Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 1/4/2024 - 6:30 PM
Category: New Business and Reports to the Board
Type: Info
Subject: Parent Square Implementation Update
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 3: Student Accessibility and Support
ACPS will ensure students have equitable access to and engagement with programs and supports that reduce barriers to learning.
Goal 5: Family and Community Engagement
ACPS will ensure that all families and community members feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
Policy:
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
240104_Memo_ParentSquareUpdate_v2.pdf
240104_Presentation_Parent Square Update_v2.pdf
Agenda Item Summary: Since its implementation in 2022-23, ParentSquare has helped expand communication with families and staff across the division. Key accomplishments and year-to-date performance data for 2023-24, including contactability, language access and feature usage are shared in this update.

The platform is currently in use in all schools and across departments. 16,038 (99%) students
have at least one family member receiving ParentSquare notifications. 11,732 (73%) students
have at least one parent with a registered ParentSquare account and full access to its features.
83% of school-based staff have activated their accounts. Communications are delivered in eleven
languages, which is twice as many as the number of the division’s official languages. Several system enhancements have been implemented or are planned to increase use and efficiency for staff, including shifting the primary staff data source from MUNIS to PowerSchool, syncing counselor caseloads at the secondary level and automating required attendance threshold notifications.
Background: Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) launched the unified communications platform ParentSquare in SY 2022-23 to encourage a stronger school to home connection. The platform replaced the division’s previous mass notification system and became the primary method for school-based newsletters, classroom communications and two-way messaging, conference scheduling, event registration, volunteer sign-ups and staff communication.
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the information about the ongoing implementation of the ParentSquare platform.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Julia Burgos - Chief of School and Community Relations
Signed By:
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt - Superintendent