TransACT Blog

To meet federal and civil rights requirements, school administrators must provide parent communications in a language parents can understand. Administrators are specifically required to meet these communication requirements for the top 5 languages in their district.

School administrators recognize that effective communication translates to stronger parent and family engagement, which countless studies have correlated with positive educational outcomes and better classroom behavior. One-third of administrators say effective school-to-home communication is a top issue in their district. School districts are tasked with improving parent and family engagement, while also complying with federal education laws like the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

As they seek to remove communication obstacles and improve family engagement, school districts are investing in parent communication apps. Determining the best fit from the countless solutions on the market can prove challenging.  When searching for a parent communication app, school districts should look for these key features.

The student populations of school districts have become increasingly diverse in recent years, and as a result, parent communications and engagement laws have also changed. In order to remain compliant, school districts must adhere to federal education law requirements such as those detailed in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and in Civil Rights case law.

Effective school-to-home communication is proven to positively impact academic and emotional outcomes for students. Evidence shows that students with involved families are more engaged in the classroom and more likely to succeed academically.

Supporting parent and family engagement compliance with a mobile-centric, secure, trackable, integrated, and inclusive update to our software. 

We are launching significantly enhanced features and capabilities to the TransACT^® ParentNotices interface. This is the next step in our overall mission to provide state departments of education, school district administrators, and local teachers with the latest technology to help manage compliance with parent and family engagement laws under ESSA, Section 504, and IDEA, as well as in service to students and families throughout our communities. 

Student achievement is the goal of any effective parent-school communications plan. Students perform better when parents and families play an active role in their education, and student outcomes across the district improve as a result of increased parent and family engagement. In an increasingly digital world, the method of delivery for parent communications (paper, email, portal, native apps, or text messaging) can have a surprising impact on parent engagement, and also equity initiatives within the district.

The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) made some significant changes to how schools are identified as "in improvement."

The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) shifted the responsibility for some requirements of federal mandates to be determined in ESSA States plans.  

This year, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) took full-effect, including the addition of monitoring visits by the federal government. It is imperative, not only to satisfy the legal requirements of ESSA, but also to fulfill the spirit behind the legislation: improving student outcomes for all learners.  

Your district can accomplish this by keeping the following items in mind: