Administrators and teachers at Austin High and Ellis Middle schools are considering a grading system they think will improve communication between teachers and parents.

The system would give parents updates on their students' performance in class. Parents would know if their child is missing an assignment or how they did on a test.

The system, called ParentCONNECTxp, allows teachers to put grades online. The program will send e-mail updates to parents as often as the school wishes. Parents can also access their child's grades on a Web site that is password-protected.

"I think it's really going to improve communication between parents and the school," said AHS Principal Joe Brown.

Whether or not the program can be implemented, depends on the state budget.

Implementing the program costs $12,000 and $1,500 is required to maintain it each year.

But considering the school receives about $6,000 for each enrolled student, the cost is minimal, Brown said.

"It's going to save more than two kids," Brown said.

AHS and Ellis teachers and administrators and members of the district's technology committee attended an informational meeting Monday about the system. Brown said teachers were receptive to it.

"Their recommendation is that we move ahead," Brown said.

The program would save teachers time by reducing the number of times they enter grades into the school's system.

Eric Vaughn, a seventh grade geography teacher, attended the meeting and thinks it will help teachers and parents.

"I walked away from the meeting feeling this is something that would be a good deal," Vaughn said.

About 65 percent of parents at AHS and 70 percent of parents at Ellis have Internet access, administrators estimate.

"It looks excellent," Ellis Principal Candace Raskin said. "It looks like it will be a wonderful tool for families who do have Internet."

Families that do not have Internet access, however, would need to keep tabs on their child the old-fashioned way -- calling or stopping by the school. Brown suggested parents also could use the Internet at the library.

Before the system can be implemented it needs to be approved by the school board.

Because of new state standards and the federal No Child Left Behind law, schools have to find ways to make sure students are succeeding, Brown said.

"We're going to expect more from our classrooms, but at the same time we're going to get bigger and there's less money so we have to streamline," Brown said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com