The machine is a one-off cost. The books are not. The schools guide shows Bastrop ISD telling KUT it spends about US$1,000 a year on books for one machine, and a busy reward program spends more. Parent purchases add a steady source of book money, and parents get something too: a say in what their child reads, and a record of what they chose.
This page is part of the book vending machine for schools guide.
How parent purchase works
- The parent signs in to the KioskForce School Portal with an email address, linked to their child’s school.
- They choose a pack of codes, such as 5, 10 or 20, at the school’s price, and pay by card.
- They set the book list. Titles at the child’s reading level each have a switch. See book lists.
- The child redeems. The parent shows the code on a phone or prints it, and the child scans it at the machine.
- The parent sees the result: which book was chosen, at which machine, and how many codes are left.
What the school controls
| Setting | Options |
|---|---|
| Price per code | Set by the school, optionally different for each reading level |
| Pack sizes | Which quantities parents can buy |
| Who can buy | Parents of enrolled students, or open to family and friends with a school link |
| Book lists | Whether parents may narrow the list, or only teachers |
| Expiry | Whether bought codes expire, for example at the end of the school year |
The money is paid to the school through its own payment account. The school decides how it is spent, usually on refills.
Ways schools use it
- Birthday books. A parent buys a class pack so every child picks a book on their child’s birthday.
- Holiday gifts. Grandparents buy codes from another city.
- Top-up rewards. Parents add to the codes teachers hand out, for reading at home.
- Book fair alternative. Codes keep working after the book fair has gone home.
Parent purchases sit alongside the other funding schools use for book vending: PTA or PTO money, book fair profits, education foundation grants and crowdfunding. The schools guide lists published examples.
Frequently asked questions
Who sets the price of a book code?
The school. It sets a price per code, which can differ by reading level, and the pack sizes parents can buy. Many schools price a code close to what the school pays for an average book at that level.
How does a child use a code a parent bought?
The parent prints the code or shows it on a phone, and the child scans it at the machine like any other reward card. The machine shows the books at the child’s level that the parent allowed and that are in stock.
Can a parent buy codes for a whole class?
Yes, with the school’s agreement. A parent can buy a pack and give it to the teacher, for example for a birthday, so every student in the class gets to choose a book. The teacher then hands the codes out as printed cards.
Related
- Book lists: parent and teacher controls
- QR reward codes
- School Portal dashboard: code sales and redemptions
- Payment options
- Book vending machine for schools
Talk to us
Tell us whether your school wants parent purchases, the price you have in mind, and the payment account the money should go to. We’ll set it up with the machine.
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