Student Information Systems

Connecticut District Teachers Get Chromebook Access to SIS

• By Michael Hart
• 10/22/15

Teachers in the East Haven Public School District in Connecticut now have access to the district's student information system (SIS) via their Chromebooks.

The nearly 300 teachers in the district use Pearson's PowerSchool gradebook, which is Java-based and consequently not compatible with Chromebooks. Previously, most teachers accessed their gradebooks via PCs and Macs.

"Last year, we reached a tipping point where teachers abandoned the use of desktop machines," said District Technology Director Randel Osborne. "When I walk the hallways, I see Chromebooks in the hands of teachers all over the district. AccessNow gives teachers the versatility to manage their classes more effectively."

However, as they have transitioned to Chromebooks, the district has employed Ericom Software's AccessNow software to allow them to access the gradebooks via a browser-based application. With AccessNow, teachers can remotely access their PowerSchool Gradebook and input grades and other information via Windows' Java-based applications and desktops from browsers that include Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.

Ericom Software representatives noted that, because AccessNow is browser-based, there is no installation or maintenance required, meaning no time or resources are required of the district's IT staff.