Schools are required to comply with U.S. laws governing automated phone calls and text messages. The primary law is the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), along with related FCC regulations.
Under these regulations:
Automated voice calls and SMS messages generally require prior express consent from the recipient.
Consent must be tied to a specific phone number and an identifiable recipient.
Schools and their service providers must be able to demonstrate that consent was obtained if questioned.
Phone number verification helps establish that:
the phone number belongs to the parent or guardian associated with the account, and
the parent has explicitly opted in to receive automated voice calls and text messages.
This requirement applies to both voice messages and SMS, including priority notifications. Even when messages are school-related, automated delivery still falls under federal calling and texting regulations.
Verification protects:
schools, by reducing legal and compliance risk
parents, by preventing unwanted or misdirected calls
the communication system, by ensuring responsible use of automated messaging
For these reasons, School Signals requires phone number verification before voice calls or text messages can be delivered.