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LACES now enforces SMS credit limits to help agencies manage usage and control costs. This system ensures fair access to SMS messaging across programs, while supporting high-volume communication through quarterly credit allotments and optional purchases.
This feature applies to all agencies using SMS messaging in LACES.
SMS Credits Overview
SMS Credits Overview
What Are SMS Credits
What Are SMS Credits
SMS credits allow agencies to send text messages to students and staff directly from LACES. These credits are shared across all users at an agency.
How Credits Are Allocated
How Credits Are Allocated
At the start of each calendar quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1) the agency or parent agency receives credits receives a set number of credits based on active student enrollment.
Credits are calculated using the formula:
0.75 credits per active student
For example, an agency with 400 active students would receive 300 SMS credits. Active students are determined using the standard "Current FY" logic (see next section).
Credits are deducted when a message is queued, not when it is delivered. If a message is canceled or fails to send, the credit is still used. Test messages do not use credits.
When Credits Expire
When Credits Expire
Quarterly credits are available immediately at the start of each quarter but expire at the end of that quarter. These do not roll over.
If your agency needs to send more messages, additional credits may be purchased at any time. Purchased credits do not expire and will roll over from quarter to quarter until used.
Negative Balances
If your agency sends more messages than you have available credits (i.e., a negative balance), the additional credits are automatically deducted from the next quarterly allotment.
Understanding Active Students
Understanding Active Students
Active student counts are based on the standard "Current FY" search logic. The following statuses are included when determining your quarterly credit allotment:
Prospective
Waiting
Active/Enrolled
Prospective-Portal
Oriented
Waitlist
**Note: Status names may vary by client.
Shared Credits in Parent and Child Agencies
Shared Credits in Parent and Child Agencies
In multi-agency structures (e.g., SEAs and local agencies), credit availability is based on where credits are applied:
Credits added to a parent agency are available to all child agencies.
Credits added to a child agency are only available to that specific agency.
Administrators may add notes in the comment field to indicate which agencies the parent-level credits are intended for, but these notes do not restrict usage.
Examples of Credit Availability
Credit Usage Order in Multi-Agency Structures
Credit Usage Order in Multi-Agency Structures
When sending a message, LACES checks and uses credits in this order:
Local agency credits:
Uses quarterly (non-rollover) credits first
Then uses purchased (rollover) credits
If local credits are depleted, LACES uses parent agency credits:
First quarterly, then purchased
This helps reduce waste and ensures that each agency benefits from the credits purchased or allocated specifically for them.
Example:
Agency A sends thousands of messages each quarter and has purchased 10,000 credits. Agency B sends only a few and relies on the SEA’s shared credits.
By using Agency A’s own credits first, LACES prevents it from consuming the SEA’s shared resources, ensuring smaller agencies like B still have access when needed.
Viewing Your Credit Balance
Viewing Your Credit Balance
Send Message Window
Users assigned to roles with messaging permissions can see the current SMS credit balance displayed while composing a message.
Agency Settings
Users with access to Agency Settings, such as Program Administrators and Agency Full Access users, can view a history of assigned and purchased SMS credits, including the current credit and negative balance, under Agency Settings > Agency Data.
Sending Limits & Warnings
Sending Limits & Warnings
When you attempt to send a message, LACES checks the number of SMS credits available and provides warnings when you're near or at your limit.
Low Credit Balance (Grace Send)
Low Credit Balance (Grace Send)
If you have a balance but it is lower than the number of recipients, LACES allows one final send that will cause your balance to go negative. The negative balance will be deducted from next quarter's credits.
No Credits Remaining
No Credits Remaining
If your credit balance is 0 or negative, LACES disables the SMS option and shows the following message:
"No SMS Credits Available"
Request Additional Credits
Request Additional Credits
If your agency needs more SMS credits than the quarterly allotment provides, you may request additional credits at any time.
Local agency users should first contact their program administrator to request additional credits.
Program administrators may submit a request directly to LACES Support using the Help Desk Request Form.
Purchased credits do not expire and will roll over from quarter to quarter until fully used.
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