Clever Substitute Access: Secure learning continues even when teachers are out

Digital learning gives teachers and students many exciting ways to engage and learn. But what happens when a teacher is absent and a substitute is in charge? Without reliable school accounts or application licenses, there isn’t a secure way for substitutes to access key curriculum. When substitutes can’t continue lessons because they don’t have access, student learning suffers. That’s why we built Substitute Access – one additional way we’ve secured all identities, access, and data via Clever.

Lost instructional time and security concerns

From daily classroom interruptions to growing teacher absenteeism — student instructional time is at risk. With the majority of K-12 classrooms relying on digital learning, schools face a new challenge with how to grant substitute teachers access to curriculum while a teacher is out.  Even though substitutes are often technically district employees, many schools accept that substitutes can’t use their learning applications, diverting students from their structured lesson plan. But what if schools didn’t have to accept this compromise of learning loss to stronger cybersecurity protocols? 

A new, secure pathway for substitute teachers

With Clever Substitute Access, teachers can securely grant substitutes access to important learning applications and keep learning on track while they’re out. Using tools they use everyday on Clever–-Teacher Pages and Badges—they can quickly and easily share access to just the resources substitutes will need in class, without the security concerns (like usernames and passwords on stickies or in emails). Once the teacher grants access, substitutes can access applications as the primary teacher – ensuring that learning continues. Schools who may have devoted application licenses to substitutes in the past won’t have to consider that in budgeting anymore. Watch a demo below.

Availability and enhancements

Substitute Access is free to districts and available now. To get started, Clever Admins should turn it on in their dashboard. Key product enhancements give Clever Admins and teachers more customization options and exciting features on the way will give Clever Admins even more control. 

Features available today: 

• Clever Admins can turn on Substitute Access for specific schools in the district. 
• Teachers can provide short-term substitutes with access to the applications on their Teacher Pages using a Substitute Badge. Learn more here.
• Teachers can customize Substitute Badge expiration dates up to 14 days.

Enhancements ready by Back to School 2025: 

• Clever Admins can track Substitute Badge login information in Clever’s updated Access Logs
• Clever Admins can select specific applications to block from Substitute Access