Schools that switch to digital payments should embrace a centralized digital payment system so that all funds route through the same place, regardless of how or when someone pays. A quality digital payment system can still track cash payments, so there’s no need for a piecemeal approach that cobbles together several different apps. With a single system, schools reduce the risk of security issues and lost data.
As COVID-19 wreaks havoc globally, school districts face a new challenge: negotiating and issuing mass refunds for canceled field trips. The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently issued an enforcement notice to airlines that, even during the pandemic, must offer cash refunds for canceled or rescheduled flights within or from the United States. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in Canada has promised students and families that reimbursement for funds they raised for school trips and other canceled events due to COVID-19 will come as well.
Congress passed the staggering $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that includes waiver authority for the Secretary of Education to waive federally required testing and a host of other requirements. It also includes about $38 billion in funding for higher education and K-12 education.
Today, half of all bill payments are digital—and that number is expected to reach 75% by 2022. Consumers both want and expect digital payment options, parents and families included. Technology is empowering an increasing number of school districts to go cashless by offering digital payment options for fee collection.
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Choosing between fee management solutions can be a difficult and time-consuming process—especially on top of one’s primary responsibilities as a school administrator. ActivityRight is a student form and activity management solution with fee collection capabilities, approval workflows, and many other attributes not commonly found in fee management software. This article highlights key features and differentiators that are unique to ActivityRight to aid administrators in the vendor selection process.
Effective, two-way communication is essential in school districts for many reasons, from keeping parents and families updated on the latest information to complying with federal laws. Schools experience a number of benefits from having a strategic communication plan in place, and improving community relations within the district is one of the most significant. This article highlights how a detailed school communication plan (and the right vendor partner) can help improve community relations within districts.
Manual processes and data silos tend to lead to mistakes and inadequate financial oversight. However, when all of a school system’s data is integrated in one location, there is improved data accuracy and less room for error. Integrating accounting requirements into other departments in the school district helps make sure activity fees are accurately recorded and collected. Fees arrive in the bank account faster, as parents can pay directly from a mobile phone, and money is directed to a designated bank account determined by the accounting team. Eliminating cash payments means teachers and administrators no longer need to worry about collecting payments, learning accounting codes, or navigating the general ledger.
What does the modern school system look like? Technology is empowering many school districts today to explore paperless and cashless initiatives by offering digital options for fees, forms, and communication.
There are many benefits to investing in school management software—but it can still be hard to gain buy-in from stakeholders. Overall, school management software is both cost effective and convenient—it saves time that would otherwise be wasted on manual, inefficient processes and streamlines everything from communication to internal workflows and improves parent and family engagement throughout school districts. Here are some items to consider and share with stake-holders to help gain the buy-in needed to implement a school management solution at your school or district.
ActivityRight and InviteRight are members of the TransACT family of brands. We have proudly been serving the K-12 community for more than 20 years. To learn more about our host of engagement, compliance, and payment solutions see: TransACT, 21CCLC, McKinney-Vento, CampusRight, & OneCampus.
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