School Identification Cards

One of the most instantly recognizable types of identity cards, aside from drivers' licenses, is the school ID. Schools, colleges, and universities everywhere issue identity cards to their students for many purposes – checking out books from the school library, getting tickets to school plays or sporting events, and paying for lunch in the school cafeteria just to name a few.

Displaying IDs for Increased Security

With concerns about school security constantly rising, one way to easily secure schools, students and staff is with visible identity cards. Many schools have adopted a policy where students, staff and even visitors are required to wear a visible photo ID at all times. This allows security staff to easily distinguish those who should be in the school from those who should not. The simple presence of an ID card with a photo makes it that much easier to prevent unwelcome visits and keep the school as safe as possible.

The easiest way to display student, staff, and visitor ID cards is with ID accessories:

• Lanyards
• Badge Reels
• Strap Clips

Expanding Uses of School Identity Cards

Many schools, especially colleges and universities, have been adding more and more features to their student IDs. No longer just an identity card, many modern student IDs are equipped with flexible features that make the student ID an indispensable part of college life. Some of these features include:

• Access control – A magnetic stripe or smart card chip on a student identity card can allow students to access dormitories and laundry facilities without keys. Also, identity cards with access control can allow students into buildings like design labs, studios and libraries after hours to do work without the worry of outside disturbances or security problems.
• Payment features – Student ID cards have long been used to pay for meals in cafeterias, usually through a rechargeable program. However, features like smart card chips and credit card features like magnetic stripes can allow students to pay for items like loads of laundry, copies from a copy machine, and print jobs at the computer lab without worrying about having a pocket full of change. Some schools have even joined forces with credit unions or banks and added credit card functionality to student identity cards, allowing students to link bank accounts to their ID card and use the student ID like a debit or credit card.