Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) will scan student activity on every school-issued device during the 2026-27 school year, using an AI-powered system that flags signs of violence, bullying and self-harm.

The district announced the partnership with Lightspeed Systems in a parent notice posted Thursday, Sept. 17, on Miami Palmetto Senior High's website. The letter, addressed to all K-12 parents and guardians, describes the tool as an added safety layer.

Lightspeed Alert combines artificial intelligence with around-the-clock human review. The software scans activity on school-owned devices and sorts alerts into two categories: "harm-to-self" and "harm-to-others."

What student data the system collects

According to the parent notice, the system collects five data points: student name, school, grade level, email and the specific content that triggered an alert. No other activity or data will be monitored or collected, the notice states.

Safety specialists employed by Lightspeed evaluate every alert. Depending on the content, flagged information is shared with the student's school, the district and the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department.

When specialists determine imminent danger exists, they follow an escalation process to notify appropriate parties immediately, regardless of the day or time, according to the notice.

Program covers all K-12 students districtwide

The letter frames the deployment as covering all K-12 students across M-DCPS. The district cited School Board Policy 7540.03, which governs student technology use and internet safety, and Policy 7540.07, which covers instructional mobile devices, as the policy framework for the program.

Miami Palmetto Senior High, led by Principal Victoria Dobbs, enrolled about 2,670 students in the 2023-24 school year and serves families from Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and surrounding neighborhoods. The school's news feed also lists a separate, earlier "Lightspeed Alert Letter," suggesting families may have received prior communication about the program.

The deployment landed one day after the Florida Board of Education approved new rules Wednesday, Sept. 16, requiring parental consent before students use AI products in the classroom. Those rules, reported by the Miami Herald, also prohibit AI tools from subjecting students to "undisclosed behavior monitoring, social scoring or psychological profiling."

Whether Lightspeed Alert falls under those new state rules is unclear. The parent notice describes the tool as a safety system, not an instructional AI product. Districts must finalize their AI policies by July 1, 2027.

Where parents can direct questions

Parents with questions can call Palmetto Senior High at 305-235-1360. The notice did not list a parent meeting, opt-out process or comment window.