The end is in sight for paper permission slips, the ACT Government says. An online Parent Portal, a secure online platform, is being set up to share student information between ACT public schools and parents and carers.
“Parent Portal will make it easier for families to engage with their school by housing key information on one system,” Yvette Berry, ACT Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, said. “Families with students from preschool through to year 12 will be able to utilise this new platform.”
Through Parent Portal, parents and carers can:
- notify their school if their child is sick
- book parent-teacher interviews
- receive their child’s academic reports (including past reports)
- receive their school newsletter
- receive messages from their child’s teachers
- see their child’s student timetable
- get daily notices of school activities
- update contact details, and
- make payments.
“Initially, the Parent Portal will complement existing school communication channels,” Ms Berry said. “Eventually, it will be the key online communication tool used by all ACT public schools.”
Parents and carers with children at different schools will not need to sign up to the system twice; they will be able to easily add a student to their account once those schools have access to the Parent Portal.
Parent Portal was rolled out at Belconnen High School, Hawker College, Florey Primary, Margaret Hendry School, Giralang Primary, Fraser Primary, Aranda Primary, Macquarie Primary, and Kaleen Primary in term 4 2023 as a pilot for the platform.
All ACT public schools will have access to Parent Portal in a gradual roll out by term 2.
“Council’s P&C delegates were really impressed to see a recent demonstration of the Parent Portal, and its capabilities,” Veronica Elliott, executive officer of the ACT Council of Parents & Citizens Associations, said.
“Parents are looking forward to the roll-out of the portal to their local schools. It will make it easier for them to keep track of what’s happening, from explaining absences, excursions, and making payments. Parents will be cheering to not have to dig through school bags for lost notes.”
As Parent Portal becomes available, parents and carers will be told how they can access the platform.
School front office staff can assist parents and carers who cannot access the online tool, or who may need assistance due to language or other barriers.
For more information on beginning the sign-up process, parents and carers can visit the ACT Education Directorate website: https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/parent-portal.
