Program will offer information such as calendar updates, reminders and tips on how to access school resources
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott will mark the first day of classes by visiting a public school in each borough.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Now, Staten Island parents can have information on their child's school sent to the palm of their hand.
Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Dennis Walcott Thursday announced the launch of a school information text message service for parents.
The revelation came on back-to-work day for the city's 1.1 million public school students.
Click here for coverage of Staten Island public school students returning to class.
The texting program will offer information such as calendar updates, reminders and tips on how to access school resources.
You can enroll by texting "nycschools" to 877-877.
"The new school year is a new opportunity to build on the important progress we have made over the last several years, and working with schools, students and their families, we will do better this year than ever before," said Bloomberg. "That work starts by doing more to make sure parents have the information they need to help their children succeed - even when they are on the go."
The new mobile texting program is the latest tool the Department of Education has developed to deliver information about public schools and programming to parents and families.According to the 2010 and 2011 annual parent School Survey, receiving information through electronic communication is the first choice of parents across age-groups, boroughs, income-levels and ethnicity.
The mobile updates will include the issues parents who responded to the survey indicated as priority: The school calendar; information on how to enroll in school programs; breakfast and lunch menus; and tips on how to log onto ARIS Parent Link - a web resource with student attendance, test score and grade data.
"We expect success because we know our students can achieve it, and we are making investments to help fulfill their potential," Bloomberg said.
Walcott will mark the first day of classes by visiting a public school in each borough. He and Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) are expected at Staten Island Technical High School Thursday afternoon.