Updating Assessment Data in Focus
During the course of the school year, PDE requires different internal snapshots of student data for multiple assessments: Keystones, ACCESS for ELL's, PSSA's, PASA, etc. Prior to these snapshots, Focus must be updated with the most accurate information. 1. Search for the student by using the Find a Student/User…
Title I Coding in Focus
The Upper St. Clair School District provides supplementary education to eligible students through the Federal Title I, Part A program. These students must be properly coded in Focus for accurate PIMS reporting, as well as federal review. 1. Access a student's record either by using the Find a Student/User feature…
Coding Assessments in Focus
All Upper St. Clair students, both active and inactive, must have assessment coding in Focus for proper PIMS reporting. Mass assignments occur at the beginning of the school year. As new enrollments are received, manual additions must be made to the incoming student's record at the building/department level to ensur…
Submitting An Absence Request Through The Parent Portal
Focus has made some exciting improvements for the new school year. Now, if parents and guardians know ahead of time that their child will be missing school, they can submit an absence request, regardless of whether they are using a laptop, desktop computer, or other portable or mobile device . This may be handled …
Submitting An Excuse Note Through The Parent Portal
Focus has made an enhancement to its excuse note process. Now, parents and guardians can upload excuse notes, regardless of whether they are using a laptop, desktop computer, or other portable or mobile device . This eliminates the need to send a paper note to the attendance office at your student's building. This…
Updating PVAAS Staff and Student Subtest Entries in Focus
Once the PIMS Administrator has generated the PVAAS Staff & Student Subtest entries in Focus, users with the appropriate profile permissions can view and edit their building's data. 1. Select PA Reports from the Main Menu, then choose PVAAS under the Processes submenu. 2. If manual corrections need to b…
Reviewing Courses for PVAAS
Courses that are identified as trigger courses for state assessments, such as PSSA's, PASA's, and Keystones need to be properly identified in Focus. To assist in preparation for PVAAS reporting, each building should add the appropriate data when creating a new course and review their existing courses and sections. Id…
Documenting Protection From Abuse orders in Focus
In a continuing effort to provide a safe educational environment for our students, Focus has provided a way of identifying students who have a safety and/or security issue as the result of a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order. 1. Perform a Student Search for the individual who is named within an active PFA. 2. Na…
Southwood Student Entry
The Focus Parent Portal will be the method utilized to enter new or returning Southwood students. 1. Visit the Focus Parent Portal Registration Page at . 2. If you do not have a Parent Portal account , click on I DO NOT have an Account Registered on the Parent Portal. 3. Enter the required inform…
Attendance Communication for Parkway Students
The following steps should be utilized when needing to make automated attendance phone calls for our high school Parkway students. 1. Go to Students>Communication. 2. Click on Compose in the left hand column, then click on "use a template" in the body of the Communication message. 3. A Pop…
