ID Badges for K-12 Schools
Educational institutions of all shapes and sizes rely on ID cards as a way to increase security while also delivering a great deal of convenient functionality for students and staff. As security becomes a top concern, schools must make it a priority to maintain effective ID card programs. That’s where AlphaCard comes into play–we’ve helped hundreds of schools launch affordable ID programs that meet a wide range of requirements. The needs of each school are different, and with today’s card-printing technology, the options are limitless.
- Free ID Card Templates
Choose from our student & faculty ID card design options.
- Bayshore Prep Charter School
Read how one charter school is using student IDs to keep kids safe.
- ID Card Technologies
With the wide range of ID cards, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the latest technologies.
We’ve Worked With
- Elementary Schools
- Middle Schools
- High Schools
- School Districts
- Private & Charter Schools

How do K-12 Schools use ID Card Systems?
Student IDsStudents should carry ID cards on them at all times. Student ID cards serve a variety of purposes outside of photo identification, and can provide access to such amenities as borrowing books at the school library, attending school events, receiving discounts at local stores and movie theaters, and much more.
Read MoreFaculty IDsStudents aren’t the only ones who need ID cards to get through the school year — it’s just as important if not more important for faculty, administrators, teachers, and substitute teachers to have photo IDs with them at all times. Staff IDs should be displayed via a lanyard or badge clip to make certain that students, parents, and visitors can see who is authorized to be in the building. It’s a safety measure that should not be overlooked.
Read MoreMultifunctional & Smart CardsStudent & faculty ID cards fulfill several needs other than simple photo identification. Many schools these days are utilizing data storage technologies (e.g. barcodes & magnetic stripe cards) to keep important data about their students and faculty such as their status or grade level, position, year in school, or number of years they’ve (faculty members) worked at the school depending on if it’s a school employee or student.
Read MoreVisitor BadgesVisitor badges are an imperative part of a school’s ID card program, as it ensures that intruders and unauthorized individuals can easily be identified if they’re lacking a visitor badge. Today, there are several kinds of visitor badges that exist, including expiring badges that actually change color once the visitor badge is no longer valid. All volunteers, parents, and any other guests attending the school should be armed with a visitor badge which can be acquired at the front desk.
Read MoreAccess ControlMany schools issue access control cards to faculty members to make certain only authorized individuals have the ability to enter certain areas of a school building. These cards are usually issued to school administrators, teachers, and security personnel. An access control card is a sure-fire way to prevent unauthorized persons such as intruders from gaining access to restricted areas and compromising security.
Read MoreTime and AttendanceFor time management of hourly employees, we recommend time and attendance ID cards. These cards keep track of when the person clocks in and clocks out for accurate weekly hour reports. Time and attendance cards often use magnetic stripes or barcodes that are scanned by a reader and usually work with an existing tracking software.
Read MoreCashless PaymentCafeterias are common at just about every school. Faculty and students will often purchase lunch at the cafeteria or at the vending machine to get through the day, and sometimes do not have cash on them to do so. Notably, ID cards can be used as payment cards for staff & students, making payment a consolidated process that is managed much more effectively.
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Learn More About K-12 School ID Cards
Some schools simply require basic photo IDs, while others integrate these ID cards with such applications as meal plan programs, library and equipment checkout, time and attendance, cashless payment, and even access control for campus buildings and student housing.
It’s important to note that school ID programs are no longer just for colleges and universities. High schools, middle schools, and other K-12 institutions are now realizing the benefits of issuing photo ID cards to students, faculty and staff. Many also produce visitor badges as well as identification cards for substitute teachers and temporary workers. This is a great way to prevent potential threats from gaining easy access to school facilities, as an ID card program is one of the most affordable ways to increase school security.
ID card systems from AlphaCard make it easy to print durable full-color photo ID cards for employees, temporary workers, and guests. Each system includes a reliable card printer from one of the industry’s most trusted manufacturer’s, along with user-friendly ID card software, and all the printing supplies you need to get your employee ID program up and running.
Once your system is set up, you’ll be ready to design and print top-quality cards featuring colorful photos, crisp text, and your choice of security elements. Whether your program aims to identify people, control facility access, or monitor production, AlphaCard can help you find the perfect solution. To get started, give our ID system experts a call at (800) 717-8080.