What is Parent Express Email?

Parent Express Email (PEX) is a free, simple to use email solution specifically designed for parent groups like PTOs and PTAs. With PEX you'll be able to send completely customized emails in minutes.

Is there a cost for using Parent Express Email?

Parent Express Email is a FREE service to your parent group made possible by PTO Today and GroupVine.

Why are there banner ads in the Parent Express Email templates?

Parent Express Email (PEX) is a free newsletter service from School Family Media (the folks from PTO Today magazine and www.schoolfamily.com) to help improve communication between school and home. PEX includes advertisements that allow School Family Media to make this service free to parent groups and schools. All of the ads in these emails are carefully reviewed and approved by School Family Media to be a fit for involved school families. In no instance will advertising or advertising images for alcohol, tobacco, drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons, or obscene, pornographic or illegal materials be accepted. All of our partner brands are committed to helping parents help their children succeed at home and at school.

How can PEX help Box Top Coordinators get the word out about the Box Top program?

Parent Express email is a free tool that allows Coordinators to create and send customized emails to families at their school in just a few steps. It's a whole new approach to connect with school supporters and share news about the Box Tops for Education program - in a simple and fun way!

Are Parent Express Emails customizable?

Yes, and it's so easy to do. Once you have your message written, you can create your email using one of our existing templates. You can even add your own photos, change the fonts and make layout changes using the simple email wizard. You can also customize who the email goes out to, choosing either your entire school list or any subset group (like 2nd grade parents only) that you create.

Can I send a PEX email directly from my own email account?

Yes, we call this PEX QuickSend.

What is PEX QuickSend?

PEX QuickSend is a new feature that we think our most frequent users are going to really love. As always, groups can send emails by signing into PEX. But now, with QuickSend, approved users (those who have email sending permissions) can actually send PEX emails right from their home computer or Blackberry. Just save your customized PEX email address as a contact in your email browser (, for example), and the email will go to the recipients on that list. This is going to be a great tool for those quick emails that you want to get out fast.

Am I able to include photos in the emails?

Definitely. Anytime you're sending a PEX email you'll see a quick "upload photo" icon, and you can add pictures or graphics right into your email.

Am I able to send attachments in the emails? New Feature!

Yes, this is a great new feature of PEX. Whether it's a flyer for your fundraiser or a newsletter that one of your parents created in Word or as a .PDF file, for example, you can now send those to your entire recipient list right through PEX.

How many email contacts can be in your Parent Express Email database?

Your account supports up to 5,000 contacts, more than enough for even the largest schools or groups of schools.

Is there a limit to how many custom/subset lists we can have in PEX?

With Parent Express Email you can create one master email list of all your school's parents, as well as smaller lists that allow you to send specific email messages to a specific group of parents (like one list for each grade or one list just for your PTO leadership). You may create up to 10 custom email lists in your account.

Is there a limit to the number of emails that you are able to send out?

No, there is no limit to the number of emails you can send out.

How many of our groups members have access to PEX?

Another nice new feature of PEX is the ability to customize who can access your PEX system. One parent is assigned as your PEX "administrator". The administrator has full use of the system (including sending) and sets the permission levels and roles for each of the other members. New this year – each PEX account can now include two additional "approved senders" who can create, edit and send emails to your school list. No one else at your school other than these designated approved senders, can log into your account or send emails.

What browsers are compatible with PEX and Interactive Email?

PEX supports the following browsers and versions: Windows Internet Explorer 8; Mozilla Firefox 3.5+; Google Chrome and Safari (latest version via Mac OS upgrade). PEX is not compatible with Internet Explorer 6 and 7. Please be sure to upgrade to IE 8 or use another supported browser.

Is Parent Express Email MAC compatible?

Yes, Parent Express Email is compatible with MAC computers.

Can I be sure email addresses and data is secure in the Parent Express Email System?

Yes, you can be confident that your Parent Express emails are secure and delivered to members. GroupVine takes every precaution to protect the confidentiality and security of your personal information by using industry-recognized security safeguards such as firewalls, coupled with carefully developed security procedures to protect your information from loss, misuse or unauthorized alteration. Additionally, the PEX system never asks for the kind of personal information (social security numbers or credit card numbers) that are most commonly associated with security problems. Click here to view GroupVine's site policy for PEX.

Does the Parent Express Email system archive emails and provide a record of what was sent and when?

Yes, all emails that you send using Parent Express Email are automatically archived and organized by date, allowing you to easily access sent emails in no time when you sign in to the system. It even archives Quick Send emails.

Who is GroupVine?

GroupVine is PEX's email solution provider. GroupVine combines innovative technology and best practices (developed from years of experience with parent groups) to simplify online communication for groups of all shapes and sizes. GroupVine's easy-to-use, web-based products and services make email efforts productive, efficient, and rewarding for parent groups like yours.

How is Parent Express Email different from Volunteer Builder?

Volunteer Builder is a PTO Today paid volunteer management program that helps you manage, track and communicate with your volunteers. Event scheduling and volunteer interest tracking are also key components of Volunteer Builder. The Parent Express Email program is only an email tool.

Can Parent Express Email be integrated with Volunteer Builder?

Yes, we now have a seamless interface between the Parent Express Email system and the Volunteer Builder program, so that VB emails are sent using the powerful email capabilities of PEX.

Sign Up now