The K-12 Buyer’s Guide to Communication Solutions

Effective school-home communication is one of the strongest drivers of student success and family trust. This guide provides K-12 leaders with a structured approach to selecting a unified communication solution that streamlines district messaging, improves equity, and deepens parent engagement—all in support of improved academic outcomes.

We’ll explore the key considerations, potential pitfalls, and best practices to help you make an informed decision that will benefit your entire school community.

Table of Contents

I. The Case for Consolidated Communications
II. Assembling the Right Decision-Making Team
III. Setting Goals for Your District
IV. What to Look For in a Unified Communications Solution
→ Download K-12 Communications Scorecard
V. Researching and Evaluating Vendors
VI. Mini Case Study: San Marcos CISD
VII. Why SchoolStatus Connect?
→Download Essential Features Checklist
Related Resources
FAQ

I. The Case for Consolidated Communications

Why It Matters More Than Ever

Chronic absenteeism and disengagement are on the rise. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 28% of U.S. students were chronically absent in the 2022-2023 school year. Effective communication is critical to re-engaging families and reversing the trend.

Yet many school districts still use a patchwork of apps and products. This technological hodgepodge creates confusion for families, increases the burden on staff, and dilutes the district’s ability to deliver consistent, timely, and personalized communication.

A consolidated communication solution ensures:

• A single source of truth for all messages
• Equitable outreach through translation and channel preferences
• Stronger relationships between families and educators

Supporting Stat:

In a Learning Heroes survey, 9 out of 10 parents believe they support their child’s learning, yet only 1 in 10 accurately understand their child is below grade level. Consolidated communications can bridge that gap.

Read the full case study

II. Assembling the Right Decision-Making Team

Selecting a new communications solution is a cross-functional effort. Be sure to include the following roles:

• Communications Lead: Aligns solution with branding and messaging policies.
• Technology Director: Ensures SIS integration, data security, and solution scalability.
• School Administrators: Provide practical insight into daily use cases.
• Teachers & Staff: Represent the solution’s day-to-day users.

Appoint a project lead to document requirements, track progress, and facilitate vendor conversations.

III. Setting Goals for Your District

Before evaluating solutions, define measurable goals:

1. Increase Family Engagement
Send personalized, two-way messages to foster relationships.

2. Streamline Messaging
Eliminate app overload and consolidate tools into a single hub.

3. Improve Attendance
Use data-informed messaging to re-engage families and reduce chronic absenteeism.

4. Address Equity
Ensure all families can understand and respond to messages regardless of language or device access.

Need more guidance on defining outcomes? Read How Districts Use Communications to Improve Attendance

IV. What to Look For in a Unified Communications Solution

Core Capabilities to Prioritize

✓ Two-Way Communication via SMS, email, voice, and mobile apps
✓ Auto-Translation into 130+ languages
✓ Communication Logging and Reporting for transparency and accountability
✓ Newsletter Tools like Smore for mass messaging
✓ SIS Integration for real-time, accurate data syncing
✓ Granular Permissions to control access by school, grade, or role

Bonus Features

• In-app conference scheduling
• Embedded analytics dashboards
• Support for ADA-compliant messaging

V. Researching and Evaluating Vendors

Discovery Sources

• Peer referrals via regional consortia and online forums (like AASA, CoSN)
• Case studies and testimonials
• Vendor-hosted demos and pilot programs

Questions to Ask Vendors

1. How is your solution integrated with PowerSchool, Skyward, Infinite Campus, etc.?
2. How do you support multilingual communication?
3. What kind of training and implementation support do you offer?
4. How do you handle opt-outs, FERPA, and privacy compliance?

Your careful consideration now will pay dividends in improved communication and engagement for years to come.

Use this checklist as a quick reference when evaluating potential solutions:

Remember, not every solution will have all these features, and your district may not need all of them. Use this list as a starting point and adjust based on your specific requirements and priorities.

VI. Mini Case Study: San Marcos CISD

Location: San Marcos, TX
Enrollment: 8,000+ students
Solution Used: SchoolStatus Connect

Challenge

San Marcos CISD needed a way to ensure all families—especially multilingual and underserved communities—received timely and equitable communication.

Results

• Significant increase in two-way messaging volume
• Improved trust and transparency across the district
• Data-informed insights into family communication patterns

Read the full case study

VII. Why SchoolStatus Connect?

SchoolStatus Connect offers a full-featured, SIS-integrated solution for school-home communications:

• Supports Two-Way Messaging with translation
• Logs Every Interaction for compliance and auditing
• Integrates Seamlessly with SIS and Rosters
• Includes Smore Newsletters for broad announcements

Trusted by districts across the country:

• Lake Worth ISD
• San Marcos CISD

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Related Resources

• eBook: Leading with Data—A K-12 Guide to Attendance Success
• Strategic Communication in K-12 Education
• Case Study: Lake Worth ISD
• Webinar: Summer Communications: How to Engage Staff and Families Year-Round
• Webinar: 8 Strategies for Building Stronger School-Family Partnerships
• Webinar: The New Rules of Family Engagement: Research-Backed Strategies That Actually Work
• Webinar: What Really Works for K-12 Attendance & Engagement