Every student and parent is interested in knowing what features a school management system has. Schools can find several useful features in some of these systems. The most valuable features will be listed here so you can get an idea of how they work and what type of benefits they bring to the table. These school management system features include:
Academic Calendar
Having an academic calendar is crucial because it shows the daily schedule for students. It also indicates whether there are recitals, exams, activities, and other major events where many people will be attending. This way, parents will know what their children need to bring that day or if they should pick them up immediately.
Notification System
For school management systems, there are apps available where teachers can have access. This system sends notifications or reminders through texts so the teacher will not forget the tasks they need to do for their students. Two types of notifications can be allowed by school management systems: Push Notifications and Email Notifications. Push notifications are sent directly to the app, while email notifications are sent to the predefined email address.
Communication Tools
Out of all the different school management system features, communication tools is one of the most crucial ones. There are usually different ways of communication for school management systems that teachers and students can access. This includes an interactive chat system where teachers and students can communicate with each other within the school’s network. Generally, both parties will use their email address to send messages back and forth. Communication facilities also come with customizable chat rooms, perfect for teachers who want to meet with students or parents.
Reporting Tools
The reporting capabilities of school management systems are flexible enough to get reports from attendance, grades/scores, and student performance. You can even get financial statements and staff performance reports that will help you monitor the daily activities of your people.
Collaboration Tools
Collaboration is also accessible through school management systems because teachers can interact with each other, whether it’s about a lesson plan, classroom management issues, or even school administration concerns. Usually, both parties will use their email address to communicate with each other.
Online Payment System
If your school management system has an online payment system, you can allow parents to pay for their children’s tuition or fees right through the app/system itself. For instance, parents can pay using their credit cards or debit cards connected to the school management system. Most schools advise parents not to send cash to avoid the risk of forgetting the money inside their child’s bag/book.
Inventory
When it comes to school management systems, inventory is very efficient and useful in preventing theft. You can tell what items you have and in which part of the building they are in, so there will be no mix-ups when picking up the item you need.
Data Storage
If you use a cloud-based school management system or a web-based app, you can store all the data you need to use or share with others. School staff can use it for scheduling purposes, documents, forms, grades/scores, reports, etc.
Staff Management
Most school management systems have staff management tools that students can use to determine who their teachers are and what class they (the students) are in. It can also indicate their daily timetable, contact details, and any online resources they may need for class.
Attendance Management
You can check who didn’t attend a class that day and issue tardy slips through attendance management. Administrators may also ask for an explanation as to why they missed their classes. Some school systems allow teachers to give make-up work for students who missed a class/day because of illness. You can even use an online attendance tracker implemented in your school management system to update the data every day/hour. In addition, you can also have attendance alerts to notify teachers and administration that a student has missed class.
Grade Book
If your school management system has a grade book feature, you don’t need to rely on keeping track of grades on paper. Just input the student’s name and individual grades into the system and then calculate their total grades once the assignments are entered in the gradebook. This can also be used as an assessment record, so teachers will know what needs improvement.
Event Management
School events can be a huge undertaking, so you need to prepare well in advance. Good thing most school management systems have event features that allow teachers and administrators to schedule meetings, submit requests, and manage guests who will attend the event. Teachers are also given the freedom to customize invitations for their students.
Events are very important because they bring students together, help them socialize with each other, and let everyone have fun. Parents can also be invited to attend these events using a school management system.
In conclusion, school management systems have many valuable features that can help schools improve their work and even attract more students in the future. If you want to revolutionize your education system and make it more efficient and productive in the process, then you need to use a school management system.
Just make sure that whatever app or software you choose has the features you need so your staff doesn’t have to waste time learning how to use it. Very few school management systems are easy-to-use, but school administrators should prioritize the ones that are.
SchoolCues is an all-in-one school management system for small schools with limited budgets and resources. Our solutions include admissions and enrollment, online payments, student information system, gradebook, communications, parent engagement, donations and fundraising, alumni management and more. Schedule a demo with us today.
