Navigation
A parent communication app by SchoolInfo is designed with school administrators in mind. As co-founder Julie Riggs said, “One of our founding visions was to make life easier for teachers and schools... Everything we do we tie to that vision.” Every aspect of the apps we create is thought through from an administrator's perspective because we want to ensure that you are given all the tools you need to easily get your message in front of your audience. Although the communication strategy is an important part of an administrator's long list of tasks, it shouldn’t make your job harder. Your school's mobile app should:
- Save you time by being able to post only once across all your channels
- Give you confidence that information and news are accessible to everyone
- Keep a record of all Conversations for administrative oversight and control
And with SchoolInfo, that's exactly what you're getting. In your school's app, you also should have features specific to teachers and students. Some of these features that you can expect with an app by SchoolInfo are:
- Digital IDs within the app can be used with most library and cafeteria systems
- Provide daily alerts indicating block schedule A/B days
- Eliminate the need for an additional teacher texting app by providing a centralized and secure location for teachers and coaches to communicate with students and parents
- With secured access, certain content can be restricted in the app for teachers only to open communication and boost morale
Importance of a School App from a Parent's Perspective
All of these features are important to have an effective centralized communication channel, but what really drives the need is that parents are seeking out this information. In fact, SchoolInfo was founded by two parents for this exact reason. Jordan and Julie Riggs, founded SchoolInfo more than 10 years ago while struggling to balance the busy schedules of their 6 children. They grew frustrated trying to track school events, extracurricular activities, and school news of the different schools their children were attending at the time. Since this became such a prominent issue in their household, they figured they weren't the only parents struggling with this. From their frustration, the idea of SchoolInfo was born. We know firsthand just how important it is for parents to be able to easily access information and communicate with their child's school.
Listen to the whole origin story of how Jordan and Julie brought their idea to reality in the EdTech on Deck podcast by Edlio.
With SchoolInfo, you can ensure the parents in your community:
- Receive emergency text alerts and other important updates directly to their phones
- Can view and subscribe to calendars for general events, athletic teams, parent groups, and more
- Can translate the framework and individual Conversations into their preferred language
As you already know, parent involvement is an essential element in student success. There is even a specific day dedicated to honoring the parents and families who are dedicated to ensuring that every student receives a quality education and it's coming up soon!
National Parent Involvement Day
National Parent Involvement Day, started by Project Appleseed, is an annual celebration that is held on the third Thursday of November. This year it falls on November 17th. This day provides an opportunity for schools to highlight the incredible contributions parents and guardians provide at school and home to support student success. As we know, when parents/guardians are involved in their child's education, it dramatically increases the chances of academic success. Not only should we honor the parents that are currently involved in schools on this day, but it's a great opportunity for parents to seek out ways they can make a difference. Check out this video by Kevin Walker, Founder & President of Project Appleseed!
How can Schools Participate in National Parent Involvement Day?
Check out the activity guide on Project Appleseed's website! In their guide, they provide a description of 30 different ideas that schools can use to celebrate their parents. Here are a few:
1. Game night: Provide a fun night as a thank you to the parents that make a difference in your school.
2. Theme-based student essays: Ask students to write thank you letters to their parents/guardians.
3. Give awards: present honorary awards to parents for their efforts in bettering the learning environment.
4. Gather opinions: Encourage parents to offer opinions and suggestions through a specific communication channel that you can easily access like your school app.
5. Parent Involvement Checklist: Go through Project Appleseed's checklist to start improving your school's parent-school partnerships.
A parent communication app by SchoolInfo is a great way to encourage parent engagement. Set a meeting with someone on our team today to learn more about all the ways your school or district can connect with families through an app!
