It’s that time of year—the start of the holiday season. It’s a compressed time of celebrations, religious observances, shopping, entertaining, travel, and overeating. You have your lists; you’re checking them twice, right?

Now, let’s add another task to your holiday to-do list: connecting with your families, students, staff, and the entire school community. While your students and colleagues may be getting ready for the holiday break, it’s important not to shut down your school communications. Instead, take advantage of this time to share information and strengthen relationships. With the help of your school community, you can share helpful tips, fun news, and entertaining photos and videos that will contribute to the success of your school.

To help you get started, I’ve gathered a few fantastic ideas to consider this month.

Show Appreciation for Key School Personnel

Every corner of your school is filled with individuals who deserve special recognition. From the first grade teacher who has taught multiple generations of families to the slightly eccentric science teacher who knows how to make science not just fun, but a potential career path. And let’s not forget about the custodial staff and support professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make your school great.

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to acknowledge and appreciate the “gifts” that these individuals bring to your school. But it’s not enough to simply recognize them individually. Take advantage of various communication platforms such as school assemblies, PTO meetings, morning announcements, newsletters, the school website, and social media to spread the word about their contributions. Use the holiday season as an opportunity to show your students, colleagues, parents, and the entire school community how much you appreciate them.

Use Multicultural Holidays to Celebrate Your School

The holiday season is a perfect time for schools to embrace multicultural celebrations and foster unity within the entire school community. While it’s important to respect the separation of church and state, it’s also important to acknowledge and recognize diverse cultures and religions as a unifying gesture that promotes tolerance and understanding.

In addition to the traditional holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, it’s important to acknowledge other significant holidays such as Mawlid and Las Posadas, a significant celebration in Spanish-speaking communities.

In some school districts, like one in Arizona, Las Posadas is celebrated with a community-wide event that not only unites the community but also collects food for local food pantries. By embracing and acknowledging these diverse holidays, schools can create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, staff, and parents. It’s an opportunity to spread holiday cheer and promote understanding among different cultures and religions.

Chances are your school includes families and students who observe these events. If you want your school communications to be more multicultural, don’t overlook the holidays as a great time to demonstrate that.

The Holiday Shopping Mindset

Take advantage of the holiday season to tap into the generosity of your parents and staff. Host a Holiday bazaar or Christmas fair to provide an opportunity for parents to find unique gifts while fostering a sense of unity and joy within your school community. Don’t forget to involve your PTO to add an extra touch of excitement. Consider combining the fair with a holiday party, where parents can enjoy some festive punch and cookies, creating lasting connections that extend beyond the holiday season.

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Check this list twice for holiday-themed fundraising ideas for your school

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Think Outside the (Mail)box

Don’t miss out on the classic holiday tradition of sending greeting cards. However, there’s no need to burden the U.S. Postal Service when you can use email instead.

Email remains the most effective way to reach your parents, making it a great option for sending personalized holiday wishes. A simple holiday email greeting from the superintendent or principal, or even a practical message from a teacher, can go a long way in engaging your parents.

Remember to include a link in your email that directs the reader to more content, such as a page on your school website or an invitation to a holiday event. For more tips read our blog article, 10 Steps to Creating School Emails that Reach Parents

Socialize During the Holidays

Keep the spirit of the holiday season alive on your social media platforms just like your favorite Christmas sweater. Make sure to maintain an active presence on Facebook throughout the month and utilize your school’s Instagram account to stay connected through captivating pictures. Don’t forget to maximize the potential of these channels even during the holiday break by sending out reminders about exciting holiday plays and school activities.

It’s also important to keep your school website active during the holidays to provide parents with up-to-date information for their return to school planning.

You can also get some ideas from Andrea Gribble at SocialSchool4edu. She has several ways to ramp up your social media presence.

The holiday season is a time for joy and laughter, allowing us to embrace fun and lightheartedness that may not be as prevalent during the rest of the year. Do you have any ideas to share on how to make the most of this festive season and effectively connect with your parents, students, staff, and community?

As the winter months approach, families, students, and educators find themselves caught up in the whirlwind of holiday preparations and celebrations. For school leaders and administrators, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity to foster stronger connections within the school community. Let’s explore how holiday communications can bring people closer together while reinforcing key goals like attendance.

First, think: communication as connection

The holiday season offers a unique chance for school leaders to express gratitude and highlight special moments. Consider these ideas:

1. Send personalized thank-you notes to families, acknowledging their support throughout the year.

2. Share stories of student achievements or memorable classroom moments via newsletter and/or social media.

3. Create a video message featuring staff members expressing holiday wishes and appreciation.

These gestures not only spread joy but also reinforce the sense of belonging within the school community.

Then, think: communication as instruction

While maintaining connection is crucial, it’s equally important to keep families informed about key dates and expectations. Here’s how to approach this:

1. Share a December 2024 calendar highlighting important school events and holidays.

2. Send a Welcome Back to School message with reminders about return-to-school dates after breaks, emphasizing the importance of attendance.

3. Address the trend of increased absences around holidays by creating engaging events or special lessons on these days.

To combat absenteeism, consider implementing a “Welcome Back” program for the first day after breaks, featuring special activities or guest speakers to encourage attendance.

Third, strike the right balance

Effective holiday communication should blend warmth with important information. Here are some final tips:

1. Use multiple channels (email, text, social media) to ensure your message reaches all families.

2. Be mindful of diverse cultural celebrations and use inclusive language.

3. Encourage two-way communication by inviting families to share their own holiday traditions or feedback.

By approaching holiday communications with intention and care, school leaders can strengthen community bonds, improve attendance, and set a positive tone for the new year. Remember, every message is an opportunity to connect, inform, and inspire your school community.

Navigating the world of school mobile apps can be challenging, but this comprehensive guide is here to help. From defining your app’s requirements to understanding its life-cycle costs, we’ll walk you through every crucial step. You’ll learn how to plan effectively, select the most impactful features, design for both aesthetics and functionality, and accurately assess the true cost of your app. Whether you’re looking to boost family engagement, streamline communication, or modernize your school’s technological approach, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and create a mobile app that truly serves your school community.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Defining School Mobile App Requirements
Chapter 2: Selecting School Mobile App Features
Chapter 3: Designing Your School Mobile App
Chapter 4: Examining School Mobile App Life-Cycle Cost

Chapter 1: Defining School Mobile App Requirements 

The fundamental requirements are central to making sure you get what you want from your mobile app provider. It begins with a plan that takes into account ease of operation, integration with other data platforms, and just the right amount of features that will help you boost family engagement. Learn how to set the right requirements for your school.

Planning Your School Mobile App

The first order of business for any school or district in the market for a school mobile app is to have a plan and establish some goals. The goals for your school mobile app should be included in your school communications planning.

Just what is it that you’re trying to achieve with it? By using a planning discipline and taking a strategic approach, your decision to partner with a mobile app provider will be an easier one. Consider these points as you map out why and how you want a mobile app to perform for your school:

Goal Setting

Start by establishing clear, measurable goals for your mobile app. Whether you’re new to the process or looking to improve an existing underutilized app, focus on setting realistic and attainable objectives. Consider targets such as:

• App downloads during the first month of the school year
• Percentage of parents using the app, broken down by grade level (noting that families of younger students often show higher engagement)
• User engagement metrics (e.g., daily active users, session duration)
• Satisfaction ratings from both families and staff through surveys

Digital Channel Integration

Secondly, make sure you have a handle on where your mobile app fits into your communications strategy. You don’t want your mobile app to be some isolated element of your school communications that requires all sorts of independent attention to manage content and administer support. Your current technology infrastructure, for example, may not be able to easily handle the app you’re considering. Conduct a full audit of your existing communications content technology so you know the questions to ask your mobile app provider candidates.

Administration Buy-in

Part of your planning should include garnering the full support of your school’s leadership. From the superintendent and school board members to the school principals and PTO leaders, it’s critical that they all see the value in a mobile app built around family preferences and streamlined school-home communication. This front-end buy-in is essential to help you promote use of the app when you launch it.

A mobile app is a strategic communications tool. When built and implemented according to plan, it can be a positive contributor to family engagement success.

How well your mobile app engages your school community depends greatly on how well it works with all your digital channels.

Building a Successful Digital Presence with Teamwork

Your first order of business in planning for a successful digital presence—whether it’s a website or a mobile app—is to assemble a team or committee of school personnel who can help shape your school’s online strategy. How you put together your team depends on the size of your district, communications staffing levels, school leadership, culture, and other considerations.

Both the school website and mobile app are crucial parts of your school’s communications plan. Even the most accomplished communications lead should not work independently or in a vacuum. Besides spreading the burden for the project leader, teamwork will yield better results when it comes time to launch. Being the lead on a digital project is a big undertaking. Even teams with all-pro quarterbacks need receivers, linemen, and a strong defense to put a winner on the field.

The benefits of a team approach on a digital planning project are numerous:

• Team members can brainstorm ideas in the discovery phase, considering both website and app functionalities
• They can help meet deadlines and move the project along with workload distribution
• The team can generate support through consensus building
• This approach instills a level of investment from key stakeholders
• It ensures that both the website and app meet the needs of various departments and user groups

The sense of community around building a new digital presence can be very gratifying and rewarding. It also ensures that your digital tools truly reflect the diverse needs of your school community.

Your digital team, or variations thereof, can serve as an ongoing advisory group for the regular check-ups your website and app need for continued good health. This team can help:

• Evaluate user feedback for both the website and app
• Suggest new features or improvements based on school needs
• Ensure consistency between the website and app experiences
• Advocate for necessary resources to keep your digital presence up-to-date

By applying this team approach to both your website and mobile app development, you create a cohesive, effective digital strategy that serves your entire school community.

Involve School Leadership in Communications

Given the prominent role of website and digital communications, it’s a good idea to have a high-ranking administrator or two on your website/communications team. Get your superintendent or principal to participate so your website accurately reflects school leadership.

Essential School Mobile App Requirements

Having established a strategic plan and identified the essential features for your mobile app, the next step is to create a comprehensive checklist. This document should precisely outline your requirements and desired functionalities. A thorough review of this checklist will be crucial in guiding the development process and ensuring a successful implementation. It serves as a roadmap, helping you stay focused on your objectives and communicate clearly with your communications team.

Systems Integration

• Will it integrate with all existing platforms?
• Full integration with CMS and LMS or merely links to those systems (which can be cumbersome)

Mobile Access

• Check the capability to view all content on any mobile device 
• Operating system updates and new devices are routinely introduced, so make sure your mobile app can keep pace with the technology
  

True Push Notifications 

• Does the app push notifications even when the app is not open? (some don’t)
• Will you be able to deliver breaking news (school closings, lockdowns, sports results, and other events) in real time?

App Promotion

• Don’t let your app just sit there and gather dust. Promote it by creating an integrated landing page 
• Include links to the app store
• People are accessing your website via mobile, so promote your app through targeted banners

TIP: If you’re just getting started with building a new mobile app, get it rolling with a family communication preferences survey.

Chapter 2: Selecting School Mobile App Features

Selecting the right features for your school mobile app is crucial. With numerous options available, it’s essential to focus on core functionalities that provide easy access to school information and promote family engagement—key factors in successful school apps.

Regardless of your school’s characteristics—public or private, large or small, urban or suburban—all families require quick and convenient access to school-related information. To ensure your app meets these universal needs, consider incorporating the following key features:

Content Integration

Integration is arguably the most critical feature of a school mobile app, as it enables targeted information delivery to various stakeholders—families, students, faculty, and staff. An effective app should allow school administrators to disseminate information to specific audience segments (e.g., by school, grade level, or other criteria), ensuring recipients receive only relevant content.

Furthermore, seamless integration can streamline information management and create synergy between your app and other communication channels, particularly your school website. When implemented correctly, this integration can simplify information management, consolidate multiple communication fronts, and eliminate redundant information.

It’s crucial that all website pages remain accessible through the mobile app. A responsive website design, which adapts to any device, allows users to access all information without leaving the app. A well-designed school mobile app should provide full access to the website’s content via mobile devices.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of your website in engaging the school community hinges on its interoperability with all your digital channels. This cohesive approach ensures a consistent and user-friendly experience across all platforms.

Calendar Synchronization

A robust calendar feature in your school mobile app can significantly enhance user experience. Instead of requiring users to navigate through a complex web of school events, an effective app allows them to seamlessly sync their personal calendars with the school’s calendar.

Consider a scenario where a district has multiple schools, and a parent has children in one elementary school. An ideal app would allow this parent to filter and view only relevant events, eliminating the need to sift through information from all schools in the district.

When evaluating mobile apps, prioritize user-friendly calendar features. Look for an intuitive interface with large, easily tappable buttons and the ability to display appropriate calendars based on user preferences. The design should mimic the native calendar app on mobile devices, offering simple navigation and touch-friendly controls. A key feature to seek is a one-click option to add school events to personal calendars.

The goal is to provide a calendar that’s not only visually appealing but also functionally efficient, making it easy for families, students, and staff to stay informed and organized. By focusing on these aspects, you can ensure your school’s mobile app becomes an indispensable tool for managing schedules and keeping the school community connected.

Push Notifications

Push notifications are an essential tool for disseminating time-sensitive information. These alerts can range from district-wide announcements to personalized messages for specific individuals.

To maximize engagement, apps should deliver relevant information tailored to each user. This customization begins with predetermined push settings based on app login credentials or user-defined preferences. It’s crucial to design an intuitive setup process and clearly communicate these customization options during the app installation.

Effective notification systems should offer message segmentation capabilities. This feature allows schools to empower various staff members to send push notifications while maintaining control over the process. Some advanced systems even incorporate workflow and approval mechanisms to prevent unauthorized messages from reaching the school community.

By leveraging these features, schools can ensure that push notifications serve as a powerful, precise communication tool that keeps users informed without overwhelming them with irrelevant information. This approach fosters a more connected and responsive school community, where important updates reach the right people at the right time.

Social Feeds

In today’s digital age, promoting your school through various media—words, pictures, and videos—is paramount, and your mobile app should be designed to facilitate this.

Many schools are now embracing social media to engage families and the community. While most people have dedicated social media apps on their phones, integrating these platforms into your school’s mobile app can provide easier access for users. An essential feature of a well-designed app is its ability to recognize the user’s device type and directly link to the appropriate social media app, rather than launching a browser.

Ideally, your mobile app should be part of an integrated communication strategy. For instance, when organizing an event like a school carnival, you should be able to create content once and share it across multiple channels—your website, broadcast messages, and the mobile app. The app could even include interactive elements, such as a volunteer sign-up form that families can complete directly within the app.

Visual content is particularly effective for boosting engagement. With video consumption on mobile devices steadily increasing, ensuring that your app supports photo and video content is vital. If multimedia is or will be part of your school’s communication strategy, make sure your mobile app can handle these formats effectively.

By focusing on these aspects, your school’s mobile app can become a powerful tool for promotion, communication, and community engagement, all while streamlining your digital outreach efforts.

Streamlined School Directory 

A well-designed school directory is an important component of any effective school mobile app. It should offer quick search functionality, allowing users to easily find individuals and initiate contact through one-touch phone or email buttons. Leveraging targeted content integration, the app can display only the contacts relevant to each specific user, eliminating clutter and improving efficiency.

The directory should be user-friendly not only for families and other searchers but also for content managers. Ideally, contact information should be pulled from your school’s centralized data system. This integration eliminates the need for manual updates through CSV file uploads, a cumbersome process required by many apps when faculty or staff information changes.

By choosing an app that directly integrates the directory with your school’s information system, you can:

• Avoid the hassle of manual updates
• Ensure your data remains current and accurate
• Save time for your administrative staff

This approach to directory management not only improves the user experience but also enhances the overall efficiency of your school’s communication system. It ensures that your school community always has access to the most up-to-date contact information, facilitating smooth and effective communication between all stakeholders.

Forms

One of the most frequently accessed areas of a website is the forms section. These important forms should be readily accessible for your mobile app users as well.

Permission forms for field trips, transportation, model release, opt-ins, and opt-outs are convenient when they can be found with just a few clicks on a school mobile app. 

There are two major categories of permission slips: blanket and informed consent, with the former providing more protection for the school and teachers. Be sure to contact your school attorney when making your forms and making them available on your school mobile app.

Chapter 3: Designing Your School Mobile App

We’ve all experienced the cycle of downloading, using, and ultimately deleting apps from our phones. It’s clear that not all apps are created equal, and even those with high ratings and positive reviews can sometimes disappoint. When an app fails to meet our expectations or deliver on its promises, we don’t hesitate to remove it. Your school app should avoid this fate.

While an attractive interface and eye-catching icon are important, they’re just the beginning. When planning your school mobile app, consider several key design elements. User-centric functionality and intuitive navigation are crucial for keeping users engaged. Fast loading times and consistent, timely updates ensure a smooth experience. Integration with existing school systems and customizable features allow the app to meet your school’s unique needs. Robust security measures are essential to protect user data.

By focusing on these aspects, you can create an app that not only attracts downloads but also retains users by providing genuine value to your school community. Remember, the goal is to develop an indispensable tool that enhances communication and engagement, not just another app that risks being discarded. Your school app should become a vital part of your community’s daily routine, continuously proving its worth through reliable performance and relevant features.

How Function Drives Design

Design can make or break the success of your school’s mobile app. While a visually appealing interface is important, the true measure of effective design lies in how well the app functions and how easily users can navigate its features. Remember, if your app is poorly designed or difficult to navigate, users are unlikely to return, no matter how attractive it looks. The key is to create an app that both catches the eye while delivering a user-friendly experience to keep your school community engaged and coming back for more.

By prioritizing both form and function in your app’s design, you can create a powerful tool that enhances communication and strengthens connections within your school community.

Function drives design. As Steve Williams, co-founder of SchoolNow—now known as SchoolStatus Sites & Apps—points out in his article on why design is so important in school web communications, “The more organized it is—the better designed it is—the more inviting it will remain, building confidence in your visitors that they’ll get the information they need when they visit.” 

The same holds true for school mobile apps, whose design needs to be fully integrated with a school’s website and other digital communications.

How well your website engages your school community depends on how well it works with all your digital channels.

Full Digital Integration

A school mobile app should not stand alone. Whether talking about how it functions or from brand appearance, your app should be totally seamless with the balance of your communications.

Your school mobile app should play nicely with all the other applications required to operate a school or district. If there are connection issues that throw wrenches into your IT operations, frustrations emerge for everyone. It needs to accommodate future updates in devices and operating systems, in addition to other platforms operating within your school or district.

Brand Consistency

When integrated smoothly with your other school communications, your app could soon become the most important branding tool. Think of it as the entry point to your school’s image. The look and feel that’s established in your school communications branding guidelines should be incorporated into the school mobile app elements.

Familiar Content Organization

Out of the gate, the user experience from your app to your website needs to be approachable, not intimidating. Whether visiting your website or your mobile app, there should be a familiarity with how users seek and view content. If their first experience with your app is a bad one, they most likely won’t come back.

Following the same general guidelines and principles of a well-designed school website, your app needs to help tell your school story using intuitive navigation that makes visitors want to return to it. 

Measuring Mobile App Success

In today’s digital age, a school mobile app can be a powerful tool for community engagement. However, simply launching an app isn’t enough; its success must be actively measured and managed. Just as commercial apps track their performance, your school’s app should be subject to careful analysis and continuous improvement. This approach ensures that your app doesn’t become dormant or underutilized, a common fate for many poorly designed or neglected mobile applications.

To help you maximize the impact of your school’s mobile app, here’s a guide for measuring and enhancing its success:

• Set Clear Goals
  • Define what success means for your school’s mobile app
  • Establish specific, measurable objectives (e.g., target number of downloads, desired retention rate)
• Track Key Metrics
  • Monitor the number of downloads
  • Measure retention rates (how many users keep the app installed)
  • Track daily, weekly, and monthly active users
  • Observe app churn (uninstalls or inactive users)
• Implement Pre-Launch Strategies
  • Develop a comprehensive plan using all available digital communication channels
  • Create buzz around the app’s launch to encourage early adoption
• Encourage User Feedback
  • Implement in-app prompts for ratings and reviews
  • Create direct links to leave feedback on the App Store or Google Play
  • Regularly review and respond to user comments
• Analyze User Behavior
  • Use analytics tools to understand how users interact with your app
  • Identify most-used features and potential pain points
• Conduct Regular Audits
  • Perform monthly or quarterly reviews of app performance
  • Compare current metrics against your initial goals
• Gather Qualitative Feedback
  • Conduct surveys or focus groups with families, students, and staff
  • Use insights to inform future updates and improvements
• Iterate and Improve
  • Based on quantitative data and qualitative feedback, plan regular updates
  • Continuously enhance features and fix issues to keep users engaged

By following these steps, you can transform your school’s mobile app from a simple digital presence into a dynamic, indispensable tool for your school community. Remember, the key to success lies not just in launching an app, but in nurturing its growth and adapting to your users’ needs over time.

Chapter 4: Examining School Mobile App Life-Cycle Cost

Determining the full cost of creating and maintaining a mobile app for your school involves more than just the initial development expenses. Whether you choose a provider that bundles a mobile app with other solutions or opt for a standalone app, it’s crucial to consider the entire life cycle cost. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the factors to consider:

• Initial Development Costs
  • Get detailed quotes from multiple providers
  • Compare bundled solutions vs. standalone app options
  • Factor in customization costs for your school’s specific needs
• Promotion and Adoption Expenses
  • Allocate resources for marketing the app to your school community
  • Budget for staff time dedicated to app promotion and training
  • Consider costs of promotional materials (flyers, posters, email campaigns)
• Integration and Coordination Costs
  • Evaluate the provider’s experience in educational web communications
  • Factor in potential costs for integrating the app with existing systems
  • Budget for staff time needed to coordinate between app and other communication channels
• Ongoing Maintenance and Updates
  • Plan for regular updates to keep pace with operating system changes
  • Budget for compatibility updates for new mobile devices
  • Consider costs of adding new features or functionality over time
• Long-term Support Costs
  • Factor in ongoing technical support expenses
  • Budget for staff training on app management and troubleshooting
  • Consider potential costs of switching providers if needed
• Data Management and Security
  • Evaluate costs associated with data storage and management
  • Factor in expenses for ensuring app security and user privacy
  • Consider potential costs of data migration or integration with school databases
• Performance Monitoring and Analytics
  • Budget for tools to track app usage and performance
  • Factor in costs of analyzing user feedback and implementing improvements
  • Consider expenses for regular app audits and optimization
• Scalability Costs
  • Plan for potential expenses as your user base grows
  • Consider costs of expanding server capacity or cloud services
  • Factor in potential needs for additional support as usage increases

Remember, the success of your school’s digital engagement strategy depends on how well all your digital channels work together. When evaluating costs, consider how the mobile app will integrate with and enhance your overall web presence and communication efforts.

By thoroughly examining these factors, you can arrive at a more accurate understanding of the true cost of implementing and maintaining a mobile app for your school. This comprehensive approach will help you make an informed decision and budget effectively for long-term success.

Empowering Your School Community Through Mobile Technology

As we’ve explored throughout this guide, a well-designed and strategically implemented mobile app can revolutionize how your school connects with its community. From defining your requirements and selecting key features to designing an intuitive interface and understanding the full lifecycle costs, each step in the process is crucial to creating an app that truly serves your school’s needs.

Remember that your mobile app is not just another technological tool—it’s a powerful platform for enhancing communication, increasing engagement, and strengthening the bonds within your school community. When done right, it becomes an indispensable resource for families, students, and staff alike.

As you embark on your mobile app journey, keep in mind that success doesn’t end with the app’s launch. It requires ongoing attention, updates, and responsiveness to your community’s evolving needs. By following the strategies outlined in this guide and maintaining a user-centric approach, you’ll be well-positioned to create a mobile app that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of your school community.

In an increasingly digital world, your school’s mobile app can be a game-changer in how you engage, inform, and connect with your stakeholders. Embrace this opportunity to lead your school into a more connected and technologically advanced future, always keeping the needs of your students, families, and staff at the forefront of your efforts.

Published September 19, 2024 on eSchool News.

In my role as Assistant Director of Student Services, I’ve learned that the most crucial factor in improving student attendance isn’t about policies or procedures–it’s about connections. Our district serves a diverse community of hardworking families, including many newcomer families. We’ve faced our share of challenges, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we’re making strides by focusing on what matters most: our students and their families.

In Alvord Unified, we’ve learned that operationalizing our strategic goals around attendance isn’t just about setting targets–it’s about creating systems that foster meaningful engagement. By focusing on building strong school-home connections, we’re not only improving attendance rates, but also driving improved student outcomes across the board. Our approach demonstrates that when we align our daily operations with our broader strategic vision, we can create a school environment where every student is empowered to succeed.

Before the pandemic, our district maintained a respectable 95 percent attendance rate, with chronic absenteeism hovering between 12 percent and 14 percent–on par with surrounding districts and national averages. However, when COVID-19 hit, we saw our chronic absenteeism spike to 25 to 30 percent, mirroring the struggles faced by districts nationwide.

The pandemic created an opportunity for a new approach to attendance management

As we emerged from the pandemic, it became clear that we needed a new strategy. For years, our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) had included provisions for an attendance management program, but implementation had always been pushed to the back burner. The post-COVID landscape, with its unique challenges and shifting priorities, provided the perfect opportunity to revisit this need.

During the height of the pandemic, our school sites were overwhelmed. They were juggling COVID case tracking, managing periods of exposure, and trying to maintain some semblance of normal operations. It was during a conversation about reducing the burden of attendance letter mailings that I saw our chance. If we could automate these processes, we could free up our staff to focus on what really matters: connecting with students and families.

After researching options and consulting with colleagues at state conferences, we decided to implement SchoolStatus as our attendance management system. This move wasn’t just about tracking numbers; it was about transforming how we approach attendance altogether.

SchoolStatus has become an integral part of our attendance strategy. It handles much more than just systematic notifications. The system automates our attendance tracking, generating real-time reports that allow us to identify trends and at-risk students quickly. It manages our compliance requirements, ensuring we send out legally mandated notifications, like the crucial first notice that outlines parents’ responsibilities under California’s Education Code. This system allows us to operationalize our strategic goals around attendance, turning our vision into concrete, daily actions.

Read the full article on eSchool News.

Top-tier K-12 education leaders to advise on solutions designed to build family engagement, improve attendance, and support student achievement.

Ridgeland, Miss., September 17, 2024—SchoolStatus, a leader in K-12 data-driven solutions that empower student success, announced today the launch of its 2024-25 Customer Advisory Board (CAB). Composed of education leaders with firsthand experience in K-12 districts and schools around the county, this board will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and product roadmap, building on SchoolStatus’ long history of collaboration with educators. 

Since the company launched in 2012, SchoolStatus has been dedicated to developing innovative solutions that empower districts to make a real impact for students, families, and educators. With this initiative, SchoolStatus underscores the commitment to addressing the unique challenges of today’s schools, ensuring that its platform is both impactful and aligned with the real-world needs of educators and students.

“I am truly honored to join the SchoolStatus Customer Advisory Board and collaborate with districts nationwide. This opportunity allows me to learn from other district leaders while supporting teachers using student data and two-way communication tools to drive student success,” said Rachel Blackwell, Digital Learning Facilitator for Pulaski County Special School District. “Together, we can provide educators the resources and strategies to make informed decisions and strengthen relationships with students and families.”  

“Hearing directly from customers is crucial to ensuring that we never lose sight of the realities in the classroom,” said Russ Davis, Founder and CEO of SchoolStatus. “At SchoolStatus, we firmly believe that educators’ voices must be central in shaping education technology. Our Customer Advisory Board enables us to directly collaborate with the people who best understand the needs of schools and districts across the U.S. so we can continue innovating and providing the best solutions to support all students.”

Members of the CAB were selected based on their deep knowledge of education technology, passion for improving learning outcomes, and success in supporting students’ academic achievements and families’ evolving needs. Over the coming months, they will meet with SchoolStatus leadership to provide feedback and collaborate on strategic initiatives. 

Representing six U.S. states, the 2024-25 CAB includes the following members: 

La’Toya Atterberry, District Instructional Technology Specialist, Meridian Public School District, Mississippi

La’Toya Atterberry is the District Instructional Technology Specialist for Meridian Public School District in Meridian, Mississippi. She has worked at MPSD since 2019 and was previously with Kemper County School District (eight years) and Meridian Community College (eight years). La’Toya works as an adjunct instructor for Mississippi State University, teaching Digital Tools for Learning to future teachers. She also serves as 3rd Anti President of Auxiliaries for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Beta Alpha Alpha Zeta Chapter Dekalb, MS. She loves showing teachers and students how to integrate technology into the classroom to enhance student learning. Additionally, La’Toya is the Assistant Boys and Girls Powerlifting Coach for THEE Meridian High School. Outside of education, La’Toya is a four-time World Powerlifting Champion. She holds four National titles, four State titles, and competes yearly in powerlifting across the U.S.

Rachel Blackwell, Instructional Technology/Digital Learning Facilitator, Pulaski County Special School District, Arkansas

Rachel Blackwell has been with Pulaski County Special School District for 18 years. She began as a classroom teacher before transitioning to math instructional facilitator. For the last nine years, she has been a part of the Instructional Technology. Rachel and her husband Dennis have been married for 21 years and have two children (15 & 8). Her family attends and serves as deacons as well as part of the Young Family Leadership Team at New Life Church. Rachel can also be found on the baseball field cheering on her son or cleaning up one of her daughter’s creative messes. She enjoys, traveling, amusement parks & spending time with her family.

Johnny Gonzalez, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, Sanger Unified School District, California

Johnny Gonzalez has worked in the field of education for Sanger Unified School District for over 16 years and had the pleasure of being raised in Sanger Unified. Although he did not graduate from Sanger High, he is proud to be Sanger Unified bred. Johnny has worked with great mentors and exceptional leaders, including Mr. Castillo and Dr. Weichmann, who helped guide his journey as a teacher, principal, and district administrator. Johnny is married to Chistina (14 years) and father to Giannis. He is passionate about calibrating and collaborating with all people in the field of education—and in life.   

Dr. Keri Johnson, Superintendent, Tuscaloosa County School System, Alabama

Dr. Keri Johnson has been the Superintendent of the Tuscaloosa County School System since June 2020.  She is in her 25th year of service in public education and has also served as a teacher and administrator in various positions at the school and district levels in the Oxford City, Shelby County, and Alabaster City School Systems. Dr. Johnson has a Bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University in Special Education, a Master’s degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Special Education, an Ed.S. from the University of Montevallo in Educational Leadership, and an Ed.D. from Samford University in Educational Leadership. She has taught special education classes as an adjunct professor for the University of Montevallo and Samford University and currently teaches graduate-level special education courses at the University of Alabama. She serves on the State of Alabama Accountability Taskforce and is a proud advocate of public education. Dr. Johnsons is a member of the Alabama Transformational Leadership Academy and recently completed the School Superintendents Association’s National Superintendent Certification Program. She recently founded the first group for women superintendents in Alabama – LeadHERship Alabama. Dr. Johnson is married to Chris Johnson, and she has three children: Emily, Abby, and Will. Emily attends The Washington & Lee School of Law. Abby and Will are both students at the University of Alabama.

Dr. Kristina Pollard, Assistant Superintendent, Leake County School District, Mississippi

With a career that’s been a shining beacon in education since 1998, Dr. Kristina Pollard is a true education trailblazer. Her extensive 22-year journey has seen her in various key roles, from a biology teacher in the Dallas Public School District to becoming a technology facilitator, Assistant Principal, and Principal in elementary, middle, and high school settings. Not stopping there, Dr. Pollard served as the Director of H.E.L.P. for the College of Education at Marshall University, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence. Dr. Kristina Pollard was appointed as the Assistant Superintendent for Leake County School District in February 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Jackson State University, a master’s degree in elementary education from William Carey University, and a specialist’s degree in administrative leadership from Walden University. She recently earned her doctorate at William Carey University, showcasing her dedication to lifelong learning. Dr. Pollard co-authored “Women Who Lead in Education Featuring School Principals” and serves as co-host of the Class Dismissed Podcast, where she discusses educational news and shares inspirational ideas.

Stoney Rogers, Technology Integration Specialist, Pascagoula-Gautier School District, Mississippi

Stoney Rogers is a Technology Integration Specialist for the Pascagoula-Gautier School District (PGSD), where he collaborates with Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers to seamlessly integrate technology resources into the classroom. With a strong passion for enhancing education through technology, he has presented at the annual Mississippi Educational Computing Association (MECA) conference numerous times and has served on the MECA board, helping to advance technology integration across the state. Before joining the PGSD Technology Department, Stoney was a Language Arts teacher at Trent Lott Academy for five years. His dedication and expertise in educational technology were recognized when he was named the Mississippi Educational Computing Association’s Technology Integration Specialist of the Year in 2024. Stoney is also a devoted husband and father, sharing his life with his wife and their four children.

Amanda Samples, Assistant Superintendent, DeSoto County Schools, Mississippi

Amanda Samples is an education veteran with 23 years of dedication to fostering student success. She served as a head principal for nine years and spent six years at the district office, and is now embarking on an exciting journey as the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services. Beyond the professional realm, she is a proud mom to a rising Senior in high school and a 6th grader beginning middle school. In her downtime, you’ll find Amanda immersed in the pages of a good book, tending to her flowers, or indulging in the guilty pleasure of reality TV.

Dr. Jeff Seeton, Assistant Superintendent, Lake Worth ISD, Texas

Dr. Jeff Seeton’s distinguished 21 years in education, including years in educational leadership, show his dedication to fostering an environment of academic excellence. Before being appointed Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Seeton served as Principal at Lake Worth High School and held various roles related to the success of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, including Director of CTE at White Settlement ISD, Dean of Students at Crowley ISD, and CTE Instructor at Crowley ISD, Katy ISD, and Alvarado ISD.

He earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from The University of Texas at Arlington and his Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at El Paso. As Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Seeton plays a vital role in advancing the district’s educational goals, implementing innovative teaching strategies, and ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive learning experience for Lake Worth ISD students.

Dr. LaTonya Shepherd, Public Information and Family & Community Outreach Officer, Santa Rosa County District Schools, Florida

Dr. LaTonya Shepherd received her leadership foundation at Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church. She currently resides in Milton, Florida where she remains active in ministry. She serves on several community action organizations, as a consultant for the MIA (Men in Action) Program, and a member of the Department of Juvenile Justice Urban League. Dr. Shepherd was the Asst. Principal and Principal for Avalon Middle School from 2014-2018 before being appointed the district’s Public Information and Family and Community Outreach Officer. While serving as an administrator at Avalon, she led one of the district’s largest school climate and culture shifts; thus, advancing the school from a seven-year run of being a B-graded school, to being an A-graded school. Under her leadership, Avalon became a premiere education destination for both students and their families, and those seeking employment in the educational field. Dr. Shepherd is married to Brett (18 years), a history teacher, and is the adoptive mother to Kayden. She is a fierce educational advocate who consistently seeks to provide students and educators with the practical tools they need to be successful. 

Jastassia White, Assistant Principal, Hattiesburg High School, Mississippi 

Jastassia White is a proud alumnus of Mississippi State University. She holds an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, a Master’s Degree in Counseling, and a Specialist’s Degree in Educational Leadership, all of which have equipped her with the necessary skills and knowledge to serve her students effectively. Jastassia serves as Treasurer of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Alpha Gamma Chapter, is a member of the Woodlawn Church, and is a Board member of Divine Girl Coalition, Mississippi Professional Educators, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Lambda Kappa Zeta Chapter. Jastassia has volunteered for many community organizations but is most excited about the potential opportunity to serve as a member of the Customer Advisory Board for School Status. In her downtime, she enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family. 

For more information on SchoolStatus, visit www.schoolstatus.com.

About SchoolStatus
SchoolStatus is a unified K-12 platform that leverages family engagement to drive greater impact for students in your district. Our solutions are customized to align with your strategic goals and outcomes across school-home communication, attendance, and educator development. Serving over 22 million students across all 50 states, SchoolStatus provides data-backed insights that break down barriers and build relationships between school and home—so that every student is known by name and by need. Because when schools and families come together, there’s no limit to what students can achieve. For more information, visit schoolstatus.com.

Media Contact:
Sydney Stressman
Zer0 to 5ive for SchoolStatus
sstressman@0to5.com 
609.238.6663

As the school year begins, educators face a crucial task: establishing consistent routines that set the stage for student success. Although the start of the year is perfect for establishing routines, it’s important to remember that you can introduce positive changes at any time—even on November 13. There’s never a wrong time to implement classroom routines. Equally important is for teachers to develop their own routine of consistent family communication—a practice as vital to student achievement as classroom instruction itself.

Consistent communication not only sets the tone for the year but also creates a supportive ecosystem where students can thrive. By bridging the gap between school and home, we create a unified front that reinforces learning and behavioral expectations. 

Below, we explore some innovative approaches using family messaging, digital backpacks, and newsletters to create and maintain robust routines that benefit both students and educators.

Leveraging Family Messaging for Micro-Routines

Family messaging tools, like those offered by SchoolStatus Connect, can be used to establish what we call “micro-routines.” These are small, daily touchpoints that create a sense of consistency and connection. For instance:

• Morning Motivation: Send a brief, inspiring quote or thought for the day. This sets a positive tone and creates a shared starting point for students and families.
• End-of-Day Reflection: Prompt students to share one thing they learned or are proud of. This encourages self-reflection and provides families with conversation starters.

By keeping these messages concise and consistent, you’re not only communicating but also modeling effective routine-building.

Reimagining the Digital Backpack

Digital backpacks are more than just repositories for homework assignments. They can be powerful tools for establishing routines when used creatively:

• Weekly Skill Focus: Dedicate a section of your digital backpack to a “Skill of the Week.” This could be an academic skill, a study habit, or a social-emotional learning concept. Provide resources and activities related to this skill throughout the week.
• Routine Checklists: Create interactive checklists for different routines (morning preparation, after-school review, weekend catch-up). Students can track their progress, fostering a sense of accountability and accomplishment.

Newsletters: Beyond the Bulletin

Newsletters don’t have to be dry recitations of upcoming events. Transform them into tools that actively support routine-building:

• Routine Spotlight: In each newsletter, highlight a student or family who has successfully established a positive routine. Share their strategies and the impact it’s had on their learning and well-being.
• Community Challenge: Introduce a monthly routine-building challenge for families. This could be anything from establishing a consistent reading time to implementing a device-free dinner hour. Use subsequent newsletters to share success stories and tips.

By employing these strategies using SchoolStatus tools, educators can create a rich tapestry of communication that supports and reinforces routines. Remember, the goal isn’t just to inform, but to inspire and engage. 

With consistent, thoughtful communication, we can build routines that stick and make a lasting impact on our students’ lives.

Effective family engagement is crucial for student success. When families are involved, it improves academic performance, strengthens school communities, and fosters student confidence. According to research, students with engaged families tend to perform better academically, demonstrate positive behavior, and feel more supported.

However, with today’s busy, tech-driven world, many schools face challenges in keeping families engaged. Here are seven actionable strategies to foster stronger school-family connections, tailored for today’s communication landscape.

Why Family Engagement Matters

Family engagement is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Engaged families contribute to better outcomes, such as:

• Improved academic performance
• Increased homework completion
• Higher self-esteem and social skills
• Better cultural understanding between home and school
• Higher graduation rates and lower special education placements

The digital age has introduced many tools to bridge the gap between schools and families. Here’s how you can leverage these tools, alongside traditional methods, to increase family involvement:

1. Use Video Tutorials for Parent Support

Posting video tutorials on your school’s website can help parents support their child’s learning. Videos can cover homework tips, study techniques, or walk families through school processes. This is an accessible way to equip families with the tools to assist their children at home.

Tip: Embed videos directly on your school’s website or share them via social media to increase visibility.

2. Keep an Updated Online Calendar

Outdated information often makes families feel out of the loop. Ensure your school website features a current calendar of events, synchronized with your school’s app and social media channels. This keeps families informed and reduces the need to search for updates.

Check out our School Communications Planning Guide to streamline your communication.

3. Engage Families on Social Media

With many families active on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, social media offers a direct way to connect. Use these channels to share news, celebrate achievements, and remind families of upcoming events. Link posts back to your school’s website or app for more information, and consider establishing a clear social media policy for consistency.

4. Schedule In-Person Meetings

Face-to-face meetings build trust and allow for more meaningful exchanges. Regular parent-teacher conferences, open houses, or even home visits foster connections and demonstrate a shared commitment to student success.

5. Host Family-Centered Events

Organize casual events like family nights or open houses. These allow families to see the school environment and engage in relaxed conversations, encouraging deeper involvement without the pressure of formal meetings.

6. Offer Flexible Volunteer Opportunities

Flexible volunteer options empower families to participate in ways that work with their schedules. From event assistance to joining the parent advisory council, providing a range of opportunities makes it easier for families to contribute.

7. Utilize a School Mobile App

In today’s mobile-first world, a school app is essential. Ensure your app integrates with your website, calendar, and other communication tools. A user-friendly app with real-time updates keeps families engaged and informed on-the-go.

Explore the benefits of our school mobile app for seamless communication.

Your Communication Hub

A well-maintained website serves as the central hub for family engagement, offering calendars, blogs, volunteer sign-ups, and video resources. When paired with a school app and active social media presence, this approach ensures all families stay informed and connected.

For more resources on boosting family engagement, check out our School Communications Planning Guide.

Start building a stronger school community today with these practical strategies!

Evidence shows that families want positive news about their children’s schooling. Positive, encouraging messages are key to fostering family engagement, which in turn boosts student attendance and performance. Frequent, yet unobtrusive, communications can keep families up to speed —and excited— with classroom activities.

This blog explores five strategies to keep families engaged at the classroom level.

1. Send a Meet-the-Teacher Message at the Start of the School Year

First impressions matter. Sending a friendly, introductory message at the start of the school year sets a positive tone for communication with families. Teachers can use this opportunity to introduce themselves, share how to get in contact, and outline expectations for the year.

• Why it works: It establishes a direct line of communication from the get-go and helps build trust.
• Pro tip: Use SchoolStatus Connect to send personalized messages via SMS, email, or phone calls in the family’s preferred language.

2. Share Updates on School Activities and Assignments in the Classroom Feed

Keep families in the loop by regularly updating the Classroom Feed with information about upcoming activities, assignments, and classroom news. This keeps families informed and makes them feel like part of the learning process, and prevents miscommunication headaches.

• Why it works: Regular updates keep families engaged and aware of what’s happening in the classroom, making it easier for them to know how to support their children.
• Pro tip: Use SchoolStatus Connect Classroom Feed for seamless updates that can be easily accessed by all families.

3. Create a Class Newsletter with Smore

A monthly or bi-weekly class newsletter can be a great way to summarize recent activities and inform families about upcoming events. Tools like Smore make it easy to create visually appealing newsletters that families will look forward to reading.

• Why it works: Newsletters provide a comprehensive overview of classroom happenings and can include photos, student highlights, and important dates.
• Pro tip: Include interactive elements like links to digital sign-up forms to make the newsletter more engaging. Smore newsletters make it easy to add interactive elements to your newsletter.

4. Make Volunteering Sign-Ups Easy with Digital Forms through Forms & Flows

Encourage family involvement by simplifying the process for signing up for volunteer opportunities. Piles of paper sign-up forms can take up time and and attention. Automating reminders and confirmations ensures volunteers are informed and ready for their roles.

• Why it works: Simplified sign-ups remove barriers to participation, increasing the likelihood of family involvement in classroom activities.
• Pro tip: Digital forms can simplify school tasks beyond permission slips. Use SchoolStatus Forms & Flows to streamline processes like equipment and facility requests.

5. Stay Connected with One-to-One Conversations

Sometimes, direct outreach is the most effective way to engage families. Regular one-to-one conversations can address specific concerns, celebrate student achievements, and build a strong partnership between educators and families.

• Why it works: Personalized interactions show families that you care about their child’s success and are willing to invest time in their education.
• Pro tip: Use SchoolStatus to keep a digital log of all communications. This ensures consistency and allows you to reference past conversations as needed.

Build Connections Around Your Classrooms

Engaging families in the classroom is essential for student success. These five strategies can help you build a strong connection with families, making them active participants in their child’s education. With tools like SchoolStatus, you can create a school environment where communication is seamless, efficient, and impactful.

Ready to take your family engagement to the next level? Book a call with one of our SchoolStatus experts today to learn more about how our platform can support your classroom communication goals.

During back-to-school season, everyone in a school community has a lot to learn. Students learn their class schedules and expectations, teachers learn their students’ names, and families learn about how they’ll interact with their child’s school and education. That often means a new technology or platform that they’re not familiar with, but will need to use for critical updates on their child’s education. 

One of the best ways to welcome families on board to a new technology can be a family information night. By welcoming families into school for an evening, school leaders can help answer questions, offer suggestions, and give more context on how schools serve students and their families. And educating families about the tools and systems that the district uses can help them get more engaged with school and with their child’s education.

In this blog post, we’ll share some ideas and tips for a great family information night that helps your school community become more informed and connected. 

Spread the Word About Your Event

In order to hold an effective family information night, you need people to show up. That can be a challenge if you’re only sending an email blast to announce your event. You need a way to spread the word and get people to attend. 

You’ll need to establish a physical location for the event, set start and finish times, and offer resources around the event. And once you’ve got everyone together, you can introduce the tools and resources that families need to know about.

SchoolStatus Connect makes it easy to invite your class, school, or entire district to an event.  Everything from outreach to event details can be created and deployed within the platform. The event can flag requests for volunteers or donation items to help parents and guardians know how they can get involved and support their child’s school.  These invitations are shared with families to their central feeds, so they are notified of the event and can easily respond. And invitees can receive a Smore newsletter with resources and links that can prime families for success. 

Send Follow-Up Messages to Attendees

Once you’ve held your informative family information night and cleaned up the punch and cookies, you’re ready to follow up. As teachers know, sometimes a little reinforcement can help a lesson stick. Share a message with attendees that summarizes the key information from your event, and include any helpful resources families might need—like SchoolStatus

SchoolStatus Connect makes it easy to follow up with event attendees. Sending a follow-up message on SchoolStatus Connect allows families to open conversations, clarify misunderstandings, and access resources that they may have missed. Plus, messages are auto-translated into the recipient’s preferred language, so schools can more easily connect with every family.  And you can send a Smore newsletter to invitees to recap and share information with anyone who couldn’t attend. 

Start the School Year On a Good Note

Creating strong communication pathways between families and their child’s school can have benefits that last for the entire school year, from closer connections between teachers and students to higher family engagement and student attendance. If you’re interested in learning more about how SchoolStatus Connect can create connection and community in your district, reach out to our team today for a demo of SchoolStatus Connect.

As the new school year approaches, district leaders have a unique opportunity to boost morale and set a positive tone for the months ahead. By implementing these three proactive strategies, you can energize your team, foster innovation, and create a vibrant educational environment that benefits students, staff, and the community alike.

1. Capture the First-Day Magic

The first day of school is filled with excitement and potential. Harness this energy by sending your communications team out to school buildings to document the day through photos and videos. This approach offers multiple benefits:

• Creates a wealth of authentic content for your website, newsletters, and social media channels
• Allows your team to experience the positive atmosphere firsthand, boosting their own morale
• Provides valuable insights into the school community’s needs and experiences

By immersing your team in the day-to-day realities of your schools, you’ll foster a deeper connection between your communications efforts and the district’s mission.

2. Implement a District-Wide Appreciation Initiative

Recognize and celebrate the efforts of all staff members, from teachers to support personnel. Consider these ideas:

• Launch a digital recognition platform where colleagues can share kudos and success stories
• Create a weekly or monthly spotlight feature highlighting outstanding contributions
• Organize surprise appreciation events throughout the year

By consistently acknowledging the hard work of your team, you’ll cultivate a culture of gratitude and motivation.

3. Facilitate Cross-Departmental Collaboration

Breaking down silos between departments can spark innovation and create a sense of unity. Try these approaches:

• Organize regular cross-departmental meetings or workshops to share ideas and best practices
• Implement a district-wide communication tool that allows for easy information sharing and collaboration
• Create mixed-team task forces to tackle specific district challenges or initiatives

By encouraging diverse perspectives and fostering teamwork, you’ll not only boost morale but also drive the innovation your district needs.

Remember, effective communication is key to the success of these initiatives. Utilize comprehensive communication platforms that offer features like mass messaging, data analytics, and customizable dashboards to keep everyone informed and engaged. By leveraging technology to streamline your efforts, you’ll be able to focus on what really matters: creating a positive, supportive environment for your entire school community.

As you implement these strategies, you’ll find that an energized, collaborative team is better equipped to face challenges and drive positive change in your district. Here’s to a successful and inspiring new school year!

Contact us to learn more!

When was the last time you received a message from your child’s school that made you smile? For many families, school communications are often associated with problems or concerns. But what if we could change that narrative?

A recent Learning Heroes report reveals a compelling link between positive school-family communication and student achievement. Districts that maintained strong family communication during and after the pandemic saw significantly better student outcomes. This isn’t just a feel-good strategy; it’s a proven approach to boosting student success. And it’s something families are asking for, as we learned from our school-family communications survey results.

So, how can schools harness the power of positive communication? Here are three effective strategies:

1. Celebrate Small Wins

Don’t wait for report cards to share good news. Did a student improve their attendance? Master a challenging concept? Show kindness to a classmate? These moments deserve recognition. A quick message to parents can brighten their day and reinforce positive behaviors.

2. Share Classroom Highlights

Give families a window into the exciting learning happening at school. A weekly update showcasing fun projects, interesting discussions, or upcoming events helps parents feel connected and sparks conversations at home about school life.

3. Personalize Your Approach

While mass communications have their place, personalized messages pack a punch. Consider having teachers send one positive, individualized note to a different student’s family each day. Over time, this practice builds strong, supportive relationships between school and home.

Implementing these strategies doesn’t just make families feel good—it creates a partnership that directly benefits students. When parents are regularly informed about their child’s progress and classroom experiences, they’re better equipped to provide support and reinforcement at home.

As we prepare for a new school year, let’s commit to leading with positivity in our school communications. By doing so, we’re not just sharing information—we’re building a community of engaged, informed, and enthusiastic families ready to support their children’s educational journey.

Remember, positive communication isn’t just nice to have—it’s a powerful tool that can make all the difference in student achievement. So, let’s get creative, stay consistent, and watch our school communities thrive through the power of positive communication.

If you want to learn more about how SchoolStatus Connect can help your school communicate with families, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to our team today for a free demo of SchoolStatus Connect.

As the final weeks of summer break dwindle, the back-to-school homestretch kicks into high gear for educators and administrators. Sure, there are the typical checklist items–class rosters, supply orders, room assignments. But the real opportunity lies in those critical communications that can shape the entire year’s narrative.

Think about the impact of a welcome message from the school or district leader that goes beyond the standard “We’re excited to have you back!” What if it captured the passion that drew you to education? A reminder of why this work matters–the chance to unlock potential, open minds, and empower the next generation. Share your vision for an engaged community of learners and partners. Invite their voices to be heard from day one. It sets an inspiring tone from the outset. Plus, 8 out of 10 people open emails with the word welcome in them, so it’s a great opportunity to reach more folks.

The same applies to those introductory letters to families from teachers. Yes, they need to cover logistics like schedules and paperwork. But they’re also the first chance to start building relationships and trust. When it comes to those critical first connections, think multi-pronged and personal. A simple text to every family, addressing their child by name, can go a long way (“Can’t wait for Jayden to join my 3rd grade crew!”). Combine that individual outreach with a “Meet the Teacher” newsletter giving an inside peek at your classroom’s exciting changes and what students can look forward to. Share pictures of new reading nooks, maker spaces, or even your reorganized library. 

The more you can depict your classroom as an engaging environment awaiting students’ arrival, the more fears and uncertainties can melt away before the first day. Don’t forget to include plenty of logistical info too: a typical daily schedule, arrival procedures, etc. Being upfront sets expectations and reduces anxiety, while your enthusiasm builds their excitement. 

And remember, prioritizing attendance pays dividends from the start. Emphasize why those first-day connections matter–it’s a lot easier to build momentum when everyone’s present and accounted for. Rather than rehashing stats, tell stories of how consistent attendance shaped former students’ paths. Anchor it in the real impact. Help parents and guardians understand why missing even one day is a setback for students.

In the back-to-school blitz, it’s tempting to just “check the boxes.” But some reimagining can turn those rote communications into relationship-builders and catalysts for an enriching year. You’ve got this–make it matter.

The first weeks of school are crucial for setting the tone for the entire academic year, especially when it comes to attendance. Research shows that absenteeism in September can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. In fact, half of the students who miss 2-4 days in the first month go on to miss nearly a month of school overall. 

Despite this, a recent NPR study revealed that only 5% of parents consider chronic absenteeism a major concern. This disconnect highlights the need for a robust back-to-school attendance campaign that educates families about why attendance is critical to student success, in school and beyond. 

Make Attendance a Community Challenge

One fun way schools can establish positive attendance patterns from the outset is to launch a “First Month Attendance Challenge.” Creating a campaign focused on perfect attendance for the first month of school is not only a great way to educate parents about the critical importance of early attendance, it’s also a slam dunk for establishing good attendance habits from Day 1. 

Here are the steps to follow: 

1. Announce the challenge to the community before the new school year starts.

Try a Top 10 Reasons for Attendance list that you share via your newsletter, social media, or centralized communication platform (like SchoolStatus Connect) as a launch.

2. Engage the Community:

Involve the PTO, class representatives, and teachers in promoting the attendance challenge. This community-wide approach reinforces the importance of attendance and creates a supportive environment for families.

3. Prioritize Personalized Outreach:

Before the school year begins, have teachers and counselors connect one-on-one with families, either via text, phone, or video chat, especially those who have struggled with attendance in the past. Use these conversations to:

• Introduce the challenge
• Encourage families and set positive expectations
• Understand potential barriers to attendance
• Offer support services (e.g., transportation assistance, laundry services, meal programs, academic support)
  

4. Institute Weekly Challenges:

Create fun weekly attendance challenges to maintain momentum. Celebrate wins via:

• Weekly updates in school communications
• Class text messages
• Individual messages to students who are succeeding
• Encouraging notes to those who are struggling
  

5. Don’t Leave Out Rewards!

Implement a tiered reward system to incentivize consistent attendance, like:

• Class-level rewards (e.g., pizza or ice cream parties)
• Individual certificates
• Public recognition in school communications
• Attendance Hall of Fame
  

6. Use a Data-Driven Approach:

Use attendance tracking tools like SchoolStatus Attend to monitor progress and identify trends. This data can help you:

• Tailor interventions for struggling students
• Recognize and reinforce positive attendance patterns
• Adjust your strategies as needed throughout the month

By focusing on daily attendance from Day 1, schools not only set the stage for a successful year of learning, but for a successful K-12 journey. Every day counts in a child’s education, and establishing strong attendance habits early on is a direct line to a cap, gown, and a little Pomp and Circumstance 12 years down the road.

Unconscious bias remains a pressing issue in our schools and society. While high-profile incidents like the 2018 Starbucks case brought national attention to racial bias, similar situations still occur daily, including in classrooms.

Ensuring the emotional safety of all students from unconscious biases is a critical priority in schools. Principals play a key role in helping teachers and staff recognize how their own unconscious biases—social stereotypes formed outside conscious awareness—affect interactions with students and families.

Here are five common types of unconscious bias to watch for in schools, along with strategies to address them:

1. Beauty Bias

Beauty bias occurs when individuals are judged based on appearance. This bias can manifest as body shaming or discrimination, and students may experience it unknowingly.

Consider:

• Are students being judged based on their attire?
• Are dress codes applied equitably across genders and ethnicities?
• How can your school promote body positivity and inclusivity?

For resources on fostering inclusivity, check out our guide on improving school communication.

2. Affinity Bias

Affinity bias leads us to favor those who are similar to us. A teacher, for example, may call on students who remind them of themselves or family members, creating unequal learning opportunities.

Reflect:

• How do your staff members interact with families from diverse backgrounds?
• Are there unconscious preferences based on language, culture, or appearance?

Learn more about fostering diversity and inclusion in schools from Teaching Tolerance.

3. Horns Effect

The horns effect happens when a single negative trait or incident influences our entire perception of an individual. This can unfairly label students, particularly students of color, leading to disproportionate disciplinary actions.

Encourage:

• Staff should approach each student interaction with fresh eyes, avoiding assumptions based on past behavior.

For more insights on equitable discipline, visit Edutopia’s guide to fair student treatment (external link).

4. Contrast Effect

The contrast effect involves judging individuals in comparison to others rather than evaluating them based on their own merits. Schools often focus on comparative performance, but individual growth and effort should also be celebrated.

Consider:

• How can your school recognize personal progress and celebrate individual effort?

Discover how personalized communication can support growth by checking out SchoolStatus solutions (internal link).

5. Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias causes people to seek information that supports their existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence. In schools, this may appear as assumptions about family involvement based on visible participation, without considering barriers to engagement.

To Address These Biases:

• Offer ongoing professional development on recognizing and mitigating unconscious bias.
• Encourage staff self-reflection on their own biases.
• Implement equitable policies and practices.
• Regularly assess your school environment for signs of bias and proactively address them.
• Foster open dialogue about bias and its impact on the school community.

For professional development resources on bias and equity, explore Smore’s resources for school leaders (internal link) and The National Equity Project (external link).

By addressing unconscious biases, we can create more inclusive, equitable, and supportive learning environments for all students and families.

Email. It’s the workhorse of school communications. It’s direct, measurable, and can be one of the most powerful tools in your communications mix. Unfortunately, however, few school administrators understand the science behind creating ones that get noticed, opened, read and acted upon.

So what makes an email effective—one that your families not only read, but then engage in the way you want them to?

A few savvy businesses know the formula. I’m not talking about the spammers who might slip through your spam filters. I’m talking about senders with whom you have some established relationship. The sharp ones know how to make the most of their email campaigns. Hubspot, an inbound marketing juggernaut, has taken a scientific approach to email, and breaks down the Anatomy of an Email in this super article by Meghan Lockwood.

In one of our recent surveys of school communicators, IT managers, and school administrators, we found that email is still the most preferred and effective way of reaching families. With the popular channels being used to engage families—school websites, social media, notifications, voice—email remains a very personal way to connect.

Email is still the most preferred and effective way of reaching families.

Pro tip: Smore is fully integrated with SchoolStatus Connect! Easily create responsive and translatable newsletters for your class, school, or district and share directly to your audience’s central feed and email inbox. 

Schools Have the Advantage

As a school, you already have a built-in connection with your families—they trust you as their child’s school. This relationship gives your emails an advantage over the clutter in inboxes. According to a recent survey of school administrators, communicators, and IT managers, email remains the most preferred and effective way of reaching families, despite the rise of websites, social media, and notifications.

Optimizing Your School Emails for Success

To ensure your emails reach and engage families, consider these key elements:

1. Craft an Attention-Grabbing Subject Line

Spend time crafting a concise subject line that hints at the content inside. Aim to pique curiosity or highlight value. Avoid generic lines like “Message from the Superintendent”—instead, get specific. The subject line is your gateway to clicks.

2. Personalize the “From” Field

Emails from a real person get more opens. Instead of sending from “XYZ School,” use the name of a trusted school staff member, such as the principal or communication director.

3. Maintain Clear School Branding

Consistent branding, from school colors to logos, strengthens recognition and trust. Make sure your email templates reflect your school’s identity and involve your communications team in the design process.

4. Personalize the Salutation

A personalized greeting, such as “Hi Brian,” creates a stronger connection than a generic “Dear Sir/Madam.” Personalization fosters trust and engagement.

5. Get to the Point

Show the reader the value of your message right away. Avoid fluff and be direct—e.g., “Attending the open house shows your support for your child’s education.”

6. Use a Clear Call to Action (CTA)

Whether you want parents to register for an event or visit a page, make it easy. Use prominent, clickable buttons or links to guide them toward the next step.

7. Include Relevant Images

Emails with images perform better. Use school-related photos or graphics to break up text and draw attention to your message. Just ensure the images are relevant to the content.

8. Add Social Sharing Buttons

Encourage parents to share your message on social media. Adding Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn buttons increases your email’s reach.

9. Provide a Secondary CTA

If your email has multiple objectives, include a secondary CTA. Direct parents to your website, calendar, or other important school resources to keep them engaged.

10. Include Unsubscribe Information

Ensure your email footer contains privacy details and a simple unsubscribe option. This is not just good practice—it’s the law.

Reaching Mobile Audiences

More families are checking emails on their phones or tablets, so optimizing for mobile is crucial. Responsive design, concise content, and easily clickable buttons enhance the mobile experience, ensuring your message is accessible anytime, anywhere.

Pro Tip: Segment Your Emails for Maximum Impact

Not every email needs to go to every family. Segment your audience by school, grade, or involvement level to send the most relevant information. Families appreciate tailored communication, and this approach ensures higher engagement.

Educators work hard to help parents stay up to date on their children’s education. But how well are schools connecting with families? We recently published a report based on a survey of families with children enrolled in K-12 schools in the US, gathering their feelings on school-home communication. The responses from these families shed light on the state of school-home communication and offer educators a clear set of best practices when connecting with families. 

One of the many themes that emerged from this research is that families want more positive communication from schools. Proactive, positive outreach that celebrates successes and offers resources can be the basis of a strong partnership between educators and families. In this blog post, we’ll share findings from the report, and explore ways to engage families with positive outreach. 

Positive Communication is an Opportunity to Inspire Families 

School-home communication can take a lot of time and effort on the part of educators. It’s understandable to focus effort on outreach that responds to an issue like absences or classroom disruptions. But it’s also valuable to celebrate successes and give families a clear view of their students’ progress. Simple outreach such as regular updates on their child’s progress, acknowledging achievements, or expressing appreciation for parental involvement can go a long way towards keeping families engaged.

Three Strategies for Inspirational Outreach

There are a few key messages that will help educators and schools connect with the majority of families. 

• Keep communication simple. When asked what they most wanted from their school’s communications, families generally believe less is more. They expressed a desire for a streamlined way to communicate digitally with schools. And no wonder—over 50% of families use three or more school communication tools for their child. Whenever possible, rely on centralized communications tools that let you share useful information without overwhelming families.
• Give families the facts about attendance. The impact of consistent student attendance on academic success may be obvious to educators and school administrators, but the challenge might not be as clear to families. Nearly half of families (45%) didn’t receive any communication from their school about the importance of attendance until after their student had been absent. There’s a real opportunity to educate families and inform their choices earlier in the process. In fact, 37% of respondents said they wanted actionable steps to help improve their child’s attendance. Sharing resources and facts about attendance at the start of the school year helps those families build good patterns early. 
• Celebrate attendance wins. Families are eager for good news about their students—particularly if their students are experiencing challenges. Over 71% of families said they prefer consistent, positive messaging celebrating improved and consistent attendance. Sharing congratulations with families can be a motivating force that reinforces good attendance behaviors, or help the family get involved. 

Engaged Families Lead to Better Student Outcomes

The results of this report show some clear opportunities to connect with families of K-12 students. When families feel valued and respected by the school community, they are more likely to participate in school activities, attend family-teacher meetings, and engage in their child’s academic journey. This, in turn, contributes to improved student attendance and academic success. 

And if you’re looking for support connecting district leaders, educators, and families with communications, attendance, and educator success solutions, let’s talk!