Schools That Include Students in Communications See 56% Better Attendance
New research validates the impact of adding students as direct recipients of school messages
SACRAMENTO, CA, August [DATE], 2025—New research confirms that including students as recipients of school communications improves attendance and builds stronger school communities. A new survey and report from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), SchoolStatus, and Smore found that 56% of communication professionals who include students in school messages report attendance improvements, while 59% report increased student connectedness to their school.
The findings highlight an opportunity for schools using communication platforms to expand their reach. While 97% of surveyed K-12 communication professionals regularly communicate with families about student progress, only 3% consistently include students in these communications.
“Newsletter creators and school communicators have a unique opportunity to reshape how schools connect with their communities,” said Dr. Kara Stern, Director of Education at SchoolStatus and Smore. “When students receive direct communication about their attendance or progress through the same channels as their parents, they become active participants in their education rather than passive subjects of parent-school conversations.”
What Communication Professionals Report
Survey respondents who include students in their communication strategies, whether through newsletters, alerts, or digital messages, shared consistent outcomes.
Student voices build community. When schools feature student stories and perspectives in newsletters, websites, social media, and direct communications, 59% of surveyed professionals report that students feel more connected to their school community. This authentic content resonates with both student and parent audiences.
Direct communication strengthens family engagement. Nearly half (45%) of survey respondents say family engagement improves when students receive school communications alongside their parents. Students help interpret school messages and advocate for school initiatives at home, creating more meaningful dinner table conversations about school.
Including students improves attendance. Among survey participants who send attendance notifications directly to students, 56% report measurable improvements. Students who receive these messages understand their school notices and values their presence.
Practical Implementation for School Communicators
For schools already using digital communication platforms, adding students as recipients often requires just a simple adjustment to distribution lists and message framing. The impact, however, extends far beyond the technical change.
Read Students Are Listening. Are We Talking to Them? for a more in-depth look at:
- How to build a student-informed communication approach, and the data proving it works
- Steps you can take to include student voice in your communications
- The systems you’ll need to create a culture change in school communications
This free eBook also includes downloadable resources for communication teams ready to include students:
- Student connection audit templates to assess current communication practices
- Story-sharing forms to gather authentic student voices for newsletters
- Step-by-step implementation guides based on successful district examples
- Sample message templates for different grade levels and communication channels
- Tips for adapting existing parent communications to include student recipients
“Our goal is simple: more kids in class, period,” said Dr. Stern. “These tools help districts and schools make a simple but powerful shift from talking about students to talking with them. Every newsletter, every announcement, every celebration becomes an opportunity to reinforce that students matter and their presence counts.”
Download Students Are Listening. Are We Talking to Them? for free here.
About Smore
Smore makes it fun and effortless to create engaging, accessible newsletters that keep families informed and involved in their children’s education journey. The team at Smore is passionate about empowering K-12 educators, schools, and districts to foster strong connections with families through vibrant, user-friendly newsletters, easy-to-use technology, and resources from education experts.
About SchoolStatus
SchoolStatus gives educators the clarity and tools they need to get students to class and keep them moving ahead. The robust portfolio of solutions improves attendance, increases family engagement, supports educator development, and enhances administrative efficiency for thousands of districts and over 22 million students across all 50 states.
Media Contact:
Annmarie Ely
0to5 for SchoolStatus + Smore
267.454.4686
[email protected]
