As the school year settles into its rhythm, educators have a clearer picture of where students are thriving and where additional support may be needed. This month, we're looking at tools and resources that can help schools respond, from individualized instruction to new integrations and exclusive partner offers.
October’s product updates bring a fresh look at the tools and data that support your school system. This month, we’re exploring how digital-tool usage connects with student outcomes, what’s changing in My Files, and new ways to manage roster access and restore configurations.
Using Safari on school-managed Macs? You can now bring that resource usage into Analytics+, including resources accessed outside LaunchPad. Safari joins Chrome and Edge as a supported browser, giving you broader coverage across your school-issued devices.
Every district leader hears the same question: how do we know our edtech is helping students? Usage reports cannot answer it. They show how often a tool is used, not how that usage relates to learning. ClassLink Insights pairs your district's edtech usage data with your assessment scores to show how usage relates to student growth.
Troubleshooting is easier when a vendor partner can see what a user sees. But that access shouldn’t stay open any longer than necessary. Beginning September 17, ClassLink administrators may start receiving Partner Access Window (PAW) requests in LaunchPad.
It’s your first morning back from a conference. Your inbox is full. Your notebook is fuller. Then someone asks the question every conference trip eventually has to answer: Was it worth it? The best answer isn’t, “I took a lot of notes.” It’s, “I found an answer to our problem.”
Public colleges and universities have been given more time to meet new federal web accessibility rules, but "more time" doesn't mean less work. Institutions are already deep into audits, remediation plans, and procurement reviews, and that work is reshaping how campuses think about accessibility long-term.
As classrooms become increasingly connected, digital readiness is becoming part of student readiness. Giving students opportunities to understand the technology they use, not simply access it, can help them become safer, more thoughtful, and more confident participants in the digital world.
A student can't access an app. A teacher needs a password reset. A principal wants to confirm which groups a user belongs to. These are often building-level support issues, but resolving them may still require help from the district team. The challenge has been giving school leaders enough access to handle routine requests without granting them visibility or control across the entire district.
Picture this: CLON27. Jersey City. Your team is spread throughout the Hyatt Regency. Someone’s talking through a provisioning challenge with a product manager, someone else is swapping cybersecurity ideas with a group of admins, and you’ve already lost count of the times you've said, “Wait, we could do that?”
In the last six months, screen time discussions and questions have spiked to an all-time high, leading to legislation, district policies, and daily limits popping up across the country like dandelions. Guidelines are good. We all want the time students spend on screens to be beneficial and healthy.
Cellphone bans across K–12 schools are gaining momentum, driven by a clear goal: reduce distractions and improve student focus. But as these policies expand, they’re surfacing an unexpected challenge. As of January 2026, 33 states and the District of Columbia have enacted cellphone bans or restrictions in K–12 schools.
For district technology teams, the weeks leading up to a new school year are some of the busiest of the year. User accounts are updated, devices are distributed, systems are tested, and every detail matters when thousands of students and staff are expected to log in on day one.
Parents want less screen time in schools. Lawmakers are listening. For district leaders, that means the old approach of just counting minutes isn't enough anymore. You need to know whether the time students spend on screens is actually healthy and spent on learning, and that's exactly what the new Screen Time feature in Analytics+ helps you answer.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) may have just given schools an extra year to comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but districts and edtech providers across the nation are already digging in to compliance work, and that work has ignited a noticeable, and positive, shift in how they approach accessibility.
This month's new and expanded integrations continue to reflect the priorities we hear most from districts: improving instructional outcomes, streamlining operations, increasing visibility into student success, and reducing the complexity of managing educational technology.
Ditch the stressful back-to-school technology issues with a little preventative prep work. These four courses walk you through the tasks many ClassLink administrators are tackling right now to prepare for a smooth start to the school year.
Across district conversations this spring, a few priorities stand out: saving time, simplifying access, and ensuring tools deliver real impact in the classroom. This month’s partners are aligned to that focus, with solutions that integrate seamlessly, reduce manual setup, and improve visibility across systems.
If you manage user accounts across systems like Active Directory, Google, or Entra ID, you know how quickly things can go sideways, one bad import or mismatched field can mean hours of cleanup. These latest OneSync updates are designed to reduce risk, save time, and give you more control, without adding complexity.
Every back-to-school season, schools face common but avoidable problems: students can’t log in—often due to authentication or sync timing; apps are missing from LaunchPad—usually a rostering or permission issue; classes don’t show correctly—pointing to SIS or Roster Server setup gaps; and staff run into access issues when roles and permissions aren’t updated. Let’s skip those struggles this year.
Across the country, a growing number of policymakers and education leaders are debating whether reducing or banning screen time in schools will improve student outcomes. The concern is understandable. Families and educators alike want to ensure that technology is supporting, not harming, learning and student well-being.
CLON 2026 brought together districts and partners focused on one shared goal: making edtech easier to implement, easier to use, and more impactful for teaching and learning. We’d like to recognize and thank the partners who helped make this year’s conference possible. Their collaboration, innovation, and support played a key role in bringing the community together.
CLON 2026 was our biggest gathering yet, bringing nearly 300 district IT leaders, edtech innovators, and ClassLink experts together to share ideas, tackle real challenges, and explore what’s next for digital learning. From packed sessions and hands-on workshops to in-depth conversations with peers who truly “get it,” this year’s conference was full of moments that reminded us why the ClassLink community is so special.
In advance of CLON26, ClassLink reviewed 150+ school district strategic plans and found three common priorities: ensuring access for everyone, automating secure processes, and proving the value of every dollar—principles that shaped the 24 capabilities announced at CLON26.
Higher education is facing a critical authentication challenge. As campuses expand digital access, security vulnerabilities have grown in tandem. Billions of breached credentials circulate online, and traditional authentication methods like passwords and conventional MFA struggle to keep pace with sophisticated phishing attacks and credential theft.
Struggling with rostering, data syncs, or proving the value of your edtech investments? Our latest Admin Meetups and Office Hours are built to address real district challenges. Find practical guidance, live answers, and smarter ways to use ClassLink. Save your seat now!
CLON is a unique conference because it's all about you. What you want to learn, who you want to meet, and which questions you need answered. This year, we're taking that personalization even further. Your CLON ticket now includes two pre-conference options, each designed to help you kick off CLON feeling confident and informed, at no extra cost.
If your district uses Apple School Manager with ClassLink, CLON is a great chance to get one-on-one support for the upcoming transition to Claris Connect on March 13th. Thanks to a new partnership between ClassLink and Claris, districts can move away from manual SFTP uploads and use Claris Connect for Apple School Manager to sync rosters via API, delivering faster, more reliable, and fully automated account management.
The Pre-CLON ClassLink Admin Bootcamp is designed to help admins of all experience levels start the conference feeling prepared, confident, and a little more connected. Whether you’re brand new to ClassLink, have been managing your tenant for years, or still have lingering questions, this three-hour deep dive gives you hands-on training in LaunchPad, Roster Server, and OneSync, alongside ClassLink experts who know your challenges.
We’re excited to spotlight one of ClassLink’s newest partners—Project Lead The Way (PLTW)! PLTW helps Pre-K through 12th grade students unlock their potential through hands-on learning in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science.
Wrangling your assessment data together into something meaningful can be transformational for schools. But it can also make you want to pull your hair out. You know the feeling: you've got a dozen tabs open, you're combing through files with names like Final-Final-Version3.xlsx, and you have that creeping suspicion you’ve missed something important.
Remember the old PSA: “It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are?” That simple question reminded parents to stay aware and stay informed. For higher education, the question you should be asking is: Do you know when, if, and how your applications are being used?
Before a busy holiday season kicks off, take two simple steps to set yourself up for a confident start to 2026: book your annual review with your engagement rep and add our 2026 Admin Meetups to your calendar. It's the kind of prep that leaves you ready, relaxed, and one step ahead.
When was the last time you had an aha moment with data? Mine came when I saw my own elementary school on a list I helped create. That moment, and an unexpected hobby, taught me how curiosity and structure work together to make discovery possible.
For today’s college students, the digital campus is as real as the physical one. Each login, portal, and password shapes how connected they feel to their institution. From the LMS to career services, every digital interaction builds or breaks trust. A seamless digital experience isn’t just about convenience.
Your team is drowning in password resets. Phishing keeps biting. MFA breaks when phones aren’t allowed. Enough. Passkeys are now available in ClassLink. They’re the first step toward a passwordless future, delivering multi-factor security in a single step.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to learn about ClassLink tools and updates that keep your schools safe, connected, and efficient. This month, we’re excited to share important product updates, new partner integrations, and powerful security enhancements—all designed to give your staff, students, and community peace of mind.
Single Sign-On (SSO) is a cornerstone for both improving the higher education experience and cybersecurity measures. Gone are the days where SSO is seen as a single point of failure or written off as an overly complex inconvenience reserved for large school systems.
We’re excited to spotlight one of ClassLink’s newest partners—Project Lead The Way (PLTW)! PLTW helps Pre-K through 12th grade students unlock their potential through hands-on learning in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science.
We have a lot of product news lately, and we know you're busy. Discover the ClassLink updates that will streamline your daily tasks, with release-note snippets and Help Center links to get you moving. Use these updates to promote a successful back-to-school season!
Identity governance has become a cornerstone of IT strategy in colleges and universities. As higher ed institutions balance learning modalities, cybersecurity threats, and complex user populations, managing identities and access is no longer a backend concern: it's mission-critical.
ClassLink's CLON 2026 is more than a conference. It's an experience you'll want to share with the whole team. Imagine all that combined brain power sparking fresh thinking that builds momentum and makes the impact on your district even bigger!
We’re excited to spotlight one of ClassLink’s newest partners—Project Lead The Way (PLTW)! PLTW helps Pre-K through 12th grade students unlock their potential through hands-on learning in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science.
Whether you're three weeks into the new school year or still have two weeks to go, we are ready to help you through this busy season with tools, resources, and a friendly voice on the other end of the line whenever you need it.
Let’s be honest: back-to-school season can feel a little like jumping onto a treadmill that’s already set to sprint. You’ve got big goals. Limited time. And a thousand tabs open—both in your browser and in your brain. That’s why we’re keeping this simple.
Get ready for a no-fluff journey through what’s next in education with your CLON 2026 Keynote, Crystal Washington. Think AI, innovation, identity, and how to future-proof yourself (and your schools) without losing your mind. Don't just dream about the future, launch into it, “keynote”-first.
We’re seeing a new phishing attempt targeting billing teams. Attackers are impersonating “ClassLink Finance” and sending fake DocuSign links. This is not exclusive to ClassLink; these phishing tactics can be used to impersonate any vendor.
As IT staff work to stay afloat in a rapidly expanding sea of data, the shift to cloud-based solutions is no longer a matter of if, but when. But, for many edtech leaders, the journey to the cloud still feels overwhelming, filled with choices about hybrid setups, directory services, and account provisioning.
What if three days in Atlanta could save you months of tech headaches? That’s what you’ll find at CLON 2026 (ClassLink’s annual conference), happening March 2–4 in Atlanta, GA. Let’s be honest. You’re busy. Support tickets, system rollouts, data struggles, security audits… But what if we told you that you could leave CLON with solutions.
Single Sign-on applications that use SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) require a certificate for authentication and security purposes. These SAML certificates authenticate and secure SAML requests, responses, and assertions between software systems.
As we near the end of the school year, it’s the perfect time to get ahead on tasks that will make your summer rollover smooth and stress-free. Let’s walk through four key tips to set you up for success!
From July 2023 to December 2024, a staggering 82% of US K-12 schools were victims of cyberattacks. Most of those attacks were successful because attackers gained access through weak or stolen passwords. The impacts ranged from grade tampering to ransomware attacks that cripple districts for weeks.
Ask any K–12 district technology professional about their app vetting process, and you'll likely be hit with an exasperated sigh, followed by frustrated grumblings like, "What process?" or "Oh, you mean the process that nobody follows?" There are many challenges around app vetting, but the two I hear most often are "Setting up the process" and "Ensuring adoption".
It's that time of year again! As the school year winds down, it’s time to prepare for a smooth rollover to the 2025/2026 school year. Don't worry. Our Back-to-School Checklist and monthly Admin Meetups will guide you through the entire process.
If you ever wished, "I hope this app works with ClassLink," we’ve got good news. Our App Library is growing—again. That means fewer IT headaches, faster logins, and even more learning tools ready for your students. Along with new apps, we also have new partners and plenty of edtech deals for you and your school system.
Visit ClassLink Academy this month and you'll find seven new courses to level up your ClassLink use. Created based on your feedback, these new courses will help you: share important updates with staff, students, and families—fast, fix tricky data and access issues with confidence, get a clearer picture of how edtech is being used in your district, and keep student data locked down and secure.
CLON 2025 was a smash hit! To keep you in the loop, and give you a little bit of that CLON experience, we're sharing our product announcements and what customers like you have to say about CLON 2025 - live in Dallas! If you couldn’t make it to CLON—or want a second look at ClassLink product announcements—we’ve got you covered.
Back-to-school season will be here before you know it! Avoid the last-minute scramble by preparing now. From checklists to expert-led meetups, we’ve got everything you need to stay ahead. Use these resources to start planning now for summer school, your school year rollover and the first day of the new school year.
We’ve added 22 new Certified Partners and 40 new app integrations this month, delivering even more tools and resources to enhance your ClassLink experience. See the full lists below. Get exclusive deals from your favorite vendors, including discounts of up to 50%, free trials, free training, and more with the latest deals on our EdTech Deal Board.
Back-to-school (BTS) season will be here before you know it. But this year, you can skip the chaos. Meet ClassLink’s BTS Toolkit, Second Edition, built by school tech leaders to stop BTS problems before they start. Since 2021, ClassLink’s BTS Summit has brought school and vendor leaders together to solve common BTS challenges.
Every school has unique challenges—and we’re here to help you tackle yours with personalized, one-on-one support at CLON 2025. Inside the Client Services Lounge, you'll find members of our Engagement, Ed Success, and Product Support teams–all ready to answer your questions and address your specific needs!
It’s time to check in: What’s working? What can be better? And how can ClassLink help you level up? Your Annual Review gives you a clear picture of your ClassLink usage and new ways to maximize the impact of ClassLink in your schools. Then, at our next Admin Meetup, we’ll show you how to turn data into smarter, more strategic decisions with ClassLink Analytics.
Every school has unique challenges—and we’re here to help you tackle yours with personalized, one-on-one support at CLON 2025. Inside the Client Services Lounge, you'll find members of our Engagement, Ed Success, and Product Support teams–all ready to answer your questions and address your specific needs!
Rostering struggles are no joke—tedious manual one-offs, oversharing concerns, compliance headaches, and more. We get it. Advanced DataGuard is a Roster Server upgrade with powerful features that help you tackle permission challenges, saving time and stress. And the best part? It's easy to use.
Did you know? You and your staff can earn ClassLink professional certifications at CLON 2025 for free. That's right—another fantastic reason to gather your ClassLink crew for an unforgettable three-day experience March 4-6 in Dallas, Texas.
As cyber criminals increasingly target schools, cybersecurity experts and district leaders caution that a strong Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution is no longer optional—it's essential. In a recent EdTech article, Ed Skoudis, president of the SANS Technology Institute, emphasized how crucial IAM is in education stating that multifactor authentication and role-based access control strategies are “indispensable in K–12 schools for safeguarding sensitive information.”
Otus and ClassLink have partnered to create a seamless digital learning environment that enhances access to educational technologies and improves data management for educators. By integrating Otus' student performance tools with ClassLink's identity management and analytics platform, this collaboration brings numerous benefits to schools and districts:
The Department of Justice has issued a game-changing update to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Now, schools at every level—from early childhood through postsecondary institutions—must ensure all digital learning resources are fully accessible to students with disabilities.
Welcome to the ClassLink Events blog series—your insider guide to our latest event happenings! Whether you’re looking for early bird notifications or on-demand access, this is your go-to spot for all ClassLink-sponsored event updates.
Ransomware attacks on K-12 schools increased by 92% last year, causing an average downtime of 12 days and costing nearly $550,000 per day. These daunting numbers are especially challenging for schools already stretched thin with small security teams and shrinking budgets.
Now that you've settled into a new school year, it's time to look at where you've been with ClassLink and where you want to go. Read on to learn how to use our annual review process to expand your success with ClassLink. Then, register for our next Admin Meetup to learn how you can make impactful data-driven decisions with our latest Analytics updates.
Keep reading to find details about new cost-saving deals from our vendor friends, a listing of the latest apps added to our App Library, and a list of our latest Certified Partners. Plus, be sure to check out our important security reminder!
CLON 2025, ClassLink’s annual conference, is a crucial event for ed-tech leaders. It will be held from March 4 to 6, 2025, in Dallas, TX. CLON addresses evolving educational challenges by gathering technology leaders from across the nation to tackle pressing issues in modern education.
Christy Cloud, an innovative educator, sparked a global movement when she created superhero avatars using Microsoft Designer. Her creation, known as the EduGuardians, went viral among teachers, leading to the formation of a unique and growing community of educators worldwide.
Do you have plans on March 4-6, 2025? Picture yourself in sunny Dallas, Texas, connecting with fellow edtech leaders and learning from ClassLink experts in a vibrant and dynamic environment. This will be the scene at CLON 2025 — an event filled with genuine connections, practical solutions, and unwavering support.
Keep reading to find details about new cost-saving deals from our vendor friends, a listing of the latest apps added to our App Library, and a list of our latest Certified Partners. Plus, be sure to check out our important security reminder!
Dive into everything you need to know to start your school year off right. We're covering the exciting relaunch of ClassLink Academy and the latest course updates. Plus, we're highlighting our Learning & Development awards. Let's explore what's happening at ClassLink Academy!
Recognizing the hard work of exceptional colleagues is not just about acknowledging their achievements; it's about creating a culture of appreciation, boosting morale, and reinforcing the importance of ongoing professional development. That's where CLON’s Learning & Development Awards come in!
Many are concerned about the latest advancements in AI, especially when it comes to education. That's where Ken Shelton and Dee Lanier come in. Both are optimistic about AI's potential while still acknowledging its potential challenges.
Keep reading to find details about new cost-saving deals from our vendor friends, a listing of the latest apps added to our App Library, and a list of our latest Certified Partners. Plus, be sure to check out our important security reminder!
It's back-to-school season, and we're here to help! ClassLink Academy offers a range of courses to ensure a smooth start to your school year. With its fresh new look, we hope ClassLink Academy becomes your go-to destination for ClassLink training.
Whether you're new to ClassLink or you've been in your ClassLink era for a while, you'll want to use these five resources. Hand-picked by our engagement team, these handy tips and tools will answer your most frequently asked questions and save time as you prepare to start a new school year with ClassLink.
Do you have plans on March 4-6, 2025? Picture yourself in sunny Dallas, Texas, connecting with fellow edtech leaders and learning from ClassLink experts in a vibrant and dynamic environment. This will be the scene at CLON 2025 — an event filled with genuine connections, practical solutions, and unwavering support.
Being an effective ally can take many forms, whether it's encouraging the correct use of pronouns or engaging in meaningful conversations with members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In this episode, we accompany Jack Jordan as they reveal their personal ties to their advocacy, highlight the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, and demystify the essence of true allyship.
