Washington District To Improve Data Reporting with New SIS
Washington state's Mukilteo School District has selected a new student information system (SIS) after the company supporting the district's previous solution went out of business.
The district has chosen Follett Software's Aspen SIS in part for its reporting capabilities.
"The functionality in Aspen will be a great upgrade to what we now have," said Debbie Truax, chief technology officer at Mukilteo. "The reporting mechanism will provide a huge enhancement, for example. The ability to have custom elements created easily and seamlessly, and the easy-to-use report generator, will allow our end users to create reports and get data to serve many functions."
The Web-based SIS is designed to be customizable and to easily integrate with third-party applications. Features of the system include:
- Tools for state and local reporting;
- A schedule builder capable of syncing across schools;
- A gradebook with integration for individualized education programs, visual seating charts, and more;
- Professional development management;
- Support for teacher Web pages; and
- The ability to track health records, special education, graduation requirements, and attendance, among other areas.
"While our old system served us well for 14 years, we expect the Aspen system to do an even better job of providing parents and students with access to information, which has become more critical with recent changes in state requirements," Truax said. "As a result of our migration to Aspen, collecting, managing and reporting student information will be improved and we will be able to provide our staff, students and parents with even better service."
The move builds on previous relationship between Follett and the district as Mukilteo currently uses the company's Destiny Library Manager.
Located 15 miles north of Seattle, WA, the Mukilteo School District serves approximately 14,000 students at 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools. Mukilteo "also operates a facility that provides a range of vocational programs for high school students from 14 different school districts," according to information on the district's Web site.
More information about Aspen is available at follettsoftware.com.
About the Author
Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].