Alachua County Public Schools launches new tools to keep families, schools connected

Press release from Alachua County Public Schools

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – As the 2025–26 school year begins, Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) is introducing new and improved communication tools designed to make it easier for families, staff, and the community to stay informed and connected.

Earlier this summer, the district launched a redesigned website at alachuaschools.net and replaced its previous mass messaging system (Skylert) with a new system called Alerts. The district’s contracts with the vendors for both the website and messaging system ended on June 30, 2025.

Two additional platforms to strengthen home-school communications officially launched August 13. They include:

The new Alachua County Public Schools mobile app, which is available for free in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. With the app, families, students, staff, and community members can access school messages, calendars, lunch menus, and more — all from a single, customizable platform. Users can choose to follow one or more schools to receive only the information that’s most relevant to them, and enabling notifications will ensure they never miss an important update.

Built directly into the new app and the district website, Rooms is a secure, two-way messaging platform that allows direct communication between families and teachers, principals, coaches, and club sponsors. Whether it is a class announcement, a team message, or a private conversation, Rooms simplifies and streamlines school communication.

With Rooms, families won’t need to juggle multiple platforms, apps, or logins. Notifications will be delivered automatically via text message — even for those who have not downloaded the app yet. The platform also includes built-in safety and moderation features to ensure all communication meets district standards for security and accessibility.

“By bringing everything into one clear and consistent system, we are making it easier for families to stay engaged with their child’s education,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kamela Patton. “We are excited to offer a more connected and user-friendly experience this school year.”