Automatic Absence Notifications to Parents
Set up instant alerts that notify parents automatically when their child is marked absent.
Automatic Absence Notifications to Parents
TL;DR: When a teacher marks a student absent, parents get an instant SMS, email, or in-app notification. No manual effort needed — it's fully automated.
Enabling Absence Notifications
- Go to Settings → Attendance → Notifications.
- Toggle "Notify Parents on Absence" to ON.
- Choose channels:
- ☐ SMS (requires SMS provider setup)
- ☐ In-App Notification (Parent Portal/PWA)
- Set timing:
- Immediate — Sent as soon as attendance is submitted
- Batched — Sent at a specific time (e.g., 10:00 AM after all classes are marked)
Customizing the Message
Go to Settings → Attendance → Notification Template:
Default Template
Dear {parent_name}, your child {student_name} ({class}-{section})
was marked absent today ({date}).
If this is unexpected, please contact the school.
- {school_name}
Available Variables
{parent_name}, {student_name}, {class}, {section}, {date}, {school_name}, {school_phone}
Notification Types
| Trigger | Message | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Absent | "Your child was absent today" | SMS + Email + In-App |
| Late | "Your child arrived late at {time}" | In-App only (default) |
| Left Early | "Your child left school at {time}" | SMS + In-App |
| Consecutive Absences | "Your child has been absent for 3 consecutive days" | SMS + Email |
Configuring Each Trigger
- Go to Settings → Attendance → Notification Rules.
- Enable/disable each trigger type.
- Set channels for each (SMS may cost, in-app is free).
Consecutive Absence Alerts
Set up escalation for extended absences:
| Days Absent | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 day | Standard absence notification |
| 3 consecutive | Escalated SMS: "3 days absent, please contact school" |
| 5 consecutive | Alert to class teacher + admin |
| 10 consecutive | Flag for follow-up action |
Parent Experience
When a parent receives an absence notification:
- They see the message via SMS, email, or push notification.
- Clicking the link opens the Parent Portal.
- They can:
- View today's attendance
- Submit a leave reason
- Message the class teacher directly
Troubleshooting
Q: Parents aren't receiving notifications. A: Check: (1) SMS balance/provider configured, (2) Parent phone number is correct, (3) Notifications are enabled in Settings.
Q: Notifications sent for holidays. A: Attendance shouldn't be marked on holidays. Check your holiday calendar in Settings → Academic Year → Holidays.
Q: Can parents opt out? A: Parents can manage notification preferences from their portal. Schools can also exclude specific parents from SMS notifications.
Keep parents informed and build trust. Set up notifications today.