As the 2025-26 school year gets underway, Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) continues to roll out new communication tools to better connect families, staff and the community. 

In June, the district launched a new website and messaging system. Two additional platforms to strengthen home-school communications – the ACPS mobile app and Rooms – were officially introduced on Wednesday. 

The ACPS app is available for free download in the iOS App 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,” an ACPS release said. “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.” 

Rooms, meanwhile, is a secure, two-way messaging system built directly into the app and district website, allowing direct communication between families and teachers, principals, coaches and club sponsors. 

“With Rooms, families won’t need to juggle multiple platforms, apps, or logins,” the release said. “Notifications will be delivered automatically via text message – even for those who have not downloaded the app yet.”  

The online platform also includes built-in safety and moderation features, ensuring 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,” Interim Superintendent Kamela Patton said in the release. “We are excited to offer a more connected and user-friendly experience this school year.” 

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.