Optimizing Your EdTech Budget with Securly Filter: A Strategic Approach for K-12 Schools

Overview

Technology teams at K-12 schools face a formidable challenge in today’s fast-paced digital educational environment. Managing a growing number of edtech tools while ensuring the best return on investment. Every year, budgets are stretched thin as new applications and services emerge, promising to enhance student outcomes. However, schools risk overspending on underutilized apps without a data-driven approach to managing these tools and missing out on opportunities to streamline resources. The solution to this problem may lie in an often-overlooked tool: your web filter.

Securly Filter has long been a trusted resource for keeping students safe online. However, in the 2024-2025 school year, it has expanded its functionality to offer robust edtech usage analytics, allowing school administrators and IT directors to make informed decisions about the tools they invest in. Here’s how Securly Filter can help you manage your edtech budget more effectively.

Understanding the Challenges of EdTech Budget Optimization

The number of educational apps and digital tools has grown exponentially, making it difficult for IT teams to track what is being used, how it’s being used, and whether it’s providing value. Schools often face these questions:

• Are we unknowingly overspending on unused or underutilized tools?
• How can we accurately track app usage across the entire district?
• How can we make data-driven decisions about app renewals or discontinuations?

Securly Filter solves these challenges by offering detailed analytics that gives school administrators unprecedented visibility into their edtech ecosystems.

The Evolution of Web Filters: More Than Just Safety

Traditionally, web filters have been seen primarily as safety tools that block harmful or inappropriate content. Securly Filter still offers these critical protections, but it goes further by providing comprehensive data on how edtech tools are being used in real time.

Here are seven ways Securly Filter helps schools make smarter, data-driven decisions about their edtech investments:

1. Comprehensive EdTech Usage Insights

Securly Filter’s analytics agent collects activity data across all student devices. This means you can see which apps and websites are being used without relying on manual surveys or guesswork. With this information at your fingertips, you can quickly identify underperforming apps and make informed decisions about whether they’re worth keeping.

2. Unified Dashboard for Seamless Oversight

Instead of juggling multiple app-specific reports, Securly Filter consolidates all your data into a unified dashboard. This allows for easy visualization of app usage, website traffic, and device data in one place. With a few clicks, you can generate comprehensive reports to share with stakeholders or use for internal assessments.

3. Detailed Usage Metrics for Data-Driven Decisions

Securly Filter offers granular insights into how specific apps are being used. You can track which students use each tool, how frequently they engage with it, and for how long. These detailed metrics can highlight both your high-performing applications and those that may require additional attention.

4. EdTech Budget Optimization Through Usage Analysis

With precise data on app usage, schools can eliminate unnecessary spending by discontinuing licenses for underused tools. This targeted approach ensures that every dollar spent on educational technology delivers value. This level of financial oversight is critical in ensuring that funds are allocated in a way that directly contributes to student success.

5. Pinpointing Training Needs

Not every app underutilization issue is a result of disinterest. Low usage rates may indicate a lack of training or a need for better instructional integration. School administrators can arrange the necessary training sessions by identifying apps with low adoption, ensuring that all educators can use these tools effectively.

6. Detecting Shadow IT Risks

Shadow IT refers to the unapproved or unsanctioned use of software and applications within an organization. Securly Filter’s comprehensive monitoring capabilities allow you to identify unauthorized apps that may pose security risks. Addressing these vulnerabilities before escalating ensures students and staff a safer, more secure tech environment.

7. Easy-to-Generate Reports for Transparent Communication

With Securly Filter, generating data reports is simple and efficient. Whether preparing a presentation for the school board or negotiating with a vendor for license renewals, you’ll have all the data you need to make a compelling case. These reports also ensure that your decisions are backed by clear, evidence-based insights.

Maximizing the Value of Your EdTech Investments

When it comes to making the most of your tech budget, knowledge is power. By leveraging Securly Filter’s enhanced capabilities, school technology teams can gain the insights they need to make informed decisions about their digital tools. This shift from reactive to proactive technology management allows schools to optimize resources, reduce waste, and improve the educational experience.

With real-time data, easy-to-use dashboards, and comprehensive app usage insights, Securly Filter transforms your web filter from a simple safety tool into a powerful resource for strategic decision-making.

Recommended Diagram: EdTech Decision-Making Process

To optimize your edtech budget using Securly Filter, the process begins with data collection from the filter’s analytics. This data is then analyzed to assess app usage across the school or district. Based on this analysis, schools can identify underutilized apps and proceed to make informed renewal decisions, ensuring budget efficiency.

In addition to identifying unused apps, the analysis helps pinpoint areas where staff may need additional training to adopt certain tools fully. Once these gaps are identified, schools can arrange targeted training sessions to enhance adoption.

The data also aids in detecting shadow IT and uncovering unauthorized applications that may pose security risks. Schools can then take appropriate actions to mitigate these risks, ensuring a safe and efficient digital environment.

Conclusion

The Securly Filter solution empowers schools to protect students online and manage their edtech resources with precision. By offering a complete picture of app usage, it allows schools to invest wisely, ensuring that their tech budgets are directed toward tools that truly enhance student learning.