since educators will always know where students are. However, the ID cards will only work within the school building. It will improve attendance accuracy and therefore increase state revenues. It will also serve as photo identification that will allow youth access to the cafeteria, library and other extra curricular activities.
While there are many security benefits associated with this technology, these ID cards could be removed and kept at school (like in a locker) if a student were to cutting class. It also raises additional concerns around punishing children to stay in class. While this will deter many from skipping school, it may not address some of the deeper issues at hand and could create negative implications down the road.
Microchip Student Safety Programs
This Student Locator Program Uses RFID Technology to Track Kids
Trend Themes
1. RFID School Tracking - The implementation of RFID technology in schools for student tracking creates opportunities for further integration and innovation in biometric identification and data analysis.
2. Personalized Student Safety - The use of microchips in student safety programs presents a trend towards personalized safety solutions that can be adopted by various industries.
3. Attendance Accuracy Improvement - The need for accurate tracking of student attendance in schools highlights a trend in developing and improving attendance tracking technologies and systems.
Industry Implications
1. Education - Implementing RFID technology in educational institutions creates opportunities for the education industry to enhance student safety and improve attendance tracking systems.
2. Security - RFID technology can be further developed and applied in the security industry to improve tracking and identification systems.
3. Healthcare - The trend towards personalized safety solutions prompts investigation into the application of microchip technology in healthcare to improve patient tracking and identification.