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Lightspeed Systems

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In the Howard County Public School System, teachers may opt to use Lightspeed Classroom and parents/guardians are able to access the Lightspeed Parent Portal.

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students at Marriotts Ridge High School pose for photo. Three are seated at desks with laptops open in front of them; two stand behind.

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Lightspeed Parent Notifications & Portal

Beginning Feb. 21, 2024, parents/guardians may select to receive automated weekly emails on Sunday summarizing their student’s HCPSS Chromebook internet usage. The same email contains an option to sign up for the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides near real-time information on a student’s HCPSS Chromebook internet activity, and offers the ability to pause web browsing and block social media sites when not on the HCPSS network.

Email Notifications

Signing up to receive the parent/guardian email notification is done online via HCPSS Connect Synergy.Your parent/guardian username is the email address on file with the school system. If you do not remember your password:

  1. Go to www.hcpss.org/connect and select the blue HCPSS Connect Login button.
  2. At the login page, select the Forgot Password link under the login option
  3. Select Forgot Password under the Parents & Guardians heading.

To receive email notifications

  1. Go to www.hcpss.org/connect and log in with your parent/guardian credentials.
  2. Select More Options from the left navigation menu and then select Parent Email Notifications.
  3. Click on the box next to Notify me weekly regarding my child’s/children’s internet usage via Lightspeed.
  4. Select Submit

Lightspeed Parent Portal emails are sent on Sundays.

Parent Portal

While the email notification provides a summary of the student’s HCPSS-issued Chromebook internet activity, the Parent Portal provides additional information and features. To access the Lightspeed Parent Portal, parents/guardians must first sign up to receive the notification using the directions above. At the bottom of the email notification is a Log In or Register link. Parents can use this link to set up their account and access the Lightspeed Parent Portal. During the account set up process, a verification email will be sent to the email address listed on HCPSS Connect.

In the portal, parents can see near real-time information on their student’s HCPSS Chromebook internet activity. Additionally, when not connected to the HCPSS network, parents/guardians can pause their student’s ability to use the web for various amounts of time and restrict social media sites.

Parents/guardians in need of additional assistance should complete the HCPSS Connect Help Form.

Lightspeed Classroom

Lightspeed Classroom is a software application that allows teachers, during specified timeframes, to control how a student uses their HCPSS-issued Chromebook, including viewing student screens, sharing resources, locking devices, reviewing class activity, and restricting some non-instructional sites.

Teachers who wish to use the tool must complete the required Classroom Management professional learning module to ensure compliance with student data privacy policies and access, and learn how to use the application.