It’s officially testing season, and across the country, schools are administering standardized assessments—from state tests to district-level benchmarks. This busy, high-stakes time requires clear communication and strong coordination to ensure students are prepared and families stay informed. Here are five impactful ways to use ParentSquare before, during, and after testing days to help everyone in your school community succeed.
1. Keeping families informed before test days
When parents and caregivers know what to expect, students arrive at school more prepared and less anxious. In the days and weeks leading up to testing, districts and schools can share posts with information like:
- Testing schedules
- Materials students should bring
- Study tips and resources for prep, including grade-level and subject-specific materials shared through pre-built Post templates
With automatic, real-time translation in 190+ languages, all families can receive clear and timely information in their home language.
Curriculum coordinators can create Post templates with study resources by grade level and subject to make it easy for teachers to share consistent, high-quality preparation materials with families. Teachers can also send personalized direct messages to parents and guardians with specific focus areas to help students with at-home test prep.
Tip: Schedule posts in advance to reduce last-minute stress for staff and help families receive timely reminders leading up to test days.
2. Helping families get students to school
Testing days are critical for both students and schools, and unexpected absences can impact performance, funding, and data accuracy. With Auto Notices, districts and schools can send automated, customized messages to families ahead of testing days and to notify them if their student misses school.
Auto Notices allow you to:
- Personalize messages with student-specific details
- Deliver across multiple channels including email, text, app, or voice
- Share logistical details like student and staff testing room assignments in advance
- Send automated absence notifications for students who miss testing days
For districts looking to take a more proactive, long-term approach to attendance, ParentSquare Attendance Plus builds on this foundation with tier-based outreach, two-way engagement, and built-in intervention tracking. Through consistent, ongoing support, Attendance Plus helps teams identify attendance challenges early and partner with families to improve attendance.
Sample message: Hi [Parent/Guardian Name], we hope [Student Name] is doing well. We noticed they weren’t at school today and wanted to check in. Today was the first day of testing, and assessments are an important part of [his/her/their] academic journey. We want to make sure [Student Name] has everything they need to succeed. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support your family, thank you!
Tip: Give families a heads up! Schedule Auto Notices a week or two before testing begins to give families time to plan, and enable responses so parents and guardians can easily follow up if needed.
3. Sending real-time updates on test days
Even the best-laid plans can shift on testing days. Whether it’s a room change, a delayed start, or a quick motivational message, schools need a reliable way to communicate with families in real time and in their preferred language.
With ParentSquare, schools can send real-time updates via Smart Alerts—a flexible messaging option designed for short, logistical announcements. Smart Alerts are:
- Delivered as text message*
- Ideal for short, time-sensitive updates
- Schedule-friendly so staff can prepare them in advance
*If text fails, a voice call will go out unless users enable Smart Alerts to be sent initially as both a text message and voice call.
Tip: Build Alerts in your Message Library ahead of time so they’re ready to go when you need them. Common use cases include:
- Late starts
- Bus delays
- School closures
- Power outage
- Last-minute testing location changes
4. Supporting student wellness
Testing season can be stressful for students and their families, but clear, compassionate communication can go a long way in helping everyone feel prepared. ParentSquare enables schools to share wellness-focused messages with all families while also connecting directly with those who may need additional guidance or support.
Ways to support students and families with ParentSquare:
- Share wellness tips like mindfulness strategies, healthy routines, test-day encouragement, and even reminders to eat breakfast each day!
- Securely send testing-related documents—such as accommodation details or 504 plan summaries—to families who need them
- Use direct messaging with two-way translation for quick, one-on-one check-ins in a parent or caregiver’s preferred language
Tip: Have your school counselor or support staff share a brief message with mindfulness tips or words of encouragement a few days before testing begins to help set a supportive tone for students and families.
5. Celebrating success and sharing results
When testing wraps up, it’s important to keep students and families informed—and recognize the effort it took to get there. ParentSquare makes it easy to send home results and celebrate student achievements.
Ways to support (and celebrate) the end of testing season with ParentSquare:
- Electronically send test results to families using Secure Document Delivery to save time and money by eliminating the need to print and mail paperwork
- Recognize student effort with direct messages to parents and caregivers or a quick phone call using Virtual Phone
- Highlight school- or grade-level milestones in your district or school newsletter
Tip: Principals can share a post with a short video message to celebrate students’ effort and engage families in a positive, uplifting way.
Planning for test retakes and continued support
Coordinating test retakes can be complex, especially for students who need additional support to meet standards.
Targeted communication can help families understand expectations and next steps, including:
- Confidential Groups to send targeted communication about test retake strategies and support plans
- Direct messages or Virtual Phone to connect with families about retake expectations and individualized support
- Calendar events to clearly communicate retake dates and additional opportunities for test prep
Once you close out testing season…
We know testing season can feel overwhelming for staff, students, and families alike. That’s why having a clear communication plan—and the right tools—makes all the difference. ParentSquare helps districts and schools streamline messaging, reduce day-of stress, and keep families informed and supported every step of the way.
Once testing is behind you, you’ll be one step closer to the end of the school year. We’re wishing you all the best as you navigate testing season and continue to support your school community!
Looking for a simpler, more effective way to manage all your school-home communications? Request a ParentSquare demo today.
This post was originally published in April 2025 and updated in March 2026 to reflect current ParentSquare features and best practices.
Frequently asked questions about using ParentSquare during testing season
How can schools communicate testing schedules and expectations to families?
Schools can share testing schedules, preparation tips, and reminders using district, school, or classroom posts. With scheduled posts and automatic translation, families receive timely, easy-to-understand information in their preferred language.
How can schools improve attendance and reduce absences during testing days?
Schools can use automated notifications to remind families about upcoming testing dates and follow up if a student is absent. Targeted, timely outreach helps families plan ahead and reinforces the importance of attendance during testing.
What’s the best way to send last-minute updates on testing days?
Real-time alerts are ideal for time-sensitive updates like schedule changes, delays, or location adjustments. These messages can be delivered quickly across multiple channels to ensure families stay informed.
How can teachers support families with test preparation?
Teachers can share study resources, preparation tips, and reminders through posts, and follow up with direct messages to highlight specific areas where a student may need extra support.
How can schools support student wellness during testing season?
Schools can share wellness tips, encouragement, and reminders to help students feel prepared and confident. Direct communication also allows staff to check in with families who may need additional support.
How can schools share test results with families?
Schools can send test results electronically using secure document delivery, so sensitive information can be shared while reducing administrative time and costs.
How should schools communicate about test retakes?
Targeted communication helps families understand retake expectations and next steps. Schools can use group messaging, direct outreach, and calendar events to share schedules, preparation plans, and available support.
How does ParentSquare support communication with multilingual families during testing?
Automatic, real-time translation allows schools to communicate with families in more than 190 languages, helping ensure all families receive consistent and accessible information throughout testing season.