Teaching & Learning

PowerSchool Unified Classroom 2021 Gains Major New Features and Improved Scalability

• By David Nagel
• 06/08/21

PowerSchool has released a major update to Unified Classroom — PowerSchool Unified Classroom 2021. The new edition brings several new features to the platform, as well as functional enhancements designed to provide “superior integration between assessment and instruction.”

PowerSchool Unified Classroom comprises a learning management system, student information system, formative assessment, analytics and Special Programs to connect “learning tools, student performance data and special programs information to help educators deliver personalized, whole-child instruction,” according to PowerSchool. “These connections bring together the critical teaching and learning tools that educators, students, and families need all in one place.”

New features and functionality in the 2021 edition include:

• “Superior integration between assessment and instruction,” such as student access to benchmarks from Performance Matters directly within the Schoology LMS;

• Improved integration with PowerSchool SIS, including SIS alerts, a new attendance feature and improved access to data from Special Programs;

• Increased scalability and reliability;

• New features to support younger learners; and

• “Greater visibility to the whole child,” including social-emotional learning survey results and third-party assessment results.

Said PowerSchool Chief Product Officer Marcy Daniel: “According to McKinsey, only 49% of a teacher’s time is spent directly with students. Typically, they can spend a lot of time overburdened by technology and administration, versus having technology that can simplify and support their work. PowerSchool created Unified Classroom 2021 based on educators’ feedback to help simplify so they can stay focused on what's most important – delivering a personalized learning experience that can accelerate learning, no matter where teaching and learning takes place. This comes at a critical time for education as learning gaps have widened during the pandemic and finding ways to accelerate learning gains for years to come is more crucial than ever. As of today, with the launch of Unified Classroom 2021, we are committed to ensuring educators and students are better supported with the technology they need to improve student outcomes, building solutions that drive to improve equity so every can student to accelerate their growth.”

Further details, including access to a demo, can be found on the PowerSchool Unified Classroom 2021 portal.