The familiar morning routine at Parker now begins with a scan. Before entering the building, every student must scan an ID, a small plastic card that represents a big shift in how the school tracks attendance and ensures safety. The IDs are used as a new way for Parker to track attendance and control access to the building. According to a 2022 ID Wholesaler survey, over 94% of U.S. K-12 schools reported using ID cards for identification and security purposes. In Chicago, the use of IDs by students varies between different schools. All Chicago Public School (CPS) high schools require students to present IDs and pass through metal detectors to enter the building. As for Chicago private schools, a rough estimate suggests that a majority, likely between 60% and 80%, require or strongly encourage student IDs. While they are not universal, IDs are becoming increasingly customary at elementary and middle schools.
The use of IDs in schools is not a new concept, but it has grown more widespread in recent decades. Following national conversations about school security, many institutions adopted stricter entry policies. School IDs, which were once seen as unnecessary in smaller or private schools, are now recognized as part of a larger culture of safety and accountability.
What are Parker IDs for? Security Officer Rosemary Abad said, “To find and keep track of students, teachers, and staff going in and out of the building.” Abad thinks positively about the IDs, as she stated that they, “help prepare students for college and give them the privileges to leave the building during the school day.”
Being in authority over one’s own ID creates a sense of responsibility, not just for oneself, but also for the Parker community as a whole. Losing or forgetting IDs is another challenge. Even though replacement systems are in place, students who lose their IDs are learning that accountability is an expectation of being a Parker student. According to Abad, “At least 10 students per day,” forget their IDs. For many, it is an inconvenience, but for others, it is an important reminder that keeping accountability matters.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public schools recorded 19 violent incidents per 1,000 students. The K-12 School Shooting Database shows that during the 2023-24 school year, there were 330 reported K-12 gunfire incidents (anytime a gun is fired, brandished, or a bullet hits school property) and 39 shootings with injuries or deaths, putting that year at the second-highest number on the record. These sobering statistics highlight why schools across the country are strengthening their security.
Safety and freedom aren’t opposites but interconnected, and Parker IDs reflect the growing reality of safety for education. While IDs can feel bothersome and unnecessary to some, they also symbolize the collective agreement that students, staff, and families are working together to make school a safe and secure place for learning. Safety measures are essential to a school environment, and the responsibility for it lies in everyone’s hands.
