NEW YORK—Parents with text-enabled now have a new tool for keeping up with school news—a text messaging system can now send students’ school schedules, lunch menus, and even test scores and grades.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott announced the new program Thursday, on the first day of school.
“This new service is part of our work to make our school system more responsive to the modern-day needs of both students and parents,” Bloomberg said from the library of New Settlement Campus in the Bronx.
Parents who wish to participate can enroll by texting “nycschools” to 877-877.
Bloomberg also said the Department of Education would continue to fight absenteeism through the NYC success mentor corps, which sends an automated call to the homes of those who don’t make it to school on time. The pre-recorded calls come from sports stars, and even Mayor Bloomberg.
Absenteeism rates dropped 27 percent in participating elementary schools last year.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
