Frequently Asked Questions

ParentSquare is a communications platform created to help keep families and schools in communication with each other.  This will be an important way for families and staff to receive emergency messaging as well as important announcements from the district and schools. Through a phased implementation, ParentSquare will provide a more streamlined communication experience for staff and families. 

All SMSD parents/guardians, staff, and students in 7-12th grade will automatically be included in the ParentSquare platform. Families and students are connected through the district’s Student Information System, Skyward. Employees are connected through the district’s system Employee Online. You’re not required to register an account or download the app, but it is encouraged for better connectivity and more options for updating preferences. 

For families/parents/guardians: Go to parentsquare.com and sign in using the email address associated with your child’s account in Skyward. Then, follow the prompts. 

For staff: Go to parentsquare.com and sign in through Microsoft Sign In (“Sign in With Microsoft”). Use the email address associated with your account in Employee Online. 

Users who create an account will be able to experience more of the options and preferences offered by ParentSquare. 

Go to parentsquare.com and click “Forgot Password” 

Enter your email address or phone number and you will be sent a link to reset your password. Staff and Students will use their regular district login by using the Sign In with Microsoft button. Not a separate password.

For Families\Guardians\Parents:
1. Sign in with the email address or phone number you provided to the school or in Skyward. If you are unsure which email address or phone number, please contact your school office to confirm or seek assistance. 
2. Try using the Forgot Password link on the ParentSquare sign in page.

For Staff:
1. Use the Sign in With Microsoft button and login as you normally would on a district device.
2. If that is not working, please visit the Staff page to find the How-to Hub for more guidance or submit a web help desk ticket.

Accounts in Parent Square can be unmerged. If you are both a staff member and a parent/guardian the Shawnee Mission School District, click on your name on the top right corner (web version) or switch account (in the app). There, you will be able to add your second account. 

If you are a staff member and the contact email in Skyward for your child’s account is an smsd.org email address, we advise using a personal email address for your child’s account. Forwarding settings can be utilized as needed. 

• Log-in with your staff account using Microsoft Sign In (“Sign in With Microsoft”); and your parent/guardian account using the email address associated with your student in Skyward.
• Once both accounts are added, you can easily switch between accounts.

For more information, please view the following help articles (log-in required):

• Accounts Page Help Articles
• FAQ: Switch Accounts for Staff and Parent Accounts

To ensure you receive communication through the ParentSquare platform, add @parentsquare.com to your email safe sender list. ParentSquare provides information about how to apply SafeSender settings here. Click here for the ParentSquare link (log in required).

Parents Square is created to deliver messaging in the set language of a user’s device, but you also have an option to change the language. 

To change on a web browser: 

1. From Home, click your name at the top right and select My Account
2. On the left, select Language Settings
3. Click the drop-down menu and select your language and click save. 

To change from the ParentSquare app: 

1. From Home, tap the Menu (triple bars or hamburger) on the top left. 
2. Select Account
3. Select Preferences
4. Select Language
5. Scroll through the list and tap on your language. 

Click here for more details from ParentSquare. 

You may have accidentally blocked text messages from ParentSquare from your phone. 

Text START to 66458 to re-enable your text messages. 

If the problem continues, click the “?” in the upper right corner of ParentSquare to find help articles. 

If you block texts because you received too many of them, you can also adjust your notification settings in your ParentSquare account.

Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, individuals not associated with the school district will receive messages through the system. In this situation, please use the unsubscribe link provided. If you still receive messaging, but should not, please contact the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) help desk or email the communications office with the number or email account that has received messages in error.