PORTLAND — The Portland Public Schools is now offering text message alerts for snow days or other important information through the SchoolMessenger service.

The School Department is sending out texts offering the service to the cell phone numbers it has on record, but recipients must actively opt in.

The verification message will come from code No. 67587 and will read: “Portland Public Schools messages. Reply Y to accept or STOP to cancel.” If families do not reply, they will receive no further texts.

See www.schoolmessenger.com/txt, call 874-8111 or send an email to inquiry@portlandschools.org for more information.