#SchoolPR Insights Blog

There are tons of ways to communicate with parents. However, not all of them are fast. It could be hours before they see a social media post, or days before they read your latest blog post. Sometimes, messages are urgent, and they need to be delivered in real time.

Leverage these communication channels to relay important, timely messages to parents and families.

Create a text messaging system

Reach parents instantly via text. It’s the most effective way to communicate when you have to notify families about snow days, safety alerts, school closures and more. Be sure to choose an SMS platform that works with your school software and offers features like scheduled messages and group texting.

Just remember: there is such a thing as communicating too much! Keep texts short, sweet and to the point, and set clear parameters on how often to message parents. And, of course, make sure you have parents’ permission before you start texting them.

Engage parents through mobile apps

Mobile apps offer convenient on-the-go messaging between parents and schools. An intuitive, user-friendly school app can allow parents to check grades, view calendars, contact teachers and watch livestreams of school events—all in one place.

After they download the app, remind parents to turn on notifications. Push notifications are essential for delivering timely updates and important announcements. By enabling notifications, parents are more likely to stay in-the-know about school activities and their children’s academic progress.

Post updates on their online portals

Your school’s online portal is a centralized hub where parents can access all the information they need about school life. Make the most of this space by regularly posting ways to stay engaged, such as class field trips, volunteer opportunities and parent-teacher conferences.

Keep things fresh by updating content frequently—weekly or even daily if there’s a lot happening at school. Include a mix of written announcements, photos, graphics and even short videos. Make these messages visible and easy to access, so parents can find what they need quickly. You could even get teachers involved by asking them to post class-specific news!

How do YOU keep parents informed?

When it comes to parent communication, there’s no right or wrong answer. While texts, apps and portals are popular avenues, effective messaging starts with pinpointing the communication channels that work best for your audience.

Parents don’t need a school app. Parents don’t need automated text messages. What parents really need is fast, timely communication through their preferred channels. Preference is the real key to keeping parents informed!