We’re so glad you’re here! This document is designed to serve as a helpful and easy-to-follow resource for navigating the various components of federal program reporting within PowerSchool. Whether you're new to federal data entry or simply looking for a refresher, this guide is intended to equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
Federal programs such as 5th Day Count, Lunch/Income forms, and District of Residence, play a vital role in supporting our students—and accurate reporting in PowerSchool is essential to ensuring those supports reach the students who need them most.
The 5th Day Count is the official data collection used to determine a school’s eligibility and allocation for federal funding.
It’s essential to ensure the accuracy of this data in PowerSchool, as it directly impacts the level of support and resources your school may receive.
The 5th Day Count Finance Reports follow the same formatting as the 45th & 135th Day PowerSchool Tasks. You can find the steps to complete the PowerSchool funding reports in the scribe below:
EFA/EIA Funding Guide (45th & 135th Day Funding)To accurately determine your school’s poverty rate, all Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) information must be collected and entered into PowerSchool by the 5th Day Count.
✔ Every school (including virtual schools and those not offering meals) must collect lunch forms from students annually.
✔ The type of lunch form depends on whether your school participates in the NSLP/USDA lunch program.
✔ Collection should begin July 1 of each year.
✔ Schools must coordinate with their PowerSchool Coordinator to ensure all FRL data is properly entered.
Coding for a Lunch Program can be found by going to:
"Student Profile" > "More" > "Lunch Program"
🏠 District of Residence – Annual Documentation Reminder
All schools must collect District of Residence documentation for every student each school year.
This information is essential because it directly impacts your school’s federal funding.
Please work with your enrollment and data teams to ensure this documentation is gathered and accurately entered into PowerSchool.
District of Residence Coding📌 5th Day Count: Key Reminders for PowerSchool Admins
Income/lunch forms and District of Residence documentation are essential for determining poverty rates and federal funding.
Lunch forms must be compared to income eligibility guidelines to determine free/reduced status.
The 5th Day Count includes this data, which impacts funding allocations.
Establish strong processes for collecting family info, coding correctly, and entering it into PowerSchool.
Work closely with your PowerSchool Coordinator—they are vital to success.
Ensure clear roles and responsibilities are in place for timely, accurate data entry.