RISD to Require Student ID Badges for All Grades This Year

Richardson Independent School District (RISD) announced that it will continue to implement student identification badges for all students across all grade levels this academic year. The new badges feature a photograph and a barcode. Students are required to wear these IDs while at school or during school-sponsored field trips throughout the school day.

The district noted that secondary students have worn similar ID badges for approximately two decades. The primary purpose of the badges is to support safety and security protocols. In the event of a building evacuation or reunification, staff and first responders can use the badges to quickly verify student identity and ensure all students are accounted for.

For transportation, PreK-12 students riding RISD buses must swipe their ID badge to board. The district emphasized that parents should sign up for the STOPFINDER parent app. This system ensures transportation staff know which students are on a specific bus, helps prevent students from boarding the wrong vehicle, and stops unauthorized individuals from entering district buses.

At the elementary level, badges will allow students to pay for meals by swiping rather than memorizing a personal identification number. Elementary students can also use the badges to check out or return library books.

Badges will be distributed during the first weeks of school. Each campus retains the ability to create new or replacement badges as needed. Campus administrators will determine specific processes for primary-age students who wish to leave their badge at school upon parent request, as well as accommodations for students requiring special assistance.

The photograph on the student ID badge matches the image parents and teachers see when logging into Focus. RISD states it securely maintains student photos for internal use in accordance with privacy choices made by parents or guardians. Parents will receive additional details regarding badge expectations from their respective campuses during the first weeks of school.

For further information on safety and security protocols, residents may visit https://web.risd.org/safetysecurity/ .