Unit 5 will transition to ParentSquare as its primary district- and building-level communication tool for the 2026-2027 school year, replacing SchoolMessenger and Talking Points. ParentSquare is a robust platform that offers interactive messaging, instant translations, and the option to download an app. Board of Education members approved a three-year contract with ParentSquare, which is set to roll out for the 2026-2027 school year.
After hearing feedback this past school year from families who were overwhelmed by the number of communication tools used across buildings and classrooms, the district launched a robust search for a tool that could serve as a one-stop shop for families to receive district, school, and classroom information.
ParentSquare offers several features designed to improve communication and family engagement. In addition to one-way and two-way messaging, ParentSquare provides a daily digest that limits the number of notifications families receive during the day. Other features will allow teachers to send sign-ups, forms, and calendar invites all within the ParentSquare hub. For the first time, Unit 5 will also have an app, hosted by ParentSquare. Within the app, families can see all district and building announcements and how they receive communication.
Adopting ParentSquare enables the district to continue consolidating its communication streams and, in doing so, better meet the needs of families, as was promised in the strategic plan. There will be two exceptions to adoption for the 2026-2027 school year: Elementary-level teachers will continue to be permitted to use Class Dojo if preferred, and athletics may continue to use Snap App. All other communication is expected to come through ParentSquare.
This content is sourced from
McLean County Unit District 5
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
