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 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 –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 –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: National Charter Schools Conference – Office Hours –Today, Monday, June 30 –11:45 – 12:30, Operations Networking Lounge