Giving Compass' Take:

· With school safety on the minds of many, many schools have opted for high-tech solutions like facial recognition technology. The author discusses whether this is an effective approach.

· There are certainly costs associated with this type of technology. How can donors provide support to schools looking to implement these resources?

· Here are some concerns with using facial recognition technology in schools. 

School security has become an increasingly important issue in recent years as incidents of school violence have increased significantly, gaining national and international attention as a result. While school leaders work to protect students and calm parents' and staff members' fears, members of the school community are looking to increased security measures to prevent threats from getting into school buildings.

However, there is also a growing concern about what these efforts mean in the context of creating a positive school climate. Prisons are among the most secure places in the nation, but turning a school into a prison-like environment is not necessarily conducive to learning. The use of armed security officers, metal detectors and facial recognition software may help prevent threats, but it also can create an atmosphere of fear, discomfort and intimidation. Some critics also fear that it may exacerbate the “school-to-prison” pipeline.

Read the full article about facial recognition technology by Amelia Harper at Education Dive.