Student Information Systems: Powerschool

Student Information Systems: PowerSchool

Running head: Student Information Systems (PowerSchool)

Student Information Systems (SIS) are a growing trend of management and information recording databases that are being implemented in nearly every educational system across the country. Various colleges, universities and now grade and high schools have implemented these systems to manage students’ information throughout their time spent at each institution. These systems are able to log, track and manage student-specific data while also allowing access for students, parents, teachers and instructors and school administration. The goal of this paper is to discuss the various platforms that PowerSchool, a K-12 student information system has integrated various components to enhance the use of student information systems and their use in K-12 education.

What is PowerSchool?

        According to their site, PowerSchool is the premier Student Information System in North America. While it was first established in 1997, it was until 2001 when Apple acquired it that the site took off and exponentially increased its enrollment (About Us, 2016). It now serves nearly 60 million users which include students, parents, teachers and administrations. In 2006, Pearson PLC, a publishing and education company, acquired the brand and replace its SIS. The brand has since expanded with mobile compatibility, releasing an app and gaining the trust of school systems worldwide. Some of its features include data analytics components, learning management system (LMS) and cloud-based enrollment features.

PowerSchool is now known as the top education technology platform for K-12 education. Some of their competitive advantages include the security of student and parent information as well as the ease-of-use and management components. PowerSchool allows the effective

Student Information Systems (PowerSchool)

management, collection and maintenance of student data while also allowing it to be accessed both in and outside of the classroom.

Competitive Advantage

        As previously mentioned, PowerSchool is a secured network for student information making it one of the most trusted education technology providers in student information systems. It is compliant with both FERPA and HIPAA by using encryption and various security measures to secure stored data within the site. It is used not only in the United States but also in Canada and nearly 100 other countries. Additionally, the site is able to house information on small and large scales. Since there is a need for support of both smaller and large schools and districts, PowerSchool is able to provide these services with a simply-designed interface that allows ease-of-use for both students and parents. Through forums, training modules and support services, PowerSchool engages its users by allowing them the freedom to customize their accounts and accessibility options.

Integration with Google Apps for Education (GAFE)

In a recent press release, PowerSchool has been able to expand their services since their recent integration with Google Apps. Traditionally and in past years, students have been able to manually complete class tasks and assignments and bring them to class to turn them in to their teachers. In the most recent years, it has become more efficient for students to use applications such as Microsoft Word to write papers so the manual side of things is eliminated. However, according to The Journal, as recently as June, PowerSchool has signed on with Google Apps for Education to further expand their communication and strengthen the ease of homework for

Student Information System (PowerSchool)

teachers and students alike (Meyer, 2016). Students are now able to complete and submit assignments via Google Drive that are automatically sent to the PowerSchool learning dropbox. This allows teachers to receive student-specific links for assignments where they can evaluate and provide feedback on students’ work using tools within Google Drive.

This not only expands options for teachers when it comes to grading assignments, but it also allows for a digital record of which assignments are time-sensitive and the times that they are submitted. The integration of PowerSchool with Google Apps for School allows teachers to save time and reduce the amount of paper used significantly.

Modernization through integration with SmartForm

Along with integration with GAFE, PowerSchool has also recently modernized the face of student registration for Person and Waynesboro City Public School System in North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The problem that was originally faced was the quality of the efficacy and accuracy of the data that was being collected for student registration. According to representatives of the Waynesboro City Public School System, by coming up with an innovative, customized solution, PowerSchool was able to integrate the system quickly so that this fall, students will be able to register quickly and easily (PowerSchool Group’s InfoSnap, 2016). The new format featured SmartForm, a tool that collects relevant data that is based upon previously entered selections such as grades and activities. This data is collected from families and then revised by the school district. Once approved the data is saved in the student’s specific information system and available for access and use once school begins.