Notification Service Adds Option for Broader Community Outreach -- THE Journal

Breaking News

Notification Service Adds Option for Broader Community Outreach

By Dian Schaffhauser
10/01/21

A notification service designed for K-12 has added the ability to reach community members too. ParentSquare, which produces a platform intended for two-way contact with families either at the classroom level or at the district or school level, now includes a "Community Groups" feature.

The format for communications with ParentSquare includes texting, email, voice, social and web sharing and app notifications. The service can also accommodate direct messaging, document sharing, appointments, invoices and calendar and RSVP invitations. The company said that the program translates messages into more than 100 languages.

The newest functionality lets people who aren't parents, guardians, students or staff sign up for various communications offered by the district and schools. Those might include notifications about fundraisers, afterschool programs and sporting or alumni events. Community web pages can be enabled at the district or school level, or both.

The idea, according to the company, is to eliminate the need for schools to subscribe to a separate mass email distribution service for communicating with the larger community.

"Our new Community Groups feature provides another layer of communications outreach to strengthen the relationship between schools, families and the community at large," said Anupama Vaid, the company's founder and president, in a press release. "Involving interested community members in school-related activities not only fosters awareness and goodwill, but it can also bolster resources through donations, volunteering and partnerships."

The feature is available to customers with the full ParentSquare subscription. Customers with the Community Groups feature can also add SMS text messages and automated voice calls. Those can be added for an additional charge.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

E-Mail this page

Printable Format

Featured

Report Estimates Cost of AI at Nearly $300K Per Minute

A report from cloud-based data/BI specialist Domo provides a staggering estimate of the minute-by-minute impact of today's generative AI boom.
New Era of Cyber Attacks Requires a Multi-layered Security Strategy for Schools

It's time to move beyond the limitations of prevention-only cybersecurity and adopt a multi-layered security strategy to combat a new era of cyber threats for K-12 schools.
Balancing Screen Time and Student Wellness

Student mental health is in crisis, and excessive screen time is a significant factor. Here are four ways to help students find and maintain a healthy balance with technology.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Updates Offer Expanded AI Capabilities, Collaboration Tools

Microsoft has announced updates to its Microsoft 365 Copilot AI assistant, including expanded AI capabilities in individual apps, the ability to create autonomous agents, and a new AI-powered collaboration workspace.