Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) | Scribe

Full-Time Equivalency (FTE)

  • 1 year ago

    📘 PowerSchool Administrator Tutorial: Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) Requirements

    🧾 What is Full-Time Equivalency (FTE)?

    Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) refers to the value assigned to a student’s enrollment that determines how their attendance and membership are calculated in PowerSchool.
    This value is critical as it directly impacts funding and compliance reporting.

    • All schools are required to have one FTE.

    • Each student must be assigned an FTE.

    • Only one FTE can be used at a time in South Carolina.

    • A suggested FTE name is simply “Full Time.”

    ⚠️ Incorrect FTE setup can result in inaccurate attendance, membership data, and compliance issues with SCDE.

    🛠️ Where to Configure FTE in PowerSchool

    ➤ Step-by-Step: Accessing FTE Setup

    1. Login to the appropriate school in PowerSchool.

    2. From the Start Page, go to:

      • School Management > Attendance > Full-Time Equivalencies (FTE)

    3. If an FTE already exists, do not create a new one—edit the existing FTE.

    4. If no FTE is listed, click New to create one.

    📝 Required Fields for FTE Setup

    Field Description

    Name Use “Full Time” (recommended).

    Default Attendance Mode Choose one of the following based on school type:-

    -Daily: Elementary (K-5 or K-6 for charters only)-

    -Meeting: Middle, High, K–12 schools

    💡 The Default Attendance Mode selected here will control how student attendance is calculated and how reports are generated unless overridden during report setup.

    🧒 FTE for Elementary Schools (K–5)

    • Schools serving grades K–5 (or K–6 for Charter Schools) should select:

      • Attendance Mode: Daily

    • Daily attendance means a student receives a single attendance value per day based on their presence.

    🔁 Location in PS:
    School Management > Attendance > Full-Time Equivalencies (FTE)


    🧑‍🎓 FTE for Middle, High, and K–12 Schools

    • For grades 6–12 and K–12 schools, select:

      • Attendance Mode: Meeting

    • Meeting attendance captures attendance by period or block throughout the day.

    🔁 Location in PS:
    Start Page > School Setup > Full-Time Equivalencies (FTE)

    🧐 Things to Keep in Mind

    ✅ DO:

    • Use clear FTE naming like “Full Time”

    • Assign each student to an FTE

    • Set the correct attendance mode based on grade configuration

    • Update existing FTEs rather than creating duplicates

    • Verify reports are aligned with attendance mode settings

    🚫 DON’T:

    • Use multiple FTEs at the same time

    • Leave students unassigned to an FTE

    • Use incorrect attendance modes, especially for mixed-level charters

    📊 Why FTE Accuracy Matters

    ✔️ Attendance Data Integrity
    ✔️ State Compliance (SCDE Reporting)
    ✔️ Funding (Membership counts drive funding formulas)
    ✔️ Valid PowerSchool Reports and Audits

    🧩 Pro Tips for PowerSchool Admins

    🔹 Run attendance and membership reports regularly to ensure the FTE is applied correctly.
    🔹 For hybrid schools (e.g., charter K–12), double-check which students fall under which attendance mode.