Tools to Welcome Families Back to School

As the start of the new school year approaches, parents and students are likely feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Families need support as they navigate the back-to-school transition. Geospatial analytics tools such as Frontline Location Analytics with SchoolSearch technology can help families quickly locate their zoned schools based on where they reside or assist them in finding schools of choice based on program needs, school performance, distance from home, and many other variables that may be important to new or returning families in the community.

What Location Analytics Does for Families

With Frontline Location Analytics, families can quickly and easily find their child’s school options and understand program eligibility and placement. This can be especially helpful for families who are new to the district or who have recently moved. By simply entering an address or clicking on the map, families can see which schools are in their area and get directions to the one they need.

Additionally, districts can customize their application to include filters that allow parents to locate the nearest school that may offer a specific academic program of interest, such as a magnet or language program, S.T.E.M., before and after school care, or activities such as a robotics club. This is particularly helpful in districts with school choice and open enrollment opportunities.

Transportation eligibility is a crucial feature of any school district’s operations. For many families, especially those that live outside of walking distance of their assigned school, busing is a necessary service that ensures their children can access education, no matter their home address. With Location Analytics transportation eligibility functionality, parents can quickly and easily determine whether their child is eligible for busing based on their home address. This feature is crucial for families who may not have easy access to transportation and ensures that all students have equal access to education, regardless of their home location.

By providing parents with clear information about transportation eligibility, school districts can ensure that students get to school safely and on time, allowing them to focus on learning and achieving their full potential.

What Location Analytics Does for Districts

But the benefits of Frontline Location Analytics extend well beyond parents and students. With real-time data and analytics, districts can use this tool to understand their communities better and make data-driven decisions. With Location Analytics, you can quickly and easily combine different data sources into an interactive map to identify patterns and trends related to capacity, equity, access, enrollment, boundaries, resource placement, and more. You can easily create a district-wide view and drill down to a neighborhood or student-specific view in just a few clicks – no technical expertise is required.

Location Analytics is a powerful tool that can help districts answer critical location-based questions, make informed decisions, and communicate more effectively with stakeholders. You can also communicate more clearly and transparently by outlining program offerings, enhancing school board presentations, and supporting public forums and staff meetings with district personnel.

Location Analytics was recently used to help two communities in times of crisis.

A water main break in a neighborhood caused the families in that area to be without water. The district used Location Analytics to identify students’ families in the affected area, sent them communication immediately, and provided gallons of water until the crisis ended.

In another recent emergency, some students and their families were in danger, as determined by first responders. The district used the tool to identify those in the affected area, sent them communication immediately, and provided rerouting of buses, temporary housing, and safety to all in harm’s way.

A Frontline Location Analytics partner recently did just that! Their Frontline Advisory worked with the district to load a map overlay for them to identify areas of their district where students are the most vulnerable to not having any internet or reliable internet access. The district used Location Analytics to carve out those areas and work with broadband suppliers to provide free internet to those families and students.

At Frontline Education, we believe that every student deserves a safe, supportive, and welcoming school environment. With powerful tools like Frontline Location Analytics, we’re committed to helping districts and families work together to create just that. So as families gear up for the new school year, let Frontline Education be your partner in ensuring a successful transition back to school.