NavEd Forms: Custom Forms for Schools¶
Every school collects information. Permission slips. Parent surveys. Event RSVPs. Staff feedback. Re-enrollment forms. And until now, most schools have been cobbling together solutions with Google Forms, paper handouts, and spreadsheets.
The problem? Every single form starts with the same question: "What is your name?"
Your school already knows who everyone is. Your staff, students, and parents are all in your school directory. Why should they have to identify themselves every time they fill out a form?
We're thrilled to announce NavEd Forms -- a custom form builder built directly into your school management platform. It's available now in the Premium plan, with your first 5 students completely free.
What Makes NavEd Forms Different¶
NavEd Forms is not another standalone form tool. It is deeply integrated with your school management platform, and that integration changes everything.
Automatic Respondent Identification¶
When a staff member, student, or parent fills out a NavEd form, the system already knows who they are. Their name, user type, and account information are recorded automatically. No name fields. No email fields. No guessing who submitted what.
This means your forms are shorter, cleaner, and more accurate. Every response is tied to a verified school account.
Publish to Specific Groups¶
When you create a form, you choose the target audience: staff, students, parents, or everyone. Only users whose account type matches the target audience can access the form. A parent survey only goes to parents. A staff feedback form only goes to staff. No confusion, no accidental responses from the wrong group.
Full Audit Trail¶
Every submission records who responded, when they submitted, and from which account type. This is essential for compliance, record-keeping, and accountability. You know exactly who filled out the permission slip and exactly when they did it.
Everything in One Platform¶
No more switching between your school management system and Google Forms. No more exporting data from one tool and importing it into another. Forms, responses, and your school directory all live in the same place.
Ready to see for yourself? Start with 5 students free -- no credit card required. Try NavEd Free →
NavEd Forms vs. Google Forms¶
Google Forms is a great general-purpose tool. But when it comes to school-specific needs, NavEd Forms has meaningful advantages.
| Feature | NavEd Forms | Google Forms |
|---|---|---|
| Respondent auto-identification | Yes -- from school directory | No -- must add name field |
| Audience targeting | Staff, students, parents, or all | Anyone with the link |
| One submission per person | Enforced automatically | Requires Google account setting |
| School directory integration | Built in | None |
| Response export (CSV/XLSX) | Yes, both formats | CSV only (natively) |
| Charts and summaries | Built-in response dashboard | Yes |
| Drag-and-drop form builder | Yes | Yes |
| Cost | Included in Premium plan | Free |
| Data stays in your platform | Yes | Separate Google account |
| Login required | Yes (school accounts) | Optional |
The bottom line: If your school already uses NavEd, forms are a natural extension of your existing workflow. If your primary concern is cost and you don't need directory integration, Google Forms is a solid free option.
Want to see the full feature list? NavEd Premium includes the advanced gradebook, assignment management, parent portal, analytics, and more -- all for $5/student/month. View Pricing →
What You Can Do with NavEd Forms¶
Here are some of the ways schools are already planning to use NavEd Forms:
Permission Slips. Create a form with the trip details, a yes/no field for consent, and any emergency contact information you need. Parents fill it out from their account -- no paper to collect, no signatures to chase down, and you know exactly which parents responded.
Surveys and Feedback. Run a parent satisfaction survey, a student interest survey for next semester's electives, or a staff feedback form about professional development. Target the right audience and export the results for analysis.
Event RSVPs. Hosting a school event? Create a form asking who is attending, how many guests, and any dietary restrictions. Responses are tied to verified accounts, so you get an accurate headcount.
Re-enrollment Forms. Collect re-enrollment intentions for the next school year. Parents fill out one form, and you have a clean spreadsheet of who is returning, who is undecided, and who is leaving.
Data Collection for Reporting. Need to collect specific information from staff or students for compliance or reporting? Create a targeted form and export the responses as CSV or XLSX for your records.
Forms work on any device. Parents and staff can fill out NavEd forms from their phones, tablets, or computers -- wherever they are. See it in action →
What It's Like for Parents and Staff¶
If you're filling out a NavEd form, the experience is simple and mobile-friendly. You click the link, log in with the same account you already use to check grades or communicate with teachers, and the form loads. No extra accounts to create. No entering your name or email address. Just answer the questions and submit.
The whole process takes about 30 seconds for a typical permission slip. Parents can fill out forms while waiting in the school pickup line. Staff can respond to a quick feedback survey from their phone between classes. Because respondents are auto-identified from the school directory, there's no friction -- just the questions that matter.
How to Get Started¶
NavEd Forms is available now in the Premium plan ($5/student/month, with the first 5 students free). The Premium plan also includes the advanced gradebook, assignment management, parent portal, analytics, and more -- everything your school needs beyond the basics.
Step 1: Enable NavEd Forms¶
If your school is on the Premium or Enterprise plan, NavEd Forms may already be enabled. Check your sidebar for the "Forms" menu item. If you don't see it, contact support and we will enable it for you.
Step 2: Navigate to Forms¶
Click "Forms" in the left sidebar. You will see your forms dashboard -- a clean starting point for building your first form.
Step 3: Create Your First Form¶
Click "Create Form", give it a title and description, choose your target audience, and start adding fields. NavEd Forms supports 8 field types: short text, long text, number, date, dropdown, radio buttons, and checkboxes -- plus a simple yes/no toggle. The respondent's email is captured automatically from their login session, so you don't need to ask for it.
When your form is ready, hit "Publish" and share the link with your audience. Responses start flowing in, complete with automatic respondent identification and real-time summary charts.
For a detailed walkthrough, check out our Forms documentation.
Built for Microschool Founders¶
We designed NavEd Forms with the same philosophy behind everything we build: simple tools for schools that don't have an IT department.
You don't need to be technical to create a form. You don't need to configure integrations or manage separate accounts. You create a form, publish it, and share the link. That's it.
Responses are automatically organized, charted, and exportable. Your school directory does the heavy lifting of identifying who submitted what. And because forms are part of your existing NavEd platform, there is nothing new to learn, no new passwords to remember, and no new vendor to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions¶
What field types does NavEd Forms support?
NavEd Forms supports 8 field types: short text, long text, number, date, dropdown, radio buttons, checkboxes, and yes/no toggle. The respondent's email is captured automatically from their login session.
Can I limit who can fill out a form?
Yes. When you create a form, you choose the target audience: staff, students, parents, or everyone. Only users whose account type matches the target audience can access the form.
How do I export form responses?
From the form dashboard, click on any form to view responses. You can export responses as CSV or XLSX for analysis or record-keeping.
Is NavEd Forms included in the Standard plan?
No. NavEd Forms is available in the Premium plan ($5/student/month) and Enterprise plan. The first 5 students are free on any plan.
Can respondents submit a form more than once?
By default, NavEd Forms enforces one submission per person. This is tied to the respondent's school account. If you need to allow multiple submissions, contact support and we can adjust the settings for your school.
Do parents and students need a separate account?
No. Parents and students use the same NavEd accounts they already have for checking grades, viewing assignments, and communicating with teachers. No extra accounts or passwords required.
We Can't Wait to See What You Create¶
Permission slips, parent surveys, staff feedback, event RSVPs, re-enrollment forms -- the possibilities are as varied as the schools we serve.
NavEd Forms is available now for Premium and Enterprise schools. If you are not yet on NavEd, there has never been a better time to get started. Your first 5 students are completely free -- no credit card required.
Questions? Reach out to us at support@nav.education. We are here to help.
About NavEd: NavEd is a student information system designed for micro schools, hybrid programs, co-ops, and homeschools. Our mission is to make professional-grade school management tools accessible and affordable for communities that traditional SIS vendors overlook. Learn more at nav.education.