School Parent Communication

Is any special equipment needed to offer and use First2Know™?

Our budget is always tight. How much does First2Know cost?

How often can schools use the service?

When can the service be used?

How do school announcements reach families?

What if no one is at home to receive the school announcement?

Can First2Know be used in addition to other means now being used to communicate with families?

If a family's phone number is protected by a privacy manager program (call blocking service) will school announcements get through?

Can we assure families that their account information, phone numbers and email addresses will be secure and that confidential information will not be shared with third parties?

How are family and staff contact data set up?

Can we select which families are contacted when we send a message?

Each morning, our school calls the parents of any child who does not report to school. Can First2Know be used to make these calls?

Is any special equipment needed to offer and use First2Know?

No. Announcements are made from any standard telephone.
Our budget is always tight. How much does First2Know cost?

The price for First2Know is a low, fixed annual charge based on the number of students. There are no hardware or software costs, usage fees, or other charges. Please contact ust at 1-800-860-1261 Ext. 2467 for additional details.
How often can schools use the service?
Usage varies by First2Know package. Select from two packages:
- First2Know - schools can send up to 12 messages per year.
- First2Know Plus - send unlimited messages per year.
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When can the service be used?

First2Know is available for use 24/7. We recommend that emergency messages be sent as soon as information is available. For non-emergency reminders, messages can be recorded at your convenience and scheduled for delivery at any time. Most schools deliver non-emergency messages in the evening when families are most likely to be at home.

How do school announcements reach parents?

After the school official records and sends the First2Know announcement, parents' primary phone numbers are immediately called with the recorded voice message. The message is recorded on voicemail or an answering machine if there is no answer.

In emergency situations, messages are sent to a "Family Emergency Contact List" consisting of up to 4 phone number and 4 email addresses. The email instructs parents to call a toll-free number to hear the urgent school announcement.

What if no one is home to receive the school announcement?

If there is no answer, the school announcement will be left on voicemail or an answering machine. When there is no answering machine or voicemail service, First2Know will redial every fifteen minutes for up to three attempts.

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Can First2Know be used in addition to other means now being used to communicate with families?

Yes. Schools are encouraged to continue using other traditional means to reach families including radio and television broadcasts. First2Know is a valuable complement to existing methods as it can reach families more quickly and in more ways.
If a family's phone number is protected by a privacy manager program (call blocking service) will school announcements get through?

Yes, but only if the call blocking service is programmed to accept calls from First2Know.
Can we assure parents that their account information, phone numbers and email addresses will be secure and that confidential information will not be shared with third parties?

Yes. We have a strict privacy policy. Schools and families can be assured that personal information is secure and, under no circumstances, will phone numbers or email addresses be shared with third parties. Please see our Privacy & Security Notice for details.

How are family and staff contact data set up?

One primary phone number for each family and staff is extracted electronically from the school database. Multiple options are available for data setup and transfer.

Families have the option to have up to 4 phone numbers and 4 email addresses to receive emergency announcements. Families manage their own emergency contact list [exclusive feature of First2Know] by telephone or internet.

Can we select which families are contacted when we send a message?

Yes. Schools can send a message to all school families, to all families within a specific grade, or to more than 80 custom lists. The custom lists are set up by the school for groups including athletic teams, clubs, daily absentee calls -- any situation where families need information from the school.
Each morning, our school calls the parents of any child who does not report to school. Can First2Know be used to make these calls?

Yes. The school office can quickly select all absent students each morning and send a message to those families.


	Find Answers Is any special equipment needed to offer and use First2Know™? Our budget is always tight. How much does First2Know cost? How often can schools use the service? When can the service be used? How do school announcements reach families? What if no one is at home to receive the school announcement? Can First2Know be used in addition to other means now being used to communicate with families? If a family's phone number is protected by a privacy manager program (call blocking service) will school announcements get through? Can we assure families that their account information, phone numbers and email addresses will be secure and that confidential information will not be shared with third parties? How are family and staff contact data set up? Can we select which families are contacted when we send a message? Each morning, our school calls the parents of any child who does not report to school. Can First2Know be used to make these calls? Is any special equipment needed to offer and use First2Know? No. Announcements are made from any standard telephone. Our budget is always tight. How much does First2Know cost? The price for First2Know is a low, fixed annual charge based on the number of students. There are no hardware or software costs, usage fees, or other charges. Please contact ust at 1-800-860-1261 Ext. 2467 for additional details. How often can schools use the service? Usage varies by First2Know package. Select from two packages: First2Know - schools can send up to 12 messages per year. First2Know Plus - send unlimited messages per year. Back to Top When can the service be used? First2Know is available for use 24/7. We recommend that emergency messages be sent as soon as information is available. For non-emergency reminders, messages can be recorded at your convenience and scheduled for delivery at any time. Most schools deliver non-emergency messages in the evening when families are most likely to be at home. How do school announcements reach parents? After the school official records and sends the First2Know announcement, parents' primary phone numbers are immediately called with the recorded voice message. The message is recorded on voicemail or an answering machine if there is no answer. In emergency situations, messages are sent to a "Family Emergency Contact List" consisting of up to 4 phone number and 4 email addresses. The email instructs parents to call a toll-free number to hear the urgent school announcement. What if no one is home to receive the school announcement? If there is no answer, the school announcement will be left on voicemail or an answering machine. When there is no answering machine or voicemail service, First2Know will redial every fifteen minutes for up to three attempts. Back to Top Can First2Know be used in addition to other means now being used to communicate with families? Yes. Schools are encouraged to continue using other traditional means to reach families including radio and television broadcasts. First2Know is a valuable complement to existing methods as it can reach families more quickly and in more ways. If a family's phone number is protected by a privacy manager program (call blocking service) will school announcements get through? Yes, but only if the call blocking service is programmed to accept calls from First2Know. Can we assure parents that their account information, phone numbers and email addresses will be secure and that confidential information will not be shared with third parties? Yes. We have a strict privacy policy. Schools and families can be assured that personal information is secure and, under no circumstances, will phone numbers or email addresses be shared with third parties. Please see our Privacy & Security Notice for details. Back to Top How are family and staff contact data set up? One primary phone number for each family and staff is extracted electronically from the school database. Multiple options are available for data setup and transfer. Families have the option to have up to 4 phone numbers and 4 email addresses to receive emergency announcements. Families manage their own emergency contact list [exclusive feature of First2Know] by telephone or internet. Can we select which families are contacted when we send a message? Yes. Schools can send a message to all school families, to all families within a specific grade, or to more than 80 custom lists. The custom lists are set up by the school for groups including athletic teams, clubs, daily absentee calls -- any situation where families need information from the school. Each morning, our school calls the parents of any child who does not report to school. Can First2Know be used to make these calls? Yes. The school office can quickly select all absent students each morning and send a message to those families.
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