MYTH BUSTED: Families Don’t Answer the Phone

Building Trust Through Personalized School Communication

To truly connect with families, schools must establish their identity as real, approachable people. An unknown number is easy to ignore, but a call from Ms. Stewart, your child’s second-grade teacher, is one families are more likely to answer. Transitioning from an “unknown caller” to a saved contact builds trust, credibility, and empathy between schools and families.

Eliminate “Unknown Caller IDs”

When an “unknown caller” appears, 67% of us won’t answer. We hesitate because of rampant scam calls, robocalls, or data breach fears. However, receiving information from a known and trusted source is different—we pay attention. Ensuring your school’s communications are recognizable can significantly increase family engagement.

Communication That Fits Families’ Needs

Parents are busy balancing work, personal commitments, and their children’s schedules. While they may not always have time for a call, that doesn’t mean they lack interest. The key is communicating in a way that works for them.

Start by sending a welcome text at the beginning of the school year, introducing yourself and asking families to save your name and number. This simple step shifts the dynamic, ensuring your messages stand out. Once saved, make sure your communications are timely, relevant, and accessible in families’ preferred languages.

If phone calls are hard to get through, consider texting. With a 99% read rate, text messages are an excellent way to ensure your information is seen. Tools like SchoolStatus Connect can even translate messages into the family’s preferred language, ensuring inclusivity and understanding.

Bridging Communication Gaps

Combining phone calls with emails or text messages, tailored to family preferences, bridges common communication barriers like language, time constraints, or scheduling conflicts. By doing so, schools can foster stronger, more connected relationships with families.

With SchoolStatus Connect’s integrated communication hub, you can easily track if messages are delivered and read, access call logs, and confirm that families receive important updates. This streamlined approach helps everyone stay informed and engaged.

The Power of Meaningful School-Family Relationships

Breaking the myth that families won’t answer their phones starts with evaluating how we communicate. By prioritizing clarity, trust, and personalization, schools can create stronger bonds with families. Once this connection is established, families will feel empowered to engage with you.

Looking for more strategies to build meaningful relationships with families? Check out our blog on Tips for Making Positive Phone Calls to Parents.

SchoolStatus Connect: Your Partner in Effective Communication

See how SchoolStatus Connect can transform your school’s communication by:

• Enabling two-way dialogue with families
• Bridging language and accessibility gaps
• Simplifying communication tracking
• Encouraging family involvement
• Delivering the right message in the preferred language
• Reducing manual work with automated tools

SchoolStatus is a unified K-12 platform that empowers districts and schools to improve communication, attendance, and engagement. With over 200 million successful interactions and millions of users, SchoolStatus drives impactful results for districts across the U.S.Stay Informed
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