How School Districts Use Mobile Apps to reach out to Students and Parents

How School Districts Use Mobile Apps to reach out to Students and Parents

One of the biggest challenges that school districts around the world face is how to bridge the gap between high- and low-performing schools. Interestingly, studies show that high- and low-performing institutions are not necessarily structured differently. Variations in the curriculum used and the quality of learning are also few. If they weren’t, all that districts would need to do to harmonize results is to standardize the learning process.

According to research, low-performing schools have one thing in common: a low level of parent engagement. The highest performers tend to have more frequent parent-teacher interactions through conferences, prize-giving ceremonies, and other functions. Meanwhile, the lowest-scoring schools keep parents at a distance and only reach out to them during emergencies.

Now more than ever, districts are struggling to keep parents connected to their children’s schools. The Coronavirus pandemic has forced institutions to shift learning from physical classrooms to the Internet. Consequently, schools that relied on physical parent visits for interaction have been left wondering how they can keep the connection alive.

Mobile Apps to the Rescue

One of the biggest challenges that school districts around the world face is how to bridge the gap between high- and low-performing schools. Interestingly, studies show that high- and low-performing institutions are not necessarily structured differently. Variations in the curriculum used and the quality of learning are also few. If they weren’t, all that districts would need to do to harmonize results is to standardize the learning process.

With a mobile app, schools can keep parents updated with news and information about its organization and students without requiring them to make physical visits. When a student is late or absent from an online session, the school can pass this information to the parent immediately.

On the parents’ side, they can email teachers, get notified of class times, and receive news feeds, all through a mobile application. A mobile app enables them to keep up with what is happening in their children’s schools and the district as a whole.

How are school districts using iBuildApp Mobile Apps to connect with students and parents?

If you are part of a school district, the right mobile app can empower you to build a strong and cohesive learning community. Most people associate apps with complex software development work. On the contrary, you do not need to spend money on a developer to get the app that will bring parents closer to school. With iBuildApp, you can create and publish an app in minutes, even if you have zero coding or IT skills.

Following some research, we uncovered interesting ways that school districts around the world are using iBuildApp to build useful mobile applications.

The Virginia School Boards Association has an excellent informative app

VSBA is a nonpartisan organization comprising of school board members in Virginia. It promotes excellence in public education by offering various services to school communities. These services include school-board training and development, legal assistance, and Superintendent searches. It also provides guidelines for developing educational policies, especially those that hinge upon state and federal laws.

Why did the Virginia School Boards Association get an iBuildApp app?

VSBA opted for an iBuildApp mobile app to keep members, affiliates, and the general Virginia schooling community updated on its activities. With iBuildApp, the organization created an app that brought it as close to its target audience as possible.

How does the app work?

The VSBA app opens with a clean interface that enables users to learn about the organization’s history, mission, leaders, and the services it offers, all in a single click. They can also check the latest news and upcoming events and reach out to the organization via social media or any of its director’s individual contacts. Furthermore, thanks to iBuildApp’s seamless RSS integration, VSBA can give its community access to a wealth of Covid-19 resources right through the app.

The Penns Grove – Carneys Point Regional School District keeps users updated at all times

The PGCP Regional School District serves the schooling community of Carneys Point Township and Penns Grove, both in Salem, New Jersey. Its core mandate is to instill a sense of pride and community to students while preparing them to be upright adult members of the community. The organization takes pride in its highly-qualified faculty, which continues to empower students to succeed in learning institutions and beyond.

Why did the PGCP Regional School District get an iBuildApp app?

Recently, the PGCP district has invested significant time and resources to expand access points and provide better connectivity to staff, students, and parents. Currently, the organization is working on an improved district website, which is set to be friendlier and more accessible. However, thanks to iBuildApp, its new app is already up and running. Through the app, district members can access the latest news and events right from their mobile devices.

How does the app work?

The PGCP district’s iBuildApp app is the one-stop-shop for everything about the organization. Users can choose to view calendars of member schools, employment opportunities, and news about sporting events, all from the app’s landing page. The district’s Board of Education policies are also easily accessible. Moreover, parents sign up on the app’s Parent Portal to view information that is specific to them and interact with other parents in the community.

The Boonton Township School District has a lovely all-in-one iBuildApp app

BTSD is a public school district serving students from Boonton in Morris County, New Jersey. Its mission is to build and maintain a solid educational foundation and a positive learning experience for all students. A key way it achieves this feat is by providing substantial individualized support to students, both in its challenging and comprehensive curriculum, and its engaging extracurricular programs. BTSD also boasts a close working relationship with the parent community.

Why did the Boonton Township School District get an iBuildApp app?

BTSD saw a mobile app as the perfect way to deliver the latest news and events to its community, particularly parents. However, while building the app, the organization took advantage of iBuildApp’s multitude of widgets to offer more than just news.

How does the app work?

The BTSD app offers users everything they need to feel connected to the district. Users can check for new announcements, schedule activities with the calendar, and mark the next sporting event from the app. One of the app’s most unique features is the Virtual Backpack, which allows students to save their reading materials in one place for easier access while studying. For parents, the app offers a portal and a direct “Call School” button to quickly contact the school.

Your school district needs an iBuildApp mobile App

Mobile apps are of huge value to school districts. They provide an unmatched opportunity for districts to rally everyone behind a common positive cause. During this Covid-19 period, a mobile app can maintain healthy relationships among members of your school community

So, if your school district does not have a mobile app, now is the time to get one. Head on to the Education section of the iBuildApp platform and select a template, and you will have your app in no time! Your audience may not be available to attend meetings, but it will definitely have time to click and scroll through your mobile app.