This article guides district and school administrators through the transition from short code to 10-digit long code (10DLC) SMS messaging in Messages XR Enterprise, including how to obtain an EIN, what to expect during the switch, and how to prepare the community.
Not sure which SMS setup you have?
See the article, "Send SMS/text messages in Messages XR Enterprise" to identify the current setup before continuing.
💡Quick answers
- What action is required from the district? Two things: provide an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to Finalsite, and notify the community of the new numbers once they are assigned. Finalsite handles the technical switch.
- What is an EIN and why is it needed? An Employer Identification Number is a federal tax ID for the organization. Federal regulations for school mass messaging require 10DLC numbers to be registered to an EIN. School EINs are public records.
- When will the switch happen? Finalsite is moving clients in batches. Each district will be contacted directly with their specific transition date in advance.
- Will there be any downtime? No. Finalsite handles the switch. On the specified date, the short code is replaced by the new 10DLC numbers automatically.
- Do families need to do anything? No. Previous opt-outs carry over automatically. Families do not need to re-opt in. The only recommended action is saving the new numbers to their phones.
- Where are the communication templates? See SMS communication templates for schools for ready-to-use email and SMS templates.
Step 1: Learn and obtain the EIN
Before the transition begins, obtain the district's or school's Employer Identification Number (EIN). This is required by federal regulations for registering 10DLC numbers to the organization.
- School EINs are public records and can typically be found on official district documents, tax filings, or by contacting the district's finance or administration office.
- Providing the EIN does not pose a security or privacy risk.
- Finalsite will contact each school or district directly with individual details about new numbers and the timeline for switching over.
Questions about 10DLC?
Review the full FAQ in Send SMS/Text messages in Messages XR Enterprise for answers to common questions about numbers, regions, opt-outs, and more.
Step 2: Verify the EIN and prepare
Once the EIN is verified, Finalsite will provide the district's assigned 10DLC numbers. There will be at least two: one for general outreach messages and one for emergency messages. Both numbers will share the district's local area code.
At this stage, start preparing the community for the change:
- Note both assigned numbers (outreach and emergency).
- Draft family-facing communications using the templates in SMS communication templates for schools.
- Plan to send the announcement before the transition date so families can save the numbers in advance.
Step 3: Make the switch
Finalsite handles the full transition. No technical effort or downtime is required from the district.
On the specified transition date:
- The short code is retired.
- All outgoing SMS messages will come from the new 10DLC numbers automatically.
- Previous opt-outs from the short code carry over. No recipient needs to re-opt in.
Step 4: Prepare the community for the change
Once the new numbers are confirmed, notify families so they recognize messages and save the numbers to their phones. Early communication reduces confusion and prevents messages from being ignored or marked as spam.
Recommended timing:
- Send an email announcement before the switch date (Template C).
- Send an SMS announcement before the switch date (Template D).
- Send a follow-up SMS reminder after the switch has taken place (Template E).
All three templates are available in Communication templates: Share SMS information with your community.
Best practices for all outgoing messages after the switch:
- Begin each message with the school or district name followed by a colon (e.g., "Lincoln Elementary:"). This ensures recipients recognize the sender and prevents messages from being treated as spam. Abbreviations are acceptable if familiar to the community.
- Encourage families to save both 10DLC numbers in their contacts.
- Post the numbers on the district website for ongoing reference. See Communication templates: Share SMS information with your community for ongoing opt-in/opt-out templates (Templates A and B).
Related articles
- Send SMS/text messages in Messages XR Enterprise: Full overview of the two setups, comparison table, and FAQs.
- Communication templates: Share SMS information with your community: Email and SMS templates for the transition and ongoing opt-in/opt-out management.
- Manage and view data reports: how to use the Do Not Contact report in MXRE.