Philadelphia schools to implement digital hall pass system

The School District of Philadelphia is making a digital hall pass system available to all district schools for the 2026-27 school year. Utilizing the existing Infinite Campus platform, students can request permission to leave their classrooms via Chromebooks.

Once a teacher approves a request, the student’s destination, departure time, and return time are logged on a digital ‘hall monitor grid’ for administrators and school climate staff. The system is designed to enhance school safety by allowing staff to restrict access to certain areas and prevent students involved in active conflicts from being in the hallways at the same time.

While officials view the technology as a tool to reduce physical violence, some staff members have expressed concerns. Critics, including representatives for school climate workers, question whether monitoring digital screens might distract staff from identifying and intervening in real-time conflicts before they escalate.