The Journal has an excellent article on how schools are using notification tools for more than emergency alerts. Most schools get notification systems for emergency situations and then end up using it for everything else. In NYC, many schools use SchoolMessenger to communicate through multiple modes: text, voice, mms, email, etc and get messages about all types of things including attendance, truancy, school meetings, and emergencies.
I like what they said about TeleParent. That system goes beyond basic emergency notifications with its Situational Student Messaging which includes information about tardiness to class, participation, homework, and conduct. This emphasis on parental involvement is a wonderful bridge to success for students. According to the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory study, “Students with involved parents are more likely to attend school regularly, earn higher grades, and have better social skills.”
The best part of the article though is the graphic. Imagine having that sophisticated of a reporting system in a graphical interface like that for your child? This would revolutionize parent involvement.
Check it out: http://thejournal.com/articles/22398
