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The First Report Card Isn’t Just About Grades: 5 Red Flags Parents Shouldn’t Ignore

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National education expert shares what parents need to be looking for beyond grades

BOSTON, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Before we know it, the first report card of the school year will be issued, and parents are eager to take a look and see how their child is doing. What they may not realize, however, is that the grades on that report card are only one part of the equation. There is a lot more that goes into demonstrating how a child is doing. It is crucial that parents take notice of those things, especially when it comes to the ones that are red flags.

“Sure, everyone wants to see the grades on the report card, but the evaluation of how your child is doing so far this year doesn’t stop there,” explains Michelle Smith, Founder and Chief Education Strategist of Independent Education Group. “A child can get decent grades and still be strongly struggling in other areas that need to be addressed. There’s so much more to it than the grades. If we want well-rounded students who are thriving, we have to look at other issues as well.”

By the time the first report card heads home, most students have had a chance to adjust to the school year. They know their classes by then, their teachers, what is expected of them, and what they are struggling with. This is a great time for parents to take a full evaluation to gauge how their child is doing in all the other areas as well, so that if anything needs to be addressed, it can be.

Focusing only on grades is one of the biggest mistakes that parents can make. While all parents want their children to get good grades, it doesn’t give a full picture as to whether they are in a school that is a good fit, if they need additional assistance in other areas, or if they are fitting in, which is all part of healthy development. Noting these issues right away and getting them addressed can go a long way toward ensuring that the student doesn’t keep heading down the wrong path and provides them with the support they may not know how to ask for.

While reviewing the report card, parents should also do their own evaluation of how the first quarter is going for each of their children. Here are five red flags parents shouldn’t ignore:

Loss of confidence — A child who once approached learning confidently is suddenly afraid to make mistakes, excessively worried about performance, or constantly seeking reassurance.Disengagement or loss of curiosity — Not simply lower grades, but a child who has stopped asking questions, participating, talking about school, or showing intellectual energy.Lack of belonging — Difficulty forming meaningful peer relationships, feeling unseen by teachers, withdrawing socially, or repeatedly saying they don’t feel comfortable at school.Changes in well-being — Sleep disruption, persistent exhaustion, physical complaints around school, unusual irritability, or a level of stress that seems disproportionate to ordinary academic demands.A mismatch between ability and performance — A capable child may be earning acceptable grades while being underchallenged, overwhelmed, poorly supported, or simply in an environment that isn’t drawing out their abilities.

“The first report card should start a conversation, not end one. I encourage parents to look beyond the grades and ask: Is my child engaged? Do they feel known? Are they appropriately challenged? Do they belong? And most importantly, is what we’re doing still working for this child? Those questions often tell us far more about the educational path than a letter grade ever could.” 

Smith reminds parents that when it comes to education planning, one-size does not fit all. It is imperative that each child in the family have an educational strategy checkup annually, so that they will have what they need to thrive academically and beyond. Families today have many educational opportunities, many of which they are not usually aware of. When each child has been paired with the educational path that suits their needs, personality, and learning style, they are more likely to do well and go farther.

Smith has spent more than 20 years serving as a dean of students, principal, head of school and educational leader. Today, she serves families nationwide as a trusted education strategist, providing personalized guidance that extends well beyond school admissions. From long-range education strategy and school selection to educational transitions, parent advising and student advocacy, she helps families make thoughtful decisions throughout a child’s educational journey. Her purpose is to empower families to make thoughtful, informed educational decisions that unlock each student’s fullest potential. For more information, visit https://www.independenteducationgroup.com/.

About Independent Education Group

Founded by veteran educator Michelle Smith, Independent Education Group is a national education advisory firm dedicated to helping families navigate every stage of the educational journey with confidence. Serving as a family’s trusted education advisory firm, Independent Education Group provides personalized education strategy, advocacy, academic guidance, parent coaching and year-round support that extends far beyond school admissions. Built on five guiding pillars of Vision, Strategy, Guidance, Advocacy and Opportunity, the firm partners with families to help students thrive academically, socially and personally while making thoughtful educational decisions from childhood through college. Guided by the belief that every child deserves an educational journey designed with purpose, guided by expertise and supported with unwavering advocacy, Independent Education Group helps families build futures with confidence and lasting impact. To get more information about the services, visit the site at: https://www.independenteducationgroup.com/

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HeyGen Earns Committed Badge from EcoVadis

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September 23, 2026

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The recognition reflects HeyGen’s performance across environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HeyGen, the world’s leading AI avatar company, has earned a Committed Badge from EcoVadis, the global provider of independent business sustainability ratings. The recognition reflects HeyGen’s performance across four areas: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement

“Enterprise demand for AI video continues to grow, and HeyGen is proud to already serve 85% of the Fortune 100. As these companies adopt AI at scale, they’re prioritizing partners who take governance and responsibility seriously, not just capability,” said Will Ji, Head of Customer Success at HeyGen. “This recognition reflects that commitment, and we’re excited to keep building on it as we grow our enterprise partnerships.”

EcoVadis is one of the world’s most widely used sustainability assessment platforms, evaluating more than 150,000 companies globally. Its ratings are based on international standards including the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, International Labour Organization conventions, the Global Reporting Initiative standards, and ISO 26000, and provide an independent benchmark of a company’s sustainability performance and management practices for customers, partners, and investors.

To view HeyGen’s full scorecard and Recognition Page, please visit https://recognition.ecovadis.com/GOL_3scAx0qTCUiONQLFsg.

ABOUT HEYGEN
HeyGen is the world’s leading AI avatar company. We create the world’s most realistic avatars — digital versions of real people that look, sound, and move just like them. Rated #1 most realistic on G2 and powered by our proprietary Avatar V model, HeyGen is used by over 30 million people, from solo and small-business operators to 85% of the Fortune 100, to scale their presence in minutes, without a camera or crew. HeyGen brings avatars to life across video, real-time interactive experiences, and voice.

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LeoSight and Axis Communications Unite Video and Sensor Intelligence for More Coordinated Public Safety Response

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September 23, 2026

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Native integrations bring Axis video, body-worn solutions, metadata, and sensor intelligence into LeoCommand and connect teams through LeoLink.

DALLAS, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LeoSight, a leader in unified incident command software for public safety, today announced a new partnership with Axis Communications, a global leader in network video and physical security technology. The partnership brings native integrations for Axis video management and body-worn solutions into LeoCommand, LeoSight’s situational awareness platform, helping agencies strengthen officer safety, operational efficiency, and real-time coordination.

Through the integrations, agencies can bring live video, metadata, and sensor intelligence from Axis devices and systems into LeoCommand. AXIS Camera Station Pro, Axis IP cameras, and Axis body-worn solutions can contribute trusted visual intelligence to the same operational map as officer locations, vehicle data, drone feeds, and other connected public safety systems.

This unified view helps command staff and dispatchers assess incidents as they develop, while LeoSight’s secure communications platform, LeoLink, enables relevant information to be shared with field personnel and partner agencies. Teams can coordinate around the same real-time intelligence without relying on separate systems or fragmented communication channels.

Designed for daily operations, critical incident response, and multi-agency coordination, the integrations help agencies turn video and sensor data into shared operational awareness. LeoSight’s scalable architecture also supports deployments across agencies and jurisdictions, allowing authorized teams to collaborate while maintaining secure access to the information they need.

“By integrating AXIS Camera Station Pro, Axis IP cameras, and body-worn solutions with LeoSight, agencies can bring trusted video and real-time insights into LeoSight’s shared operational map alongside other critical response data,” said Dean Cunningham, Axis Segment Development Manager for Public Safety. “Together, Axis and LeoSight give responders the same real-time picture, helping them coordinate faster and act with greater clarity.”

For public safety agencies, video is most valuable when it becomes part of a broader operational picture. Connecting trusted visual intelligence with communications and other real-time data helps teams understand what is happening, align their response, and act with greater confidence.

“Public safety teams should not have to piece together an incident across separate screens, systems, and conversations,” said Mark Wood, CEO of LeoSight. “By bringing Axis video and sensor intelligence into LeoCommand and making it shareable through LeoLink, we are helping command staff, dispatchers, and field personnel operate from the same real-time picture. That shared understanding supports faster coordination, safer response, and better decisions when every second matters.”

The partnership expands LeoSight’s ecosystem of public safety technology providers across drones, cameras, body-worn video, sensors, and other real-time public safety technologies.

About LeoSight

LeoSight helps public safety agencies communicate, coordinate, and respond as one team. Our platform connects law enforcement, fire, EMS, and emergency management across jurisdictions, bringing together secure communications, live operational visibility, and collaborative workflows in a single operational environment. By helping agencies overcome fragmented systems and disconnected teams, LeoSight enables faster coordination, clearer decision-making, and more unified response during both daily operations and critical incidents. To learn more, visit LeoSight.com.

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For LeoSight

Ally Ward
Marketing Manager
award@leosight.com

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Efectis Group Strengthens Its Presence in India with the Launch of Efectis India

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September 23, 2026

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New subsidiary combines global fire safety expertise with local capabilities to support India’s infrastructure, industrial and energy ambitions

CHENNAI, India, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Efectis, a global leader in fire safety and explosion risk management, has officially launched Efectis India following the acquisition of a majority stake in AADIT, developed by entrepreneurs Mr. Anil Agarwal and Mr. Jothi Ramalingam. This strategic milestone marks a significant step in the Group’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.

With more than 70 years of experience as a testing institute, Efectis group has inaugurated a new fire testing facility in Chennai, dedicated to performing fire tests based on Indian, European and international standards. This is the first international fire testing laboratory in India, operated by a strong local team and supported by more than 300 fire experts from Efectis. The Group aims to support India’s development ambitions by providing internationally recognised fire safety expertise tailored to local needs.

The official launch was celebrated at a high-profile event in Chennai, organised with the support of Business France, reflecting Efectis’ ambition to become a trusted partner for India’s rapidly evolving construction, infrastructure, industrial and energy sectors.

The event, held at the Taj Club House Hotel, brought together the Consul General of France in Puducherry and Chennai, Mr. Etienne Roland-Piègue, along with representatives from industry, government institutions, technical organisations, academia and the wider French Indian business ecosystem. Throughout the event, speakers and industry professionals highlighted the need to further strengthen fire safety in India.

Efectis Supporting India’s Next Phase of Growth

India’s rapid urbanisation, large-scale infrastructure projects and industrial expansion are generating increasing demand for advanced safety, resilience and regulatory compliance solutions. In this context, Efectis India will offer a comprehensive range of services, including fire safety engineering, testing, certification, inspection, risk assessment, technical audits, training and compliance support.

Combining local presence with international experience, Efectis India will support safety improvement, developers, manufacturers, infrastructure operators, industrial facilities, energy transition projects, battery technologies and critical infrastructure. Efectis will be available to assist national and regional public authorities or their representatives in addressing evolving fire and explosion safety challenges linked to modern and scientific assessment methods. The new facility will make fire testing more accessible and cost-effective for manufacturers and project owners in India, while ensuring a direct link with recognized international and local practices.

The launch comes at a time when India is accelerating investments in smart cities, industrial corridors, logistics hubs, transportation networks and clean energy infrastructure. As these projects grow in scale and complexity, this investment in India aims to strongly contribute to the improvement of Indian safety in construction, transportation and energy development, ensuring life safety, and make safer international industrial investment.

A Long-Term Commitment to India

“The launch of Efectis India through a partnership with AADIT reflects our strong confidence in India’s long-term growth trajectory and our commitment to supporting the country’s ambitions with internationally recognised technical and scientific expertise in fire safety and risk management,” said Daniel Joyeux, President of the Efectis Group

“Our objective goes beyond delivering technical services. We want to build lasting partnerships with Indian stakeholders, contribute to skills development and support the creation of safer, more resilient infrastructure and industrial projects across the country. India is a strategic market for Efectis, and we look forward to working alongside our customers and partners in the years ahead.”

Through engineering expertise, testing and certification capabilities, technical training and regulatory support, Efectis India is positioning itself as a trusted long-term partner for safer buildings, more resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrial growth.

About Efectis

Efectis is an international third-party fire safety company, covering fire and explosion testing, inspection, certification, audits, investigation and engineering. With more than 70 years of experience, more than 350 professionals operating from 28 offices, 8 fire testing laboratories, and recognition as a certification body in 35 countries, Efectis supports clients throughout the entire project lifecycle. In 2025, the Group carried out more than 20,000 tests worldwide, serving sectors including construction, infrastructure, transport, energy, logistics, industry, batteries, and nuclear facilities. Based on a very strong technical and scientific background, Efectis Group actively participates in developing European and international standards and supports the improvement of national fire safety regulations.

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india@efectis.com  

Efectis headquarter                                                                                                         
Route de l’Orme des Merisiers 
91190 Saint-Aubin, France                                                                             

Fire And Explosion Safety Experts

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