National Charter Schools Conference
June 30, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada
Do’s and Don’ts of Parent Engagement
“Build it and he will come”
Parents Don’t Use Mobile Apps
• Fairfax County Public Schools- 2013-14 school year– 184,625 students
• Built free mobile app‒ Only downloaded 9,431 times in 90 days‒ Even one school board member had not downloaded it
Motivation
Parents Don’t Use Portals
• Dallas Independent School District- 2012-2013– 158,000 students
• Created online parent portal – Included student grades, attendance, and teacher notes– 13% of parents signed up – Less than 5 had more than 50% signed up
SMS in Schools
Parents Do Respond to Calls & Texts
Harvard Graduate School of Education Study
• Daily teacher-parent calls
– Increased on-time homework by 40%
– Increased student class participation by 15%
– Not sustainable- dropped from 75% -56% over week
Texting Is Important to Adults
Some Adults Prefer Text Messages
• 2011 Pew Internet Research Project– 31% of adults prefer text message– 53% by phone call – 14% it depends on the context
• Text messages are – 140 characters or less – More efficient
• To the point• No chit chat
Teens Texting`
2010 Pew Research Internet Project
• Teens text more than– Use social media sites– Use internet or email– Meet face-to face– Talk on the phone
• Phone used to mostly communicate with parents
“Texting has now overtaken the frequency of every other common form of interaction with their friends”
Texting Can Be Used For Engagement
• Texting is ultimate push technology
• Push technology comes to your cell phone without action or thought on your part
• Text messages can be automatically sent about homework, important meetings, schedule changes, safety info
• 97% of text messages are opened and read within five minutes of delivery, meaning your message will be read because it is important.
Want to talk more about texting?
• Phone: 703-615-4429
• Email: [email protected]
• National Charter Schools Conference – Office Hours– Today, Monday, June 30– 11:45 – 12:30, Operations Networking Lounge
