Microsoft Teams Is Tackling Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences Next

Microsoft Teams is adding a new “Parent Connection” feature that lets teachers call their students’ guardians with a single click of a button.

It’s a tool that deepens the video conferencing service’s usefulness in the education sector, and could help it expand its presence.

If it’s as easy as it sounds to use, the new ability might be a boon, helping teacher-parent meetings move from lengthy in-person ordeals to slightly less lengthy virtual visits.

What to Know About Parent Connection

With the functionality, educators will be able to connect with the guardians of their students “with a single click,” as Microsoft Teams explains the feature in its publically available roadmap of updates. It works across three forms of communication: chat, email, or phone.

Parent Connection isn’t available yet — It’s set to arrive sometime in May, though no specific date has been announced. Once it has rolled out, the tool will be generally available worldwide, on web, desktop, and mobile.

The Teams app will be relaunching in the Microsoft Store in May as well, with a focus on school support.

“This app will support work, school, and consumer accounts on Windows 10 and Work or school accounts on Windows 11,” Microsoft stated about the app.

Can Virtual Calls Support Work and School Life Balance?

The tool won’t be featured in any business meetings, since it’s aimed at helping users in their home lives, but it’s a great example of the connections between the two. Harried parents or guardians might find a few more moments of peace if they don’t have to build their schedules around an in-person teacher meeting.

Much like childcare stipends are an often overlooked workplace benefit, these types of tools can help working parents balance their lives with their careers that much more easily.

Is Microsoft Teams the best conferencing tool for you?

The addition of a parent-teacher conference button probably isn’t what will convince you to opt for Microsoft Teams over other web conferencing solutions, but it doesn’t have to be. Teams is a great option by itself, due to a wealth of features and high adaptation in many circles. You can read more about its pros and cons in our official review, which compares it to competitor Google Meet.

Zoom is another fine pick for video meetings, thanks to a decent free plan, strong security, and its own wide range of features.

You can check out some additional conferencing tools with this table below, compiled by our researchers to help easily compare the pros, cons, audio functionality, and a stand-out perks each top software solution has to offer.