Overview
Most parent communication in Edia happens automatically — but sometimes you need to send a message yourself. Whether you're following up on a flagged conversation, checking in on a student with a pattern of absences, or answering a question the AI can't handle, this guide shows you how to send a one-to-one message to a parent or guardian directly from Edia.
Need-to-Know
This article covers how to send a manual text message to a family from inside Edia. Use this guide for:
Following up on a flagged or closed conversation
Providing specific information the AI can't handle
Checking in on a student with a pattern of absences
Understanding how manual and AI messages work together
When to Use Manual Messaging
Let the AI handle routine absence notifications. Use manual messaging when:
You're following up on a flagged conversation
You need to share information the AI can't handle
You want to check in on a student with recurring absences
Note: Edia does not offer broadcast or mass messaging. Manual messages are one-to-one only.
Step-by-Step: Sending a Manual Message
1. Open the Conversation
Click Attendance in the left navigation.
Click Conversations — or click directly into a student's record.
Use the search bar to find the conversation by student or parent name.
2. Type and Send Your Message
Click into the text input at the bottom of the conversation.
Type your message.
Press Send.
3. Review What Happens Next
Once sent, your message:
Goes out as a text from the district's dedicated attendance number
Appears in the conversation log labeled with your name (e.g., "[Jane Smith]: ...")
Pauses the AI for 15 minutes after your message is sent
Clears any pending AI response that was awaiting review
If the parent replies after the 15-minute window and no further staff message is sent, the AI resumes the conversation.
Good to Know
Parents see the same district phone number used for AI messages — it looks seamless to them
Photos sent by parents (like doctor's notes) appear as viewable attachments in the thread
Staff-uploaded images are not processed by the AI — if an image affects attendance, update the code manually
Tips & Troubleshooting
I can't find the conversation I'm looking for Try searching by parent name instead of student name, or vice versa. Flagged conversations live in the Needs Review tab; resolved ones stay in All.
My message didn't send Check whether the contact is set to "Do not contact" or if the number is marked as "Send failed" or "Wrong number" — these statuses block outgoing messages.
I accidentally sent a message to the wrong parent Manual messages cannot be recalled. Send a follow-up clarifying the error.