Swampscott Public Schools are expanding their use of SmartPass, a digital hall-pass platform designed to monitor student movement throughout the school day. Administrators say the technology is already helping them balance keeping students safe and protecting instructional time.
SmartPass replaces the traditional paper pass with a digital request system accessible on student devices. When a student needs to go to the restroom, see the nurse, or step out for a brief walk, they submit a pass that teachers can approve with a click. The system automatically logs when the student leaves, where they are headed, and for how long they are gone. Administrators can limit the number of active passes at once, reducing crowding in hallways and view building-wide trends in real time.
Superintendent Jason Calichman said the system gives the district new visibility into how often students leave class and for how long,information that had been difficult to track accurately before.
“Our primary goal is to keep students safe and maximize their dedicated learning time,” he said. “SmartPass is a powerful tool that helps us manage both priorities by providing concrete data on student movement. This data clearly shows how often students leave specific classrooms and for how long.”
Calichman said that data has already helped schools identify patterns among students who take frequent breaks or visit certain locations repeatedly, allowing staff to intervene earlier and better understand students’ needs. The system also supports safety protocols by ensuring administrators know how many students are out of class at any given time.
At Swampscott High School, Principal Emily Zotto said SmartPass aligns with her broader efforts to strengthen the building’s academic culture and expectations.
“The Smart Pass is a complementary tool to enhance our culture of excellence, one of my main objectives,” Zotto said. “It’s a quick and accessible system for getting the support you need, while building the accountability that powers our high-achieving culture for students and staff.”
Teachers and students can see a log of their passes, which Zotto said has reduced confusion about how much instructional time is being missed.
At the middle school level, Principal Jessica Minter said the digital pass has actually expanded, rather than limited, flexibility for students who benefit from short movement breaks during the day.
“SmartPass allows students to take necessary breaks or walks without penalty, ensuring each student receives what they need during the school day to succeed,” Minter said.
Those breaks, Minter said, provide important support for students managing anxiety, attention difficulties or personal stressors. A record helps staff work with families to better understand what students may be experiencing.
Eighth grade teacher Kendra Czernicki said SmartPass has also become a valuable communication tool between teachers and families, especially when a student is consistently missing chunks of class time.
“SmartPass has been a great way to show students and their parents in a data-driven way how impactful frequent trips out of the classroom can be,” Czernicki said.
She said the visual logs often help students realize how much instructional time they are losing without meaning to.
The district plans to continue using SmartPass through the year while gathering feedback from teachers, students and families. Administrators say early indicators suggest the tool has already reduced hallway traffic, increased transparency around student needs, and strengthened communication across grades.
