📝 If you are a teacher in a school or district with a paid TalkingPoints partnership, this update does not apply to you. SMS text messaging will remain available for your families, and for your TalkingPoints partnership.
Starting October 19, 2026, SMS text messaging is retiring for free, individual TalkingPoints Teacher accounts. Families connected to these accounts will need the free TalkingPoints Family app (or web) to keep receiving messages.
What's changing
Nothing changes about how you use TalkingPoints. You'll keep sending messages the same way you do today. What's changing is how families receive them. After October 19, families will get your messages in the free TalkingPoints Family app instead of by text.
Who this affects
Account type | What happens on Oct 19 |
Free personal Teacher account | SMS messaging retires. Families must use the app or web to receive messages. |
Paid school or district partnership | No change. SMS messaging remains available. |
Timeline - What to do next
Now through October 19, 2026: Invite families to download the app. Messages can still go out by text as usual in the meantime.
October 19, 2026: SMS retires for free accounts. Families not yet on the app will stop receiving new messages until they download it.
How to prepare
Share the app with families. Use your [class code], share or print this flyer, or share the QR codes on the flyer to make it easy to download the app.
Point families to download links directly:
Encourage families to turn on notifications in the app so they don't miss a message.
What families gain with the app
Every message in their preferred language — 150+ languages supported.
Instant notifications, so nothing gets missed.
Photo and video sharing directly with teachers.
"Help Me Understand," which explains school jargon and education terms in plain language.
Text-to-speech and speech-to-text for easy messaging.
FAQ
What resources can I share with families about the app?
Use this one-pager flyer that introduces the app and includes QR codes to help them download the app. Or point them to this web site.
Will families lose any messages?
No. Message history stays intact — families just need to access it through the app or web instead of text going forward.
What if a family doesn't have a smartphone?
Families can also use TalkingPoints on the web — no app download required.
Can families keep getting texts if they ask for it?
Not on a free individual Teacher account. Text messaging is only available through a paid school or district partnership. Teachers whose schools and/or districts are interested in becoming a TalkingPoints partner can request a quote here.
Does this affect Teacher accounts too?
No — this only affects how families receive messages. Teachers continue using TalkingPoints exactly as they do today.