SchoolCenter Survey Reveals Demand for Best-in-Class Websites for K-12 Schools and Districts

Website Viewed as Critical to District's Image, Communication, and Community Engagement

CARBONDALE, Ill., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- SchoolCenter, the leader in K-12 strategic web solutions, today announced the results of an independent, nationwide survey of K-12 superintendents, IT directors and communications directors. According to these key decision makers, an effective website is a top priority and critical to community building, communication, and overall image for schools and districts.

Commissioned by SchoolCenter, the survey examines the priorities, preferences and challenges facing education decision-makers who influence the development and content of their web presence. The survey reveals overwhelming consensus around community building as the primary objective of a school or district website and creating a positive image as the top benefit.

While a majority of the respondents stated they have ample in-house resources, the appetite for a best practices approach to developing an effective and flexible web presence was strong. Most respondents surveyed indicated challenges with broadening the functionality of their sites such as deploying Web 2.0 tools and leveraging other emerging technologies. This trend highlights a growing interest in website improvements over the next 12-24 months.

"Today's K-12 decision makers recognize the critical necessity for a website that enhances communications and builds community involvement," said Mary E. McCaffrey, CEO of SchoolCenter. "Our analytical approach to developing a best-in-class website meets this need and enables schools and districts to achieve an interactive, innovative, and dynamic web presence that enhances collaboration inside and outside the classroom."

Key findings of the survey include:

School and district decision makers view their website as mission critical.

An effective website and highly effective web presence are important to schools and districts as indicated by more than 80 percent of survey respondents. According to these decision makers, the website plays a crucial role in creating a positive image and improving communication between all constituency groups within the district, including parents, teachers, and students. Respondents ranked community building and community engagement as the most important overall function of the district website.

Website spending will increase in 2010.

The survey results highlight the critical role of the website in everyday life for teachers, students, parents, administrators and the local community. More than 70 percent of respondents indicated they would be interested in learning about or having access to "best practices" around website development, usage and capabilities. As a result, despite limited budgets, most respondents plan to increase website spending in 2010. Website investment forecasts for 2010 are double that for 2009 with districts planning to spend a higher percentage of their overall website budget on website improvements, according to the study.

Priorities and preferences vary among decision makers.

According to the study, key decision makers - superintendents, IT directors, and communication directors - have varying priorities, challenges, and preferences when it comes to the district website.

• Superintendents tend to be less satisfied with the state of their existing websites with goals being met only half the time. These influencers planned significant website updates for 2010 and cited the largest anticipated budget spend of all three groups.
• The majority of IT directors expressed an interest in new approaches to outbound communications such as RSS, SMS and e-alerts, and were the most likely to say that district goals are being met by the current website.
• Communication directors exhibited the most interest in a website designed to build a positive image and improve communications among all constituents within the district.
  

The survey polled more than 80 K-12 leaders at schools and districts across the U.S. representing a segmentation of 32 percent Superintendents; 42 percent IT Directors; and 25 percent Communications Directors. Conducted by the independent research firm eRewards, the study was administered online in late July 2009.

For the complete summary of the survey findings, please contact Nicole Loring at nicole@0to5.com.

About SchoolCenter

SchoolCenter is the leading strategic web solutions company in the education market. With offices in Carbondale, IL, Sacramento, Chicago and St. Louis, SchoolCenter provides schools and districts with a proven approach to growing interactive K-12 environments that engage everyone. With more than 13 years experience, 6,000 schools and over a half a million users, SchoolCenter applies proven best practices to the development and implementation of strategic web solutions to ensure that all identified goals are met. SchoolCenter offers customized design services, scalable and flexible technology solutions, including both hosted and onsite alternatives, comprehensive training, ongoing support and a long-term commitment to customer success. For more information, please visit www.schoolcenter.com.

    Press Contact
    Nicole Loring
    617-834-2190
    nicole@0to5.com

SOURCE SchoolCenter

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