Effective messaging is the cornerstone of successful school communications, and with the right tools, your school can transform how it connects and engages with families.

Nowadays, about 70% of web traffic comes from mobile apps. Thanks to their potential to deliver information directly into the hands of users, annual mobile app downloads have increased steadily worldwide, reaching a whopping 257 billion downloads in 2023.

And the app world is busy! Nearly half of users open an app more than 11 times a day, with 21% of folks between the ages of 23 and 38 usually opening an app more than 50 times a day.

Few school communication tools are as powerful as a mobile app when it comes to sharing information quickly, personalizing content, and engaging a diverse audience.

With a mobile app, instant notifications and two-way chat allow schools to send urgent updates and communicate quickly, and with personalized content and translation, these apps engage parents and teachers on their level, anytime and anywhere.

It's time to rethink your engagement strategy with these four features that embrace the future of interactive, inclusive, and personalized communications to drive your school's success.

1. Two-Way Chat for Real-Time Engagement

The two-way chat feature in a mobile app can greatly support engagement and streamline your school’s messaging with families. With real-time communication, parents can instantly reach out to teachers, administrators, and staff with questions, concerns, or to say a simple “hello” or “thanks!”

Since parents and teachers can communicate directly from their phones, it’s easier for busy families to stay connected without needing to schedule meetings, compose emails, make phone calls, or teachers to post to a class portal. In fact, 39 percent of millennial parents prefer using a mobile app as compared to a class portal. 

Two-way chat also increases transparency between your school and families. Parents can get updates on their child's progress, discuss concerns, and stay informed about school events and policies. When parents feel heard and supported, they’re more likely to engage and be involved in their child’s education and activities.

The two-way chat feature in Finalsite's mobile app is set to change the parent-teacher communication game with:

• Direct and Group Chats: Whether it's a one-on-one conversation between a parent and teacher or a group discussion involving multiple parents and staff, the app supports various chat types, including auto-created chat rooms based on the school information system (SIS), one-way chat to share info to the group, and the ability to create custom chat rooms.
• Administrative Oversight: School administrators can monitor and enter any conversation via the mobile app to ensure appropriate use and help to manage any issues promptly.
• Automatic Translation: Messages in two-way chat can be automatically translated into the user's preferred languages, which brings us to number 2!

2. Translation for Inclusivity

In the US, roughly 21% of schoolchildren speak a language other than English at home, which can turn language barriers into significant communication challenges. The best mobile apps for schools provide flexible translation features to ensure that all families, regardless of their primary language, can stay informed about school activities, policies, and events.

Through a mobile app’s translation features, schools can engage their non-English-speaking parents and guardians, creating a more inclusive, responsive, and accessible environment for all families.

3. Personalization for Relevant Communication

Personalized communications are more effective and engaging. When mobile apps offer a tailored experience for each user, they catch their attention and reduce information overload.

Personalized communication ensures that parents receive information relevant to their child's grades, classes, and activities. Parents don't have to sift through general announcements to find what applies to their children; instead, your school can streamline its communications by sending more concise and targeted messages.

By focusing on what truly matters to each family, Finalsite's mobile app offers several features that allow for a tailored experience for each user, like a parent’s ability to select what kinds of push notifications they want to receive, or filter by the school and receive just the content that’s relevant to them. 

• Custom Language Settings: Users can set their preferred language for the app, ensuring all communications are in the language they are most comfortable with.
• Role-Based Messaging: The best apps allow administrators to connect chat roles to user roles, ensuring that messages are relevant and targeted.
• Enhanced User Experience: A streamlined design makes message creation easy, allowing users to send and receive personalized messages effortlessly.

“Now that we’re more than a year into (our mobile app’s) launch, it’s probably been the most impactful decision we’ve made for our parent community,” said Genna Scarano, associate director of systems, designs, and marketing at The Washington Market School, a Montessori school in lower Manhattan.

“That branding consistency and professionalism that comes about by having our website and communications and our app all under the hub of Finalsite, it’s easy to keep everything branded and have clear messaging that's spread across all platforms.”

“Our children are so young that it's challenging to keep our parents informed on the day-to-day of what's happening,” Scarano said. “Having a way to communicate daily with parents a snapshot of their child's experience is something we were looking to offer.”

4. Mass Notifications for Instant Updates

Keeping parents informed and engaged requires timely and relevant updates. Mass notifications sent directly to a mobile app provide an efficient way for schools to quickly disseminate important information, like emergency alerts, school closures, or event reminders, to all parents simultaneously.

Moreover, regular updates and reminders through mass notifications keep parents informed and involved in school activities. This consistent flow of information helps parents stay engaged and leads to higher participation rates in school events and activities, as well as stronger community support.

Finalsite's mobile app ensures that important messages reach parents efficiently through mass notifications.
“It was important for our community that the app be intuitive and have the ability to provide the content and notification functionality folks expect,” said Joseph Albin, Upper Adams School District's director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

“Since its launch, the Upper Adams School District app has been well received and continues to be downloaded by new families and staff members. It’s become an integral part of how we communicate our school district information to our stakeholders, and they appreciate the ability to access the information they need.”

Key Takeaway

Finalsite's new mobile app and chat solution is designed to enhance school communication through innovative features like translation, two-way chat, personalization, and receiving mass notifications. For schools hoping to create better engagement, improve accessibility, and ensure that every member of their community stays connected and informed this year, a mobile app is the perfect choice.

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. As Finalsite’s Senior Content Marketing Manager, 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.