Albemarle County Public Schools recently launched a mobile app, the newest initiative in an ongoing effort to connect families with technological resources in the schools.
“An increasing percentage of parents and students receive information through their mobile devices,” Vincent Scheivert, the school division’s chief information officer, said in a news release. “It’s our hope our mobile app will make it easier and more convenient for our families to more fully participate in their child’s education.”
The app displays the school division’s social media feeds and provides access to parent and student portals. Users also can find information on upcoming school events, which they can customize to deliver notifications on the activities of a particular school or academy.
Albemarle plans to consider expanding the app over time, Scheivert said, with additions such as online course registration and alerts for weather-related closings and power outages.
The app can be downloaded at no cost from the Apple App Store, Google Play or through an icon on the school division’s home page.
In a separate agreement with Microsoft, students are also now able to download Microsoft Office 365 on their home computers. Scheivert said the service will aid student collaboration on projects outside the classroom.
Students can sign up for the free download at www.office.com/getOffice365.
“Our ultimate goal is to enhance the relationship between family and school and among families in a school,” Scheivert said.
Albemarle’s other recent technology initiatives include increased broadband access and one-to-one computer distribution for some students.
