Student Information Systems | News

Rhode Island School District Adopts New SIS To Assist with Student Transfers

• By Leila Meyer
• 12/09/13

Providence Public School District (PPSD) in Rhode Island has implemented a new student information system (SIS) to help administrators make data-driven decisions and simplify student records transfers.

The Rhode Island Department of Education allows school districts to choose between three approved student information systems. After evaluating all three, Providence selected the Skyward Student Management Suite.

Providence is the largest public school district in the state, serving more than 24,000 students in 47 schools. The district has to handle student transfers between districts on a regular basis, and according to the company, Skyward simplifies the process of transferring student records, so PPSD staff don't have to re-key student information such as demographics, test scores, grade history, or immunization records. Three other Rhode Island school districts (North Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls) are also using Skyward Student Management Suite.

"The district-to-district transfer feature was a crucial component of the student management suite in order to meet the needs of the school district," said Kevin McFerrin, executive vice president of business development at Skyward, in a prepared statement. "Skyward provides the responsive, one-stop system needed to ensure data accuracy across districts, and to serve the schools' own needs on a daily basis."

According to information on Skyward's site, the Student Management Suite offers a wide variety of features, including assessments, attendance, demographics, curriculum management, fee management, gradebook, health records, lesson plans, report cards and transcripts, response to intervention, scheduling, textbook tracking and more. Districts can use it to automate reports, emails, and other processes and required state reports are preprogrammed into the system. Districts can also provide teachers, students, and families with Web-based access to the system.

Skyward will assist Providence with its transition to the new SIS, and the district plans to complete the implementation in time for the 2014-15 school year.