New software allows Henrico parents to monitor students’ internet activity

Parents of Henrico County Public Schools students now have the opportunity to monitor their child’s internet activity through the SECURLY web filtering system.

Though the system already was in place in Henrico schools, its new features allow parents to monitor what their child has searched on school devices, even when the child is using that device outside of school. Through the SECURLY Home app, parents can watch their child’s website history in real time. Parents who sign up also will get weekly email reports on their child’s internet activity.

“We’ve always been working with parents. That’s what education is – it’s a partnership,” said HCPS Chief of Operations Lenny Pritchard. “We want to be as transparent as possible. As our web filtering systems have gotten better, this is something we can share with our parents.”

Since school-sponsored devices are meant for instructional use only, many websites such as Facebook and other social media sites, gambling sites and pornographic material already are blocked. However, with the new software parents can block other sites that they don’t want their child visiting. Parents also can set restricted hours for their child to use the device.

A pilot program launched last year brought the monitoring software to certain classes at five schools – a rollout that Pritchard described as “relatively smooth.” The software now is active in all HCPS schools.

Pritchard said that he expects the number of parents signing up for the monitoring features to grow in the next few weeks.

“It’s only about four weeks old for families, so I’m not sure how robust the sign-ups are now,” Pritchard said. “But the school system as a whole has been including it in our family newsletter, and the number will continue to grow since it’s only been around for a few weeks.”

The SECURLY system allows for teachers to request that certain materials – such as sex education content or certain YouTube videos – be unblocked for educational purposes.

“YouTube can be used as an instructional tool,” said Pritchard. “Videos on vaping, traditionally, might be blocked. We have a policy of no smoking or vaping. But if a health class was studying vaping, the teacher could request to unblock that video.”

The web-filtering system also alerts the school to students who are searching for self-harm related content. Certain keywords are flagged and the school can receive an alert based on the student’s search history.Parents who are authorized contacts for students received an email from SECURLY on Sept. 13, and additional information can be found at SECURLY’s parent website or at the HCPS online services page.

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Anya Sczerzenie is the Henrico Citizen’s education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar. Sign up here for her free weekly education newsletter.