![\"Houston-area](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8i6xu75vlu2kpuhi.jpg\")
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HOUSTON – School districts have monitored student activity on school-issued devices for years, largely through web filters, blocked-site lists, and device management systems.<\/p>\n
Now, some Houston-area school districts confirmed to FOX26 they are using AI-powered monitoring tools to monitor activity on school-issued devices \u2014 technology districts describe as a way to support student safety and appropriate use of district technology.<\/p>\n
What we know:<\/p>\n
Humble ISD and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD responded to FOX 26 with details about what they use and why.<\/p>\n
And in Fort Bend ISD, board records show this isn\u2019t just a behind-the-scenes tech choice \u2014 it made the public agenda. A July 21, 2025, board agenda item lists a proposed purchase of a “Web Content Filter” and related modules from GoGuardian, with a cost listed “not to exceed” $1.6 million over five years, and authorization for the superintendent to negotiate and execute the agreement through July 2030.<\/p>\n
What we don’t know:<\/p>\n
FOX 26 is still working to learn how widely these tools are used across the Houston area \u2014 and how consistent district practices are when something is flagged.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s not clear yet is how often alerts are triggered in each district, how frequently they turn out to be false alarms, and what specific words, patterns, or online activity can lead to a flag. It\u2019s also not clear what data is stored, how long it\u2019s retained, or who ultimately controls it once it\u2019s collected.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s one of the biggest questions tech expert Juan Guevara Torres says parents should be asking.<\/p>\n
“I can tell you, Bark is a very good software. But at the end of the day, I have a question here \u2014 who is gonna own the data that is coming from those devices?”<\/p>\n
Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Mankarios says even if the goal is safety, privacy still has to be treated carefully \u2014 especially because the people being monitored are children.<\/p>\n
“We go back to fine-tuning the tools so that we can use it appropriately for the time, and no matter what. Privacy, we have to be careful because we\u2019re dealing with children.”<\/p>\n
What they’re saying:<\/p>\n
Humble ISD Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (CFISD) GoGuardian <\/p>\n
GoGuardian responded to FOX26\u2019s questions about how its monitoring and alert system works:<\/p>\n
On 24\/7 coverage and escalation:<\/p>\n
On false positives:<\/p>\n
On discipline and parent notification:<\/p>\n
What’s next:<\/p>\n
Experts say parents who want clarity should ask their child\u2019s school district direct, specific questions:<\/p>\n
What software is on school-issued devices?What exactly is being monitored (searches, documents, messages, browsing, etc.)?Who reviews alerts \u2014 and what happens after something is flagged?When are parents notified?What data is kept, for how long, and who can access it? <\/p>\n
FOX26 has reached out to additional Houston-area school districts and vendors for more information and will update this story as more responses come in.<\/p>\n
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988.<\/p>\n
The Source: FOX 26 Reporter Karys Belger spoke with several Houston-area school districts. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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