Texas School Districts Implement Skyward for Improved State Reporting
Royal and Ore City ISDs chose the state-sponsored, Skyward Student Management Suite for streamlined data reporting process
STEVENS POINT, Wis - Since implementing the Skyward Student Management Suite the Royal and Ore City Independent School Districts (ISDs) are experiencing a simplified and streamlined state reporting process. These districts, along with around 200 Texas school districts, utilize software provided by the leading K-12 school administrative software provider. Skyward became a Texas Education Agency (TEA) state-sponsored student information system preferred provider in 2011.
Royal ISD, located outside of Houston, implemented the Skyward state-sponsored student information system at the beginning of the 2012-13 school year to experience real-time monitoring of critical student data such as grades, scheduling and attendance, and to facilitate school-to-home communication. Ore City ISD, east of Dallas, began using the Skyward Student Management Suite in 2008, when it was looking for a powerful, all-encompassing and user friendly student information software and later transitioned to the state-sponsored version to take further advantage of the extensive benefits under the TEA state-sponsored student information system.
The districts value the complete data reporting assistance Skyward offers, including monitoring of state requirements and notifying districts of changes or variations to state reporting standards. Since the districts rely on this information for funding, it’s crucial that the data be accurate.
Stephanie Leal Hardman, director of special services for Royal ISD, oversees the Public Education Information Management System data reporting process, which is required for all Texas school districts by TEA. Before the district implemented the Skyward Student Information System, it was responsible for manually editing codes for data reporting during this process.
“Our district is saving so much time on the programming end of student data reporting since implementing Skyward,” said Leal Hardman. “Whereas before we spent quite a bit of time scrubbing data to prepare it for shipment to the state, Skyward takes care of the entire process. They are also proactive in keeping our district well informed of any changes to state reporting requirements. I am quite impressed with the comprehensive service and attention to detail Skyward provides.”
Lynn Heflin, superintendent of Ore City ISD, said that when the district implemented Skyward’s Student Management Suite in 2008, it selected a vendor that offered a multitude of resources to support its students and staff. He felt the district’s choice to implement a growing company like Skyward was further validated after TEA selected the software vendor’s student suite as a recommended statewide student information system.
“Ore City ISD wanted a system that was robust, yet easy for the staff to use,” said Heflin. “We were very pleased when TEA named Skyward as a preferred vendor, because our student system was already implemented and would now be fully supported by the state. Skyward has proved time and again that it can meet the growing needs of our district, as well as hundreds of other districts throughout Texas.”
TEA reports that in the two years that Skyward has been a preferred student information system provider for Texas school districts it has met all of the requirements required by the agency, including establishing a data center in Dallas, working collaboratively with regional Educational Service Centers (ESCs) to assist with customer support, and making key product enhancements.
One key product enhancement that was developed in conjunction with the TEA is Skyward’s New Student Online Enrollment that enables parents to register their students without waiting in line or having to visit campus. Parents can securely enter their child’s information and upload supporting documents online at a time that is convenient for them. Not only will this product enhancement benefit Texas districts, but also districts around the world. Skyward plans on releasing the product later this year for all customers.
For more information on the Skyward administrative software and IT consulting services for K-12 districts, visit www.skyward.com.
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Ray Ackerlund
Skyward, Inc.
800-236-7274 ext: 1319
Katie Waite
C. Blohm & Associates
608-216-7300 ext. 26
About Skyward
Skyward is a leading provider of K-12 school administrative software that surpasses districts’ needs in state reporting, improves operational capabilities, and opens communication between schools and families. Today, the Skyward School Management System™ is used in more than 1,600 school districts worldwide, ranging from districts with as few as 50 students to statewide implementations supporting more than 800,000 students. Founded in 1980, Skyward serves school districts with its integrated student, finance, and human resources suite of products and is proudly made and supported in the United States. To learn more, visit www.skyward.com.