Redesigned HISD district website goes live

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Welcome to the new HISD website.

The district’s new mobile-friendly website is designed to be more easily navigated and viewed from mobile devices. The way people access the internet is constantly evolving, and according to research, more people are relying on cell phones and other mobile devices to access important information.

Over the past several years, visits to the HISD website from mobile devices have been steadily increasing. During the 2013–2014 school year, there were 2.6 million website sessions initiated from mobile devices. In 2014-2015, that number grew to 3.5 million, an increase of nearly 35 percent.

The Communications Department held several focus groups during the past six months to gather feedback from parents, staff, and community members in developing the new website design. The improved navigation to the district’s most popular pages – school calendars, students’ grades, lunch menus, bus schedules, and volunteer information is a reflection of that important input.

“I am constantly on the go, so I rely on my cell phone to access various information on the HISD website,” said HISD volunteer and parent Monica Richart. “For example, I need to be able to find volunteer opportunities quickly. People want to help out at the schools and make donations, but they often don’t know how to do that.” That type of feedback guided the development of the website.

The new mobile-friendly website will be available in Spanish as well. More than 60 percent of HISD students are Hispanic, so the goal is to ensure that all families are able to access important resources.

In addition to the redesigned district website, all 283 HISD school websites are being updated to a mobile-friendly format to better serve our parents and students. This process will be underway throughout the upcoming school year.

The new website features compelling photographs, reader-friendly icons, and a streamlined presentation that will continue to keep parents, employees, and community members up-to-date on the latest HISD news, events, and success stories.

We welcome your comments and suggestions below.

from News Blog http://ift.tt/1OEdn0d