Class Communication Tool Adds Payment Feature for Field Trips, Dues

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 08/26/16

A web-based communication service for people in a school community has added a feature that allows for online payments. SimplyCircle, from a company with the same name, lets teachers and parents communicate with each other for class, PTA and school activities.

The new function lets "circle" managers collect payments from circle members. The company anticipates that the capability will be used to collect payments for field trips, class fund contributions, PTA dues and related activities. Once a payment "post" is created, the manager can share it on a news feed that members see and via e-mail.

SimplyCircle 

The feature relies on PayPal to work and charges an additional 1 percent fee on top of PayPal's own 2.9 percent plus $0.30 fee for each transaction. The advantage is that users can pay directly with a credit card, debit card or via PayPal's own payment service. The payment capability is available on the free version of the program and on subscription editions.

Users of SimplyCircle have included parents at Walnut Creek Middle School in Pennsylvania, Rockledge Elementary School in Virginia and the Champion School in Georgia.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • glowing AI text box emerges from a keyboard on a desk, surrounded by floating padlocks, warning icons, and fragmented shields

    1 in 10 AI Prompts Could Expose Sensitive Data

    A recent study from data protection startup Harmonic Security found that nearly one in 10 prompts used by business users when interacting with generative AI tools may inadvertently disclose sensitive data.

  • A middle school student wearing safety goggles and a lab coat uses a microscope in a science lab, surrounded by beakers and test tubes filled with colorful liquids

    2025 Young Scientist Challenge Seeks Students Using Science to Solve Everyday Problems

    The entry period is now open for the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge, a science competition from 3M and Discovery Education for students in grades 5-8 recognizing individuals across the United States who have "demonstrated a passion for using science to solve everyday problems and improve the world around them."

  • futuristic AI interface with glowing data streams and abstract neural network patterns

    OpenAI Launches Its Largest AI Model Yet

    OpenAI has introduced GPT-4.5, its largest AI model to date, code-named Orion. The model, trained with more computing power and data than any previous OpenAI release, is available as a research preview to select users.

  • glowing futuristic laptop with a holographic screen displaying digital text

    New Turnitin Product Offers AI-Powered Writing Tools with Instructor Guardrails

    Academic integrity solution provider Turnitin has launched Turnitin Clarity, a paid add-on for Turnitin Feedback Studio that provides a composition workspace for students with educator-guided AI assistance, AI-generated writing feedback, visibility into integrity insights, and more.