Case Studies: ParentSquare and Schoology

For this analysis, I selected two educational apps currently used in my school district: ParentSquare and Schoology. ParentSquare serves primarily as a communication platform connecting schools and families, supporting timely information sharing and engagement. Schoology functions as a learning management system that allows teachers to share content, assign work, and interact directly with students in a digital learning environment.

ParentSquare

Overview: ParentSquare is a communication tool used across K–12 settings to connect families, teachers, students, and administrators. The app offers features like announcements, direct messaging, event sign-ups, and file sharing to keep school communities informed and connected.

User Engagement: Teachers use ParentSquare to send updates, reminders, and photos throughout the day. Parents can “like” or comment on posts, message teachers, and sign up for volunteer opportunities or conferences. In some districts, students also have access to the app, although it’s primarily used by parents and caregivers.

Communication: The platform’s core function is to facilitate communication. It allows users to stay connected anytime and from anywhere, supporting consistent communication between school and home.

Information consumption: Parentsquare provides convenience for school districts to be able to share updates and information in one place. Teachers, administrators, and coaches can post to individuals or groups at any time, which keeps families informed. However, some users have reported that this ability, while convenient for some, is a burden for others. Reports have shown that some users feel overwhelmed by the number of posts, especially when multiple messages arrive within a short period. Since new posts appear at the top of the feed, important information can easily get buried under other posts.

Impact on learning: ParentSquare supports learning by encouraging family involvement. When parents are aware of what’s happening in the classroom, they are better able to support their child’s academic success at home. Teachers can share notices about new content, missing assignments, or upcoming upcoming tests to study, allowing parents to continue the learning at home. 

Privacy and safety: According to its website, ParentSquare is compliant with state and federal safety laws, and limits access to verified users. The platform includes protections for user data, but schools are responsible for setting clear expectations around photo sharing and post monitoring to ensure student privacy is upheld.

Required Literacies: Users must be able to navigate the app, manage notification and post settings, write clear comments and messages through a computer or mobile device, understand what is appropriate to share publicly and how to manage privacy settings, interpret announcements including image and linked material, and how to use translation or accessibility settings as needed.  

Schoology

                                               

Overview: Schoology, part of the PowerSchool suite, is a learning management system used in many K-12 schools to support digital learning. It allows teachers to organize and deliver content, post assignments, track grades, and communicate with students, all in one place. Schoology is available for users to access on both computers and mobile devices.

User Engagement: Teachers use Schoology to share course materials, assign quizzes or writing tasks, and provide feedback. Students log in to view assignments, submit work, participate in discussions, and message teachers. Parents can also access a simplified view to monitor their child’s progress and deadlines.

Communication: Unlike ParentSquare, a platform designed to support home-school communication, Schoology focuses on the interactions between teachers and students. Teachers can post updates or announcements to the course page, send messages, and create interactive discussion boards. It supports learning both in the classroom and from afar. 

Information Consumption: Schoology includes several built-in organizational features designed to support ease of information consumption. Content can be arranged by course, organized into folders, and assigned due dates. Materials can also be hidden or published based on timing or student needs. The platform features a calendar and alert system to notify students of upcoming deadlines and newly posted assignments. However, both teachers and students must be able to navigate the platform’s tools effectively. When courses are not well-organized, pages can become cluttered, making it difficult for students to locate important information.

Impact on Learning: Schoology supports student achievement by providing continuous access to course materials and teacher feedback. It fosters independence, organization, and digital literacy. Students can catch up on missed work when absent or continue assignments at home when they need more time. Teachers can share multimodal content such as videos, documents, and interactive tools, and monitor student progress from anywhere. When used effectively, Schoology promotes student accountability and allows for differentiated instruction. However, students who struggle with executive functioning or lack consistent access to technology at home may fall behind without proper support navigating the platform.

Privacy and Safety: According to their website, Schoology is compliant with state and federal safety laws. It offers secure logins and user-specific permissions.  Teachers can limit what students see or post, and parent accounts are view-only. That said, districts are responsible for modeling digital citizenship, especially when using features like peer discussion or media uploads.

Required Literacies: To navigate Schoology, users must be able to access and navigate courses, folders, and calendars. Students must be able to interpret assignment directions and content, and have the management skills to keep track of multiple classes and due dates. Teachers and students must have communication skills to direct message, interact with discussion boards, and post announcements.

Reflection

ParentSquare and Schoology both support key goals of K–12 education by increasing access, communication, and engagement in different ways.

ParentSquare emphasizes involvement, helping families stay informed and connected to their child’s school experience. It promotes equity through features like translation services and the ability to communicate through modes like text or email. However, for the platform to be truly effective, schools must support families in developing the digital and communication skills needed to use it confidently. Educators can use ParentSquare to build strong relationships with families, celebrate student successes, and share any concerns that arise. Likewise, parents can use it to ask questions, express concerns, and remain active partners in their child’s education.

Schoology, on the other hand, is centered on the learning process itself. It helps students manage their assignments, access instructional materials, and develop independent learning habits. The platform prepares students for more independent academic work while giving teachers flexible tools to organize content, provide feedback, and monitor progress. Educators can use Schoology to scaffold learning, support digital literacy, and differentiate instruction. Parents can access their child’s schoology account to monitor engagement and offer academic support at home.

These platforms illustrate how, when used strategically, digital tools can extend learning beyond the classroom, foster strong school-family connections, and promote equity.

Resources:

ParentSquare. (n.d.). ParentSquare: Unify all communication tools. ParentSquare. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://www.parentsquare.com/

PowerSchool. (n.d.). Schoology Learning. PowerSchool. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://www.powerschool.com/solutions/personalized-learning/schoology-learning/