Frequently Used Acronyms for PowerSchool | Scribe

Frequently Used Acronyms for PowerSchool

  • 1 year ago

    🎓 Frequently Used Acronyms Reading Tutorial

    Welcome! Let’s explore some commonly used acronyms and terms in the world of PowerSchool, South Carolina education, and student data systems.

    💻 Student Information Systems (SIS)

    SIS is a web-based tool that helps manage student records like:

    • 📋 Enrollment

    • 🕒 Attendance

    • 📅 Schedules

    • 📝 Grades

    🔌 PowerSchool (PS)

    PowerSchool is the required SIS in South Carolina.

    • Used by every school district

    • Sends data to SCDE via EDCT 📤

    • 💰 School funding is based on PowerSchool data

    • Houses 100+ data tables!

    📊 ADA vs ADM

    ADA – Average Daily Attendance

    • 👥 Students actually present

    • 🧮 Formula: Total days present ➗ days in session

    ADM – Average Daily Membership

    • 👥 Students enrolled

    • 🧮 Formula: Total days in membership ➗ days in session

    • 🏫 Used to calculate school funding on days 45 & 135

    🔢 SUNS – Student Unique Numbering System

    • 🎯 Unique ID for every SC student

    • Assigned at first SC enrollment and stays through high school

    • ⚠️ Students must have one to be funded!

    👣 Attendance Basics

    • Present = physically in class or attending ≥50% of the day ✅

    • Absent = away from school ≥50% of the day ❌

    • Truancy = 3 consecutive or 5+ unlawful absences 🚫

    • Chronic Absenteeism = Misses 10%+ of days (any reason) 🧾

    🏫 Membership

    • Students are in membership the day they start attending as an:

      • Original Entry 👶

      • Re-entry 🔁

      • Transfer 📦

    ⚖️ EFA – Education Finance Act

    • Passed in 1977 to fund schools fairly

    • Ensures equal opportunity for every SC student 📚

    🧮 Grade Level, Sections, & Expression

    • Grade Level = student’s current academic level 📘

    • Sections = individual classes 🧑‍🏫

    • Expression = how PS shows schedule:

      • Period + Day (e.g., 2(A), 5(B)) 🕰️

    🌟 G&T – Gifted and Talented

    For students with exceptional academic/artistic talent:

    • 🧠 Academic/Intellectual

    • 🎭 Visual/Performing Arts

    💸 Title I & III

    • Title I = Extra support for low-income students 💰

    • Title III = Language instruction for LEP students 🗣️

    🗣️ LEP Terms

    • LEP = Limited English Proficient

    • ELDA = English test for LEP (even with disabilities)

    • HLS = Home Language Survey 🏠

    • ESOL = English to Speakers of Other Languages

    🧩 IEP & IGP

    • IEP = Plan for students with disabilities under IDEA 🧑‍🦽

    • IGP = Graduation plan for students in grades 8–12 🎓

    ⚙️ Initialization

    • ⚠️ Only run ONCE at the start of the year!

    • Clears or updates values in PowerSchool

    • Run by Cantey or District 🛠️

    🆔 SIDN – School ID Number

    • 🏫 7-digit ID for every public school

    • Used for reporting, funding, PowerSchool, and more!

    🚫 OSS & ISS

    • OSS = Out-of-School Suspension

    • ISS = In-School Suspension

    🔌 3rd Party Plugins

    • Apps added to PowerSchool by vendors

    • ⚠️ Not always reliable for charter schools

    • ✔️ Always open a ticket with Cantey before buying/installing

    🤔 ANY QUESTIONS?

    You did it! 🎉 You’ve just toured the most frequently used acronyms and systems powering our schools! Got questions? Don’t be shy—reach out! 📩💬