The Importance of Collecting Verified Phone Number Information in the Education Sector

A how-to guide for Administrators and Web Developers!

It goes without saying that schools and other education providers must collect accurate contact information from students, parents, and caregivers. This data is used both internally and externally for a variety of purposes, and like most things, if it’s not accurate, it’s not worth collecting.

Why phone numbers must be verified

When it comes to contact data, what must be correct?

An emergency contact phone number is the most critical piece of contact information that must be accurate and up-to-date. While email and home addresses are also important, in a true emergency, having the correct phone numbers for parents and guardians is absolutely essential.

In the event of an emergency, schools need to be able to quickly and reliably reach parents and guardians. Not being able to make contact in these situations can lead to serious consequences, including negative health outcomes for the child, frustration and anger from parents, and reputational harm for the school. While different methods of communication may be used depending on the nature of the emergency, the primary method remains a phone call.

Keeping emergency contact information up to date

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests that the average employed person stays in their job for about seven years. If an emergency contact database includes two or more work phone numbers per student, on average, one of these numbers will need updating every 3.5 years. This means that, in any given year, approximately a quarter of student emergency contact records will require updating.

As a school administrator, you may not be aware when parents change jobs. To maintain accurate records, we recommend the following:

• Regular Parent Reminders: Once each term, include a simple notice in your school newsletter: “Have your emergency contact details changed? It is essential that we maintain accurate and up-to-date emergency contact details. If you have any changes, please let us know as soon as possible.”
• Annual Bulk Verification: Once a year, verify your emergency contact data through Addressfinder’s bulk verification services. This will check for inconsistencies, correct errors, and highlight outdated or invalid phone numbers.
• Real-Time Verification at Data Collection Points: Use Addressfinder’s phone, email, and address verification services at enrolment and any other point where contact data is collected or updated.

How web developers can support accurate data collection

To help administrators to maintain accurate records, web developers can integrate verification tools directly into school systems. Here’s how developers can work together with administrators to achieve this using Addressfinder’s phone verification API.

By implementing these techniques, the task of maintaining great quality contact data is significantly reduced. This proactive approach minimises the risk of miscommunication in critical situations and improves overall data quality.

If you haven't already, check out some of our other articles on education:

• Why accurate data is critical for education providers
• The importance of verified email data for education providers