New Website and Communications Platform Coming this Summer!

Arlington Public Schools is Excited to Launch New Website and Communications Platform this Summer

ParentSquare

ParentSquare, which will launch Aug. 1, will replace School Messenger, Talking Points and several other texting and email platforms as the new division-wide communication platform. ParentSquare will allow APS to unify communication from the division, schools and classrooms to Pre-K-12 families under one umbrella.

With ParentSquare families will be able to:

  • Receive messages from school via email, text or mobile app.
  • Choose to receive information as it comes (Instant) or all at once (daily digest).
  • Communicate in your preferred language.
  • Two-way texting with automated translation between staff and families.
  • Receive attendance notifications with the option to send in a digital note to excuse your student’s absence.
  • Sign up for parent-teacher conferences.
  • Cuts down on parent confusion and message overload ​(1 app vs. many).
  • Improved automatic translation into multiple languages.
  • Sign permission slips and more all from your computer or mobile device.

ParentSquare is a unified communications platform to communicate with families. This includes emergency messages as well as everyday information closely related to the school’s educational mission.

New APS Website

APS will launch its redesigned website on July 1. The last APS website redesign happened in 2016, well beyond the website industry standard of 3-5 years.

The redesign will address a common complaint about the current website, that it is difficult to find information because there is so much available. The new website will provide revamped navigation centered on student and family needs. This will make it easier to find the most-requested information like registration processes, school boundary zones, and student health and wellness information.

The new design also shifts to a more graphics-oriented, intuitive layout which should make navigation easier for all audiences.

The website will maintain many of its essential features including instantaneous translation, compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 accessibility standards, interactive calendars, and quick access to common tools.

After the division website launches on July 1, staff will begin the process of rolling out the new design to school sites. All 39 school sites will have been upgraded to the new design by the end of the 2023-24 school year.