SIS Upgrade Tonight @ 7p.m.

The SIS (PowerSchool) application upgrade to version 20.11.4.0  will begin tonight at 7 p.m.  This upgrade will ensure compatibility with the upcoming Oracle 19c release.  In addition, there will be an update to the State Reporting package.  This update will include modifications to the Fall Legislative Class Size, AMC, ALOT, and CRDC.  A new set of Unofficial Legislative Class Size reports will also be put into production this weekend. More information about these individual reports can be found in the sections below. 
 

Note:  Due to this maintenance, our regular monthly Home Base maintenance that is scheduled for Nov. 19 has been canceled. 

The PowerSchool application will go down at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, November 5 and will return to service no later than Monday, Nov. 8 at 6 a.m.  Details of what this upgrade entails are available in the release notes for PowerSchool SIS 20.11.4.0.

At this time, the PowerSchool application is the only system that will be affected during this maintenance window.  All other Home Base applications will remain available.

Please share this information with the appropriate staff.

Official Fall Legislative Class Size Report

The Fall Legislative Class Size (LCS) Collection will be updated during the maintenance window to include the new Elementary Combination Special Program logic as well as the new maximum enrollment numbers as outlined in legislation. Pursuant to §GS115C-301 this data is collected two times a year and captures data from the end of October and end of February of each school year.  Each local board of education, through the superintendent, shall file a report, based on information provided by the principal, for each school within the local school administrative unit with the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  

The due date for the approval of the Fall LCS Report, affidavit, and waiver submissions is November 30, 2021. 

Unofficial Legislative Class Size Monthly Reports

While the official Legislative Class Size Collection is reported to State Superintendent’s office twice a year, legislation requires districts to monitor local class enrollment totals throughout the year. Throughout the year, local boards of education shall report exceptions to the class size requirements set out for kindergarten through third grade and significant increases in class size at other grade levels to the State Board and shall request allotment adjustments at any grade level, waivers from the requirements for kindergarten through third grade, or both.

A new set of reports will be placed into all PowerSchool instances this weekend. New, Unofficial Legislative Class Size reports will be available on the State Reporting page and these reports follow the exact same logic as the official reports. These reports are to be used as a monitoring tool and can be ran each month to help principals and data managers have quicker access to viewing class size totals. Schools are not required to submit the unofficial reports, but NCDPI does encourage you to run these monthly and report any class size exceptions to the State Board of Education.

Collecting Data for Headcount Transfers

There have been many questions as to the process in which DPI will be collecting the data for the Headcount Transfers. For FY 2021-22, we will use the same method as we have in previous years. A separate communication will be sent using the weekly newsletters. This communication will advise you as to when the HC Transfer System will open and the deadline that is being given to submit your transfers.

DPI has been working on a new method to collect this data using PowerSchool.  Although this method will not be used in FY 2021-22, we still ask that the report be run and approved no later than December 1, 2021. This process will be completed this year so that reports can be sent to DPI to ensure that the reports are working properly and can be used in FY 2022-23.

ECATS Duplicate Student Numbers for Head Count

Please be reminded that the DPI EC Division has a federally required Active Child Count on December 1.  If you are asked by your EC division to log a ticket to PowerSchool for a duplicate student, please include the following in your subject “ECATS Duplicate Student Numbers for Head Count” and log as Priority 2.  Once the PowerSchool ticket is logged, please provide your EC division with the case number so they can log an ECATS ZenDesk ticket with the case number.  When DPI receives the ticket information from PowerSchool, DPI will complete the process.   When you receive a resolution to the case, you may also provide that to your EC division so they can add the resolution information to the ZenDesk ticket. 

If you have submitted a PowerSchool ticket for an EC duplicate student and did not include the proper subject of “ECATS Duplicate Student Number for Head Count”, please contact PowerSchool with the case number and ask for the ticket subject to be updated. This allows the ticket to be given priority for December 1 Active Child Count.

Advanced Mathematics Course (AMC) Report Update & Resources Available

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your continued patience as we have worked to make necessary changes to the Advanced Math Course (AMC) Report within PowerSchool.  As a reminder, during this weekend (November 5-7), PowerSchool will push into production several changes to correct the functionality of the AMC report, specifically for high school students.  As a result of these changes, the AMC Report submission window has been extended until Wednesday, November 17, 2021.  All LEAs are expected to run and approve the report at both the school and LEA level by close of business on 11/17/21. 

To support district personnel with running, verifying, and approving the report, as well as correcting any data, the following resources are now available:

• WebEx meeting recording: Advanced Math Course Reporting Overview Video
• Password: 2021AMC_Report
• Recording link: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/ldr.php?RCID=efad4887ff6497edbf4d1e6edab4aac8
• Brief FAQ for the AMC reporting process 
• LEA Data Correction Form accessible here: https://bit.ly/3jcWu4Z

In addition, NCDPI will host office hour opportunities via MS Teams as outlined below (just click the link to join):  

Monday – Wednesday (11/8 – 11/10): 1:00 – 2:00 each day (Click here to join the meeting)

Monday – Wednesday (11/15 – 11/17): 9:00 – 10:00 each day (Click here to join the meeting)

Please contact Stephanie Cyrus at stephanie.cyrus@dpi.nc.gov with the Division of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education with questions.

OCR/CRDC - New Document and PowerSchool Update

Dear Coordinators,

Please share with other staff as appropriate.

Note:  PSUs which were not open in the school year 2020-2021 are not required to participate in this collection.

New Document and Document Updates

A new document, CRDC Task List, has been published on the NCDPI CRDC Documentation and Webinars Events page.

The document, titled CRDC Task List, is a high-level task list for completing tasks for the SY2020-2021 Civil Rights Data Collection.   Use this document as guide for what to complete and by when.  Notes and links to resources have been included.

Setting up PowerSchool for the CRDC has been updated to include the following note: ‘Setup should be completed in the current year of PowerSchool.’

Reviewing the PowerSchool CRDC Preview Report  has been updated to include the following items of information:

• Run the PowerSchool CRDC Preview Report in the current year.
• For the CRDC SY2020-2021, users can approve the LEA level report between November 15 and December 3, 2021.

Non-PowerSchool CRDC Files

Thank you to the PSUs who have begun to review the Non-PowerSchool data files.  This review has been especially helpful in spotting anomalies before the upload in December.  Below is the most recent information regarding the three files.

• Internet Devices file was updated November 3.  Columns in the previous file were misaligned.  The issue has been resolved.  The file can be downloaded and filtered to view entities within a PSU reporting Internet Access and Devices. 
• Certified Teacher Class Counts is currently missing some AP and IB courses.  This file will be re-published next week. 
• Staff data is pending.  The file should be published next week. 

PowerSchool Update This Weekend

The update to PowerSchool this weekend includes fixes to the issues communicated in the CRDC Coordinator message sent October 21, 2021.  The issues are specific to students who are cross enrolled for CRDC courses at a second school.  The first is Algebra I Passing Counts (grades 7-12), the second is IB Program Enrollment (grades 9-12).

When to Approve the LEA Level PowerSchool CRDC Preview Report

Coordinators can begin Approving the LEA Level PowerSchool CRDC Preview Reports after November 15, 2021. 

NC CRDC Workgroup is Now Open

All CRDC and Student Information Coordinators recorded in EDDIE have been granted access to the NC CRDC Workgroup.  The workgroup provides the opportunity to communicate peer to peer within the state. All messages are sent to the entire group and should adhere to FERPA and HIPAA guidelines.  The workgroup requires an account and password to be sent in a separate email.  The workgroup is optional and any staff working on the CRDC may join.  Access and Removal requests should be sent to molly.hash@aemcorp.com.

​​ 

For the purposes of the CRDC, you can book an appointment with me in the afternoons from November 1 through December 3, 2021.  Click this link:  https://calendly.com/terralynne/30min

Reminder:  2022-23 Course Code Request 

 The window for requesting new 2022-23 Course Codes is open and will remain open until Wednesday, November 10, 2020. If you have any specific course code requests for the 2022-23 school year or have general ideas for how we can improve the statewide course code system, please be sure to submit a response by the deadline. If you have any questions or concerns related to the survey, please contact Brandon Young at brandon.young@dpi.nc.gov. 

https://ncdpi.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0vSMjTGvzCWcGjk

Reminder:  PowerSchool HBMU FAQ

A Frequently Asked Question document was developed following the September 2021 Home Base Meet Up for PowerSchool and is now released. The document has been thoroughly reviewed by all applicable NCDPI divisions and business owners. While we still have a few unanswered questions, this document is available now and will be updated as additional information is provided to the Home Base team. Please bookmark this link and check back frequently for updates. 

• The September PowerSchool Home Base Meetup recording can be viewed on our YouTube channel at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad4FcdKWaBk&list=PL6JYMm0YidClhGYklnzj8B9gV81GEEElw&index=2 
• The HBMU opening presentation slide deck is also available here. Recordings and slide decks for all products can be found on slide 8 of the opening slides.
• The PowerSchool HBMU slides can be found at the following link. https://bit.ly/PS_Sept29

Thank you for your patience as we worked through your questions! 

Reminder:  #GoOpenNC Point of Contact

NCDPI is seeking a #GoOpenNC point of contact for each PSU. We ask that each school or district designate someone within their PSU and submit their information in the survey below. Any questions can be directed to Corey.McNeill@dpi.nc.gov.

Contact Survey Link

Welcome to Home Base - A Quick Video of Who We Are

Each year, PSUs experience an influx of new staff.  The Home Base Team is aware of these changes and has created a short video to help acquaint and reacquaint users with Home Base. 

Please checkout the  "Welcome to Home Base" video which gives a quick overview of what Home Base is and how all its components work together. Feel free to share it with your peers and use it in your trainings. 

2021-22 NCEES Webinars

NCEES Webinars are held most Tuesdays from 4-5 PM.

Click on the Titles to Register. Navigate to Webinars 2021-22 to view webinar descriptions.

• Middle of Year Processes for Principals Tues. Nov. 30, 4-5 PM
• Middle of Year Teachers/Support Staff  Tues. Dec. 7, 4-5 PM
• Admin Reporting in NCEES  Tues. Dec. 14, 4-5 PM
• Understanding the Teacher Rubric - 2 hours  

RECORDING - PRESENTATION - FAQs

Follow Us on Social Media!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and begin receiving "Did You Know" tips featuring each Home Base product. 

These messages will include upcoming changes, tips, and even hidden treasures within each product to make your job easier.  If you are not following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, click on the links below and begin today!  Make sure you share this information with other staff within your school.

Instagram:  @nchomebase         Facebook:  @nchomebase       Twitter:  @nchomebase

NCDPI Technology Support Center

NCDPI's Technology Support Center continues to meet your support needs for:

• Schoolnet 
• NCEES/Unified Talent 
• Staff & Student UID (eScholar)

Support availability:

Web (NEW URL):  https://ncgov.servicenowservices.com/sp_dpi   -  24/7

Phone:  919-716-1840, Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding state holidays)

Technical support for SIS needs is handled directly by PowerSchool support using chat, phone, or by opening a case ticket.