There is a severe disconnect between parents and schools about how—and how often—the school-home communications process should work. Thankfully, there’s data administrators can leverage to solve these disparities.
Nearly half (47.5%) of families want weekly updates on their child’s performance, a new survey from edtech provider SchoolStatus suggests. Yet, only 15.5% of teachers and administrators do just that. In fact, schools most commonly send monthly or quarterly updates, according to the data.
So, what’s the reason behind this disconnect? There are several that the researchers have identified. The No. 1 reason is that schools are uncertain whether families receive or see the messages (43%). Other reasons include:
- Insufficient time for communication with families (38.2%)
- Lack of complete student information to communicate about student needs (33.8%)
- Language barriers with families (32%)
- Too many communication tools or lack of consistency with them (29.3%)
- Inadequate access to tools for effective communication (20.4%)
If any of these challenges sound familiar, here’s what the researchers suggest districts do. First, adopt systems that integrate multiple communication channels—including email, text, calls and app notifications—to ensure timely and relevant messages that match your community’s diverse preferences. Additionally, make sure they offer translation features in the case of language barriers.
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Next, start leveraging data and automation for more effective communication. Search for tools that can help teachers automate attendance tracking and other functions so they can spend more time on instruction and communication with families. Share data insights and provide accessible data analytics with families to ensure conversations are relevant to each child.
Third, develop systems that let families set preferences for message frequency and method to develop the right communication cadence. Offer easy-to-use surveys to encourage feedback.
Finally, train your educators. Offer professional development focused on effective digital communication strategies. Train teachers on cultural competency to improve communication with diverse family populations.
Take a look at the comprehensive report here to learn more about data-driven decision-making; attendance and engagement strategies; optimizing technology for education; and building strong school-home partnerships.
