School Pathways Launches Module to Unify K-12 Family Communication

CHICO, CA – January 06, 2026 – Education technology company School Pathways today announced the launch of its new Communications Module, a centralized messaging platform designed to streamline how schools and districts engage with families and staff. The new tool, which integrates directly into the company’s existing Student Information System (SIS) suite, aims to consolidate the often-fragmented channels of communication into a single, manageable hub.

For years, educators have navigated a patchwork of tools to keep parents informed—from third-party messaging apps and email clients to phone calls and paper flyers. This new module from School Pathways enables users to send personalized messages, schoolwide announcements, and event reminders via email, SMS, or both, directly from one interface. The goal is to reduce the administrative burden on teachers and administrators while ensuring that critical information reaches families consistently.

"Strong communication between schools and families provides the groundwork for student success," said Kacie Jester, CEO of School Pathways, in the official announcement. "With our new Communications Module, educators can reach the right people at the right time in the way that works best for them, while spending less time juggling multiple platforms."

Entering a Competitive Arena

The launch positions School Pathways in a competitive K-12 communications market dominated by established players like Remind and ParentSquare. These platforms have gained significant traction by offering comprehensive solutions that include mass notifications, two-way messaging, and language translation. Remind, used in a vast majority of U.S. schools, offers a tiered pricing model that can range from $4,000 to $15,000 annually for a school, while ParentSquare offers its unified platform with a minimum subscription of $3,000 per year.

School Pathways' strategy appears to center on deep integration. By building the Communications Module directly into its SIS Suite, the company offers a potential advantage: a single source of truth for student data and communication logs. This eliminates the need for separate rostering processes or data syncing with third-party apps, a common pain point for IT administrators. Key features of the new module include personalized messaging using data fields from the SIS, bulk messaging capabilities for classes or entire schools, a two-way SMS inbox to manage conversations, and detailed message history and delivery tracking.

Tailored for Diverse Learning Environments

With over two decades of experience, School Pathways has carved out a niche by serving charter, non-traditional, virtual, and Independent Study programs. These educational models often have more complex logistical and communication needs than traditional schools, from managing virtual instruction to tracking student progress in hybrid settings. The company’s existing solutions have been praised by clients for this specialized focus.

For instance, Visions In Education, an academy managing thousands of students in virtual and Independent Study programs, reported increased instructor efficiency and improved compliance management after adopting School Pathways' SIS. Similarly, Western Sierra Charter School utilized the platform to overcome the challenges of integrating disparate technologies. The new Communications Module is a logical extension of this philosophy, designed to address the unique engagement challenges of non-traditional schools where the school-home connection is paramount but can be harder to maintain.

"With more than 20 years of experience supporting charter and non-traditional schools, we understand the need for tools that save educators time while deepening family connections," Jester noted. "The Communications Module delivers on both fronts."

Integration and Data Privacy as Cornerstones

In today's EdTech ecosystem, no platform is an island. School Pathways emphasizes its commitment to an open ecosystem, boasting integrations with over 50 popular applications, including Learning Management Systems like Canvas and Google Classroom, assessment tools such as NWEA and i-Ready, and data-syncing services like Clever and ClassLink. This integration capability is crucial for schools seeking to create a seamless digital environment without being locked into a single vendor's suite of products.

Equally important is the issue of student data privacy. As schools collect more student information, ensuring its security and proper use is a critical responsibility. School Pathways publicly addresses this through its K-12 Privacy Pledge, committing to responsible stewardship of student data. The pledge explicitly states the company will not sell student personal information, use it for behavioral ad targeting, or build personal profiles beyond what is necessary for educational purposes. This commitment aligns with the principles of federal regulations like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), providing a layer of assurance for school districts evaluating new technology partners.

While the new module is just launching, feedback on the company's broader SIS suite offers a glimpse into the user experience. Many users have lauded the platform and its customer support, with one describing it as "designed specifically for our needs." However, some reviews have pointed to a steeper learning curve, with one user noting that the SIS was "not as streamlined and user-friendly as I had hoped." The success of the Communications Module will likely depend on its ability to deliver a powerful, integrated experience that is also intuitive and easy for busy educators to adopt and use effectively.