School communications have traditionally been a one-way street. A very crowded, one-way street. Schools send home flyers, make voice calls, and hit “send” on newsletters and emails all school year long, overwhelming parents and overloading inboxes.

While these channels still have their purpose, families usually receive the information passively, and if they miss it, parents are left out and disconnected from their children's education.

If you want more involved parents, try talking with them, not at them.

Two-way communication systems for schools, like those offered through chat and mobile apps, help close that gap and bring families closer than ever to their schools, on their terms. They’re key to opening up the lines of effective communication and creating room for conversations between schools and families.

And that’s why school chat apps are quickly becoming the go-to tool for schools to offer a convenient, moderated platform where communication is easy and accessible. Today, nearly a third (32.4%) of schools are considering adding a chat app to their comms lineup within the next three years.

With features like direct messaging, group chats, and one-way announcements, chat apps help schools keep families informed about everything from daily updates and parent-teacher conferences to changes to the game schedule and reminders about the field trip.

School Chat Apps: Faster, Friendlier Communication Families Actually Read

Since the 2010s, messaging apps have become more and more popular, and by some estimates, the global number of mobile messaging app users is expected to reach seven billion by 2030.

That's not a huge surprise, considering these apps are:

• Making it easy for parents to connect with teachers directly. Questions get answered quickly, and concerns are addressed promptly.
   
• Giving parents a voice. With two-way communication features, parents can easily share their thoughts and feedback with your school.
   
• Keeping everyone updated. Chat apps help school leaders communicate openly and consistently with students and families, whether that's by celebrating student achievements or sharing important school news.
   
• Breaking down language barriers. Automatic translation features make sure every parent can understand the information they receive.

Chat gives parents a voice and makes them feel more like partners in their child's learning, and it’s well-known that students see more success when their parents are involved in their education.

Meeting Today's Families Where They Are

Messaging through chat apps isn’t just a convenient option for millennials but often their preferred method of communication. These days, younger families are much more comfortable sending messages over chat and text, as opposed to emails or—worst of all—actually speaking over the phone.

According to one report, if given a choice, 75% of millennials would choose a text-only phone over a voice-only phone. That’s not surprising when millennials spend nearly 50 minutes a day texting.

Turn One-Way School Messages into Two-Way Conversations

With a chat app for your school or district, conversations and announcements are easily accessible in one place, meaning parents and students don’t have to search through endless emails, scroll social posts, or dig through a portal for a PDF. 

Here's how a school chat app can improve your school's communications and the larger community.

Parents Stay Informed, Included, and Involved

• Empower parents: With teacher apps for parent communications, mom and dad aren't passively getting information anymore; they become active participants in their child's education, able to share their perspectives, ask questions, and provide feedback.
   
• Streamline communication: Say goodbye to scattered communication channels. With a school chat app, you can share announcements, send reminders, and celebrate student achievements all in one place.
   
• Support inclusivity: Many school chat apps offer automatic translation, making certain all families can understand school communications, regardless of their preferred language.
   
• Students: When schools and families are on the same page, students succeed. Increased communication can lead to improved academic performance, better behavior, and a greater sense of belonging.

Teachers Spend Less Time on Email and More Time with Students

A teacher-parent communication app makes it easy for teachers to connect with parents individually. Instead of relying on one-way communication like emails or newsletters, teachers can use chat apps to have real-time conversations with parents, answer their questions directly, and address concerns promptly.

Benefits for the School Community

While parents and teachers are often the primary users of school chat apps, the benefits open up to the larger school community:

Admins Gain Clear Oversight and Time-Saving Communication Tools

Streamlined communication saves time and resources, allowing administrators to focus on other priorities. Plus, having a direct communication channel with families can help address concerns quickly and efficiently.

Admins can also monitor the chats from one convenient dashboard to confirm that the conversations stay on message and appropriate. These benefits can be extended further to the district and school administrator levels, where chat moderators have a view into all schools, and school administrators have a view into all classroom conversations.

Support Staff Stay in Sync on Schedules and Updates

School chat apps can be used to share important updates and coordinate schedules, so even your bus drivers, coaches, and counselors can stay in the loop.

Key Takeaway

Going forward, the traditional 'talking at' approach won't be nearly as effective anymore. Create a culture of open dialogue and collaboration with families so your school can build stronger relationships with families, increase parent engagement, and, ultimately, support better outcomes for students.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Connor has spent the last decade within the field of marketing and communications, working with independent schools and colleges throughout New England. At Finalsite, Connor plans and executes marketing strategies and digital content across the web. A former photojournalist, he has a passion for digital media, storytelling, coffee, and creating content that connects.