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GoGuardian Beacon uses machine learning (ML) to analyze student online activity on school-issued devices. When the ML models detect activity aligned with signals of suicide risk, self-harm, or harm to others, Beacon generates an alert for designated school staff to review.

Understand the Detection Process

Beacon uses supervised learning — an ML technique where models are trained on labeled datasets to make predictions about new outcomes. Beacon’s models are trained on datasets labeled by individuals with experience in recognizing and responding to mental health risks. When deployed by a school, Beacon’s ML models continuously analyze student online activity. If the models detect activity that matches the patterns they were trained to identify, Beacon generates an alert.
Designated school staff are always the ultimate decision-makers as to whether a Beacon-generated alert requires human intervention.

Review Alert Contents

Each alert contains the following information to help the reviewing staff member make an informed, rapid decision about student safety:
  • Date and time of the event
  • 30-minute browsing history window (±15 minutes from the event)
  • Student name and email address
  • Guardian contact information (if available)
  • Risk category
  • URL
  • Relevant content
  • Screen captures (if available)

Understand Alert Phases

Beacon categorizes each alert into one of five phases:
Notifications for Active Planning alerts are required. Notifications for the remaining four phases are optional and can be configured by a SuperUser or SuperCounselor.

Resources

About GoGuardian Beacon

Overview of what Beacon is and how schools use it.

Beacon Glossary

Definitions for key terms used throughout Beacon documentation.

Create a Deployment

Create a Beacon deployment and connect it to an Organizational Unit.

Initial Setup Checklist

Step-by-step checklist for Super Users setting up Beacon Starter.
Last modified on July 9, 2026