BIO-key Partners with California Ed Tech JPA to Make its Identity and Access Management Solutions Available to 195 Member Institutions Serving Over 2.6M Students
BIO-key International (NASDAQ: BKYI) has announced a new partnership with California's Education Technology Joint Powers Authority (Ed Tech JPA), an alliance of 195 K-12 schools serving over 2.6M students. The company's PortalGuard Platform has been approved as an identity management solution following an extensive RFP process.
This partnership is particularly significant given California's recent Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326) mandating policies to limit smartphone use in schools by July 2026. PortalGuard offers phone-less and tokenless authentication options, providing up to seventeen authentication methods including biometrics, challenge-response, and door access cards.
The Ed Tech JPA centralizes software procurement for member schools, ensuring compliance with data privacy laws and offering standardized licensing terms. BIO-key's solution will be available to all Ed Tech JPA members at competitive pricing through an easy-to-use web portal.
BIO-key International (NASDAQ: BKYI) ha annunciato una nuova partnership con l'Autorità per la Tecnologia Educativa della California (Ed Tech JPA), un'alleanza di 195 scuole K-12 che serve oltre 2,6 milioni di studenti. La piattaforma PortalGuard dell'azienda è stata approvata come soluzione di gestione dell'identità dopo un ampio processo di RFP.
Questa partnership è particolarmente significativa considerando il recente Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326) della California, che impone politiche per limitare l'uso degli smartphone nelle scuole entro luglio 2026. PortalGuard offre opzioni di autenticazione senza telefono e senza token, fornendo fino a diciassette metodi di autenticazione, inclusi biometria, risposta a sfide e carte d'accesso per porte.
La Ed Tech JPA centralizza l'acquisto di software per le scuole membri, garantendo la conformità alle leggi sulla privacy dei dati e offrendo termini di licenza standardizzati. La soluzione di BIO-key sarà disponibile per tutti i membri della Ed Tech JPA a prezzi competitivi tramite un portale web facile da usare.
BIO-key International (NASDAQ: BKYI) ha anunciado una nueva asociación con la Autoridad de Poderes Conjuntos de Tecnología Educativa de California (Ed Tech JPA), una alianza de 195 escuelas K-12 que atiende a más de 2.6 millones de estudiantes. La plataforma PortalGuard de la empresa ha sido aprobada como una solución de gestión de identidad tras un extenso proceso de RFP.
Esta asociación es particularmente significativa dado el reciente Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326) de California, que exige políticas para limitar el uso de teléfonos inteligentes en las escuelas antes de julio de 2026. PortalGuard ofrece opciones de autenticación sin teléfono y sin token, proporcionando hasta diecisiete métodos de autenticación, incluidos biometría, respuesta a desafíos y tarjetas de acceso a puertas.
La Ed Tech JPA centraliza la adquisición de software para las escuelas miembros, asegurando el cumplimiento de las leyes de privacidad de datos y ofreciendo términos de licencia estandarizados. La solución de BIO-key estará disponible para todos los miembros de la Ed Tech JPA a precios competitivos a través de un portal web fácil de usar.
BIO-key International (NASDAQ: BKYI)는 195개의 K-12 학교가 260만 명 이상의 학생을 대상으로 하는 캘리포니아 교육 기술 공동 권한(Ed Tech JPA)과 새로운 파트너십을 발표했습니다. 이 회사의 PortalGuard 플랫폼은 광범위한 RFP 프로세스를 거쳐 신원 관리 솔루션으로 승인되었습니다.
이번 파트너십은 캘리포니아의 최근 Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326)이 2026년 7월까지 학교 내 스마트폰 사용을 제한하는 정책을 의무화한 점에서 특히 중요합니다. PortalGuard는 전화기 없이도 사용 가능한 인증 옵션을 제공하며, 생체 인식, 챌린지-응답, 출입 카드 등 최대 17가지 인증 방법을 제공합니다.
Ed Tech JPA는 회원 학교를 위한 소프트웨어 조달을 중앙 집중화하여 데이터 개인 정보 보호 법률 준수를 보장하고 표준화된 라이선스 조건을 제공합니다. BIO-key의 솔루션은 사용하기 쉬운 웹 포털을 통해 모든 Ed Tech JPA 회원에게 경쟁력 있는 가격으로 제공될 것입니다.
BIO-key International (NASDAQ: BKYI) a annoncé un nouveau partenariat avec l'Autorité des Pouvoirs Conjoints en Technologie Éducative de Californie (Ed Tech JPA), une alliance de 195 écoles K-12 servant plus de 2,6 millions d'élèves. La plateforme PortalGuard de l'entreprise a été approuvée comme solution de gestion des identités après un processus d'appel d'offres approfondi.
Ce partenariat est particulièrement significatif compte tenu de la récente Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326) de Californie, qui impose des politiques pour limiter l'utilisation des smartphones dans les écoles d'ici juillet 2026. PortalGuard offre des options d'authentification sans téléphone et sans jeton, fournissant jusqu'à dix-sept méthodes d'authentification, y compris la biométrie, la réponse à défi et les cartes d'accès aux portes.
La Ed Tech JPA centralise l'acquisition de logiciels pour les écoles membres, garantissant la conformité aux lois sur la protection des données et offrant des conditions de licence standardisées. La solution de BIO-key sera disponible pour tous les membres de la Ed Tech JPA à des prix compétitifs via un portail web facile à utiliser.
BIO-key International (NASDAQ: BKYI) hat eine neue Partnerschaft mit der California Education Technology Joint Powers Authority (Ed Tech JPA) angekündigt, einem Zusammenschluss von 195 K-12 Schulen, die über 2,6 Millionen Schüler bedienen. Die PortalGuard-Plattform des Unternehmens wurde nach einem umfassenden RFP-Prozess als Identitätsmanagementlösung genehmigt.
Diese Partnerschaft ist besonders bedeutend angesichts des kürzlich verabschiedeten Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326) in Kalifornien, das Richtlinien zur Begrenzung der Smartphone-Nutzung in Schulen bis Juli 2026 vorschreibt. PortalGuard bietet telefon- und tokenfreie Authentifizierungsoptionen und stellt bis zu siebzehn Authentifizierungsmethoden zur Verfügung, darunter Biometrie, Challenge-Response und Zugangskarten für Türen.
Die Ed Tech JPA zentralisiert den Softwarebeschaffungsprozess für Mitgliedsschulen, gewährleistet die Einhaltung der Datenschutzgesetze und bietet standardisierte Lizenzbedingungen. Die Lösung von BIO-key wird allen Mitgliedern der Ed Tech JPA zu wettbewerbsfähigen Preisen über ein benutzerfreundliches Webportal zur Verfügung stehen.
- Strategic partnership providing access to 195 K-12 institutions and 2.6M potential users
- Competitive advantage due to California's Phone-Free Schools Act implementation
- Existing successful track record with California Community Colleges (116 institutions, 2.1M students)
- Approved vendor status after extensive technical and privacy review process
- Aggressive pricing strategy may impact profit margins
- Success depends on individual adoption by member institutions
Insights
BIO-key's new partnership with California's Ed Tech JPA represents a significant market expansion opportunity for the company's PortalGuard identity management platform. This agreement provides streamlined access to 195 K-12 institutions serving over 2.6 million students - a substantial addressable market for BIO-key's solutions.
The timing of this partnership is strategically advantageous given California's regulatory environment. The state's Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326) mandating policies limiting smartphone use by July 2026 creates an immediate market need that BIO-key's phoneless authentication solutions directly address. This regulatory tailwind positions BIO-key's technology as particularly relevant compared to competitors requiring mobile devices for authentication.
For investors, this partnership's value extends beyond immediate revenue potential. It demonstrates BIO-key's growing institutional validation within education, building on their existing relationship with California Community Colleges serving 2.1 million students. The Ed Tech JPA's rigorous approval process further validates BIO-key's technology while reducing sales friction through standardized pricing and licensing terms.
While financial terms aren't disclosed, this agreement should be viewed as a positive catalyst for potential revenue growth. BIO-key's micro-cap status (
- BIO-key’s PortalGuard Solution Delivers Secure
Multi-Factor Authentication without Requiring Phones or Tokens -
FRESNO, Calif. and HOLMDEL, N.J., March 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BIO-key® International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI), an innovative provider of workforce and customer Identity and Access Management (IAM) software for phoneless, tokenless, passwordless, and phishing-resistant authentication experiences, announced today a new partnership and Joint Purchase Agreement (JPA) with California’s Education Technology Joint Powers Authority (Ed Tech JPA), an alliance of 195 K-12 schools and school districts serving over 2.6 million students. BIO-key’s PortalGuard Platform was accepted as an approved identity management solution by the Ed Tech JPA following an extensive Request for Proposal (RFP) and review process. Considering California’s growing regulatory limitations on the use of personal mobile devices in schools, PortalGuard’s phone-less and tokenless authentication options stand as competitive differentiators among Multi-Factor Authentication solutions that center on phone authenticators and hardware security keys.
California’s Ed Tech JPA centralizes software and technology procurement for member schools and school districts, saving time and resources and ensuring compliance with data privacy and public bidding laws. Following its review and approval, PortalGuard is now available and easily accessible to all Ed Tech JPA members across the state at aggressive pricing and standardized licensing terms for streamlined procurement.
The Ed Tech JPA conducts extensive technical, capabilities, safety, and privacy reviews, negotiates competitive contract terms, and ensures all vendors execute a Student Data Privacy Agreement. By combining and coordinating the product review and approval process, the Ed Tech JPA provides access to an approved assortment of high-quality digital products and services and enables approved vendors to offer their solutions to Ed Tech JPA members via an easy-to-use web portal.
BIO-key solutions have long held a competitive advantage for user journeys where the use of cellphones for authentication or system access is either inconvenient, limited or prohibited, as is increasingly the case in California schools and workplaces in general. For example, in September 2024, California enacted the Phone-Free Schools Act (AB-1326) mandating policies that limit or prohibit smartphone use in schools by July 1, 2026. Additionally, California’s Labor Code § 2802 requires employers to reimburse employees for personal phone use. PortalGuard offers several elegant alternative authentication options that eliminate the need for phones.
This partnership with Ed Tech JPA will ensure access for member institutions to BIO-key's PortalGuard platform which provides a comprehensive identity provider (IdP) and multi-factor authentication solution, enabling students, teachers, and staff to enjoy a seamless login experience across multiple applications while safeguarding sensitive educational data from unauthorized access. With PortalGuard, member institutions can utilize up to seventeen authentication methods, including privacy-law-compliant biometrics, challenge-response, tokens and door access cards to offer users flexible login options while enhancing the security of their digital resources.
“We are excited to partner with Ed Tech JPA to provide their members access to PortalGuard’s proven IAM capabilities,” said Mark Cochran, President of BIO-key’s PortalGuard division. “For over 20 years, BIO-key has built a strong track record delivering enterprise-grade IAM security solutions to meet the unique “roving user” needs of educational institutions nationwide. Our solutions are used for school lunch payments, library access, and school bus tracking because they don’t require students to carry anything or prove who they are to access them. After ten years of partnering with the California Community Colleges and its 116 member institutions, serving 2.1 million students, we are eager to extend PortalGuard benefits to Ed Tech JPA members.”
About Ed Tech Joint Powers Authority (www.edtechjpa.org)
The Ed Tech JPA aims to streamline procurement, provide competitive pricing, and secure favorable technology contracts for educational agencies and other eligible entities. The Ed Tech JPA is supported by seven founding entities, including Capistrano Unified School District, Clovis Unified School District, Fullerton School District, El Dorado County Office of Education, Irvine Unified School District, San Juan Unified School District, and San Ramon Valley Unified School District. The founding members coordinate consortium purchases of high-quality products and services to benefit all current and potential member agencies.
About BIO-key International, Inc. (www.BIO-key.com)
BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software securing access for over forty million users. BIO-key allows customers to choose the right authentication factors for diverse use cases, including phoneless, tokenless, and passwordless biometric options. Its cloud-hosted or on-premise PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy-to-deploy, convenient, and secure access to computers, information, applications, and high-value transactions.
BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement
All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "anticipates," "believes" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include factors set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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Investor Contacts
William Jones, David Collins
Catalyst IR
BKYI@catalyst-ir.com or 212-924-9800
FAQ
What is the scope of BIO-key's new partnership with California Ed Tech JPA for BKYI investors?
How does California's Phone-Free Schools Act impact BIO-key's (BKYI) market opportunity?
What authentication options does BIO-key (BKYI) offer through PortalGuard for schools?
How does BIO-key's PortalGuard platform benefit California educational institutions?
