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January 12, 2023 • read

Engage Families and Cut Costs with Paperless Schedules & Report Cards

Cassidy Downs
PR Pro, Recreational Writer, Edvocate

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Today we're shining the spotlight on one of your fellow Skyward school districts, Pekin Consolidated High School District 303 (PCHS) in Illinois. The switch to paperless schedules and report cards helped this district move away from manual processes toward a more efficient, sustainable future.

Let’s take a look at their story, and how your district can enjoy similar time and monetary savings too!


Pekin School Statistics

Note: Enrollment and other figures are accurate as of the time this story was written.

Once upon a time at PCHS, students and families did not have a quick option for checking grades or class schedules. When each semester began, students received paper copies of their schedules as they tried to make their way through congested hallways. Report cards presented another burden of printing, folding, sealing, and rising postage costs.

The district knew it was time for a change. They decided to implement Family Access and Student Access to see if these portals could help transport them into a world of simpler operations.

Fortunately, the district’s transition was a smooth one. They enjoyed a host of benefits from the get-go including:

  • Paperless schedules, report cards, and progress reports
  • Grades available to students and parents faster
  • An increase in guardians contacting teachers to discuss student progress
  • Students checking their own grades and becoming more proactive in their education
  • Reduced volume of mail sent from and returned to the district office
  • Significant time and monetary savings
Now when we say significant savings, we mean it! In fact, the district’s business office clerk, Heidi Cooper, said they’re now saving between $8,000 and $9,000 a year just on postage for report cards and progress reports!

Administrator Quote

Thanks to Pekin’s switch to Family and Student Access, paper schedules, mailed report cards, and high postage costs are all a thing of the past. If your district is still struggling with scenarios like these, you too may want to consider the switch to Family and Student Access. The time and money saved could be significant!


You can check out Pekin’s full story here and get more ideas for transforming your district. Contact us if you need help getting started!


 


Thinking about edtech for your district?
We'd love to help. Visit skyward.com/get-started to learn more.

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About the author
Cassidy Downs
PR Pro, Recreational Writer, Edvocate

Cassidy is the public relations specialist at Skyward, where she promotes a positive image in the K12 education software landscape through marketing tasks, success stories, and news monitoring. She also enjoys dabbling in writing, researching, and collaborating with her team of writers to explore and share edtech trends. 



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