Student Scheduling in Minutes - Not Days

Download PDF - Student Scheduling Software

 

Focus/SIS accommodates even the most unorthodox scheduling practices with speed and precision. Focus School Software has clients that have fourteen-day rotations, block scheduling, school-within-a-school and programs with multiple variable (different GPA, credit allocation) set-ups. While the set-up rules are flexible and the scheduling algorithms are powerful, the scheduling tools are still easy to use. Some of the benefits of Focus/SIS scheduling include:

 

  • MASS ASSIGN COURSES OR REQUESTS - Users can mass assign courses for a single student, group of students or all students based on any pre-defined criteria. For example, all third grade students with a specific score on the state math test can be placed in a special math course. In addition, requests can be mass assigned and the scheduling algorithm (described below) will place the students into sections based on pre-determined rules.
     
  • BUNDLE COURSES - Some courses are taken together. At the secondary level, this could mean that chemistry and chemistry lab are scheduled together for a student or that a student always takes government in semester 1 and economics in semester 2. For elementary students a homeroom can be linked with subject area courses so that the scheduler only needs to add a student to the homeroom, and the other courses are automatically added to the student schedule. Modifications can then be made on a case-by-case basis.
     
  • RECURSIVE ALGORITHMS - Focus/SIS has benchmarked the automated scheduling function against the best schedulers on the market, and there is no comparison. If it is possible for a student to get a complete schedule, the scheduler will make it happen. The scheduler references school and district rules and then tests every possible schedule by changing all the variables. This is all accomplished in less than a minute.
     

course scheduler

 

  • SCHEDULING REPORTS - Focus/SIS comes with a number of tools for users that prefer to schedule students manually. A master schedule report shows all sections with associated information such as room, available seats, taken seats, period, meetings days, grading scale, etc. Section and course information can be changed directly in the report. Reports are also available for room assignments, teacher assignments, student conflicts (singletons, too few requests, too many requests, underfilled sections, overfilled sections, etc.) and other pertinent information that guides scheduling decisions. Unlike most programs, changes can be made directly in the reports themselves.
     
  • COURSE CATALOGUE - A state or district course catalogue can be imported into Focus/SIS and the district or school can determine which courses are to be offered at each site. Rights and permissions determine which users can change course and section information. Prerequisites, grading scales, course credits and other critical information can be easily viewed and modified with appropriate permissions.
     
  • AUTOSCHEDULE STUDENTS - Administrators can autoschedule a single student even after the scheduling process has been run. For example, a student transfers into a school halfway through the school year. The administrator first enters course requests for the student and then clicks the autoschedule button. Focus/SIS determines how to place the student based on the requests and open sections.
     
  • PRINT STUDENT AND TEACHER SCHEDULES - Focus/SIS allows the user to customize the email or letter sent to students and teachers with their schedule. Information can be merged from the system itself to provide information to include with the schedules.
     
  • ONLINE REQUESTS - Students can enter course requests online. Whether at home or in a computer lab, the student can reference graduation requirements through the student portal and then select courses. Students are prohibited from selecting certain courses, for example, if the student lacks prerequisites. Scanners and walk-in requests are also supported.
     
  • STUDENT SCHEDULE PLANNERS - In addition to being nice to look at, the student schedule grid is useful when trying to find a student in a school that has rotations or another type of setup where the student is in different places on different days. Should the user click on a course in the grid below, she receives information about where the course is meeting, the teacher and other section information.

 

student scheduler

When describing Focus to another district, I tell them that it is user-friendly, very intuitive and that the company is always adding functions that meet teachers needs.

Meg Brown - Director of Technology - Flagler County Schools

We are happy to use Focus/SIS.  As a new school, we were nervous about choosing a student information system.  Focus/SIS has been a great choice.  The responsiveness of the Focus team, trainings, troubleshooting and assistance has made using our SIS a breeze.

Malka Borrego - Executive Director - Equitas Academy Charter School 

Administrators are able to get information about students in real-time.

Meg Brown - Director of Technology - Flagler County Schools

With Focus we got what we wanted – portal, grades, attendance, etc. - without spending as much...

Adam Lewis - Director of Technology - Elverado Schools

When describing Focus to another district, I tell them that it is user-friendly, very intuitive and that the company is always adding functions that meet teachers needs.

Meg Brown - Director of Technology - Flagler County Schools

The parent portal has been a huge success in getting parents involved in their child/children's education. Parents are very pleased with the ease of the program and ability to view all their children with one logon.

Maria McGovern - Flagler County Public Schools

The program is very user-friendly. If I do run into any problems, I simply pick up the phone or email tech support and I get a response in a timely manner. Everyone at Focus has been very helpful!

Patricia G. Mahaney - Director of Guidance - Kenston Forest School

Personally, I don’t think you need a lot of training with Focus because it is so easy to use.

Adam Lewis - Director of Technology - Elverado Schools

Administration and parents are pleased to have this valuable tool to encourage parent communication. The online gradebook has motivated teachers to be current in posting their grades and their assignments.

Maria McGovern - Flagler County Public Schools

The program is very user-friendly. If I do run into any problems, I simply pick up the phone or email tech support and I get a response in a timely manner. Everyone at Focus has been very helpful!

Patricia G. Mahaney - Director of Guidance - Kenston Forest School

Focus is very good at capturing translating, displaying and communicating information to key stakeholders.

John Just - Assistant Superintendent - Pinellas County Schools






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