Sapient Overhauls Chicago Public Schools' Web Presence

• By Chris Riedel
• 07/29/08

The nation's third-largest public school system, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), unveiled its newly-redesigned Web site Friday, providing students, parents, and staff easier access to important resources and school district information. The redesign--executed through a partnership with interactive services firm Sapient--addresses user concerns based on data gathered in a district-wide survey.

According to the district, CPS users found the old site cumbersome and confusing. Working with Sapient, the district created a "hypothetical parent model" to help revamp its online presence to address those concerns, as well as develop an experience that would engage potential district volunteers.

"The new CPS website presents district information in a clear format that's intuitive and easy to use," said Chicago Board of Education President Rufus Williams, in a prepared statement. "It puts all of the important resources in one place, so that parents have what they need to make decisions that impact their children's education and future."

In addition to a simplified user experience, the new CPS site provides its audience with a variety of important tools, including scholastic services and program information, as well as a new statistical tool that allows parents to compare and evaluate district schools based on a variety of criteria.

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About the author: Chris Riedel is a freelance writer based in Florida. He can be reached via e-mail here.

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