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Frequently Asked Questions

General and Curriculum Questions

Assessment Questions

Reporting Questions

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General and Curriculum Answers

  • What will ATVS (formerly AIMS) be used for in the near future and what is its transition (retirement) period timeline estimated to be?
    • There is some functionality that AIMS offers that is not offered in Schoolnet at this time. For example, TPRI/Tejas Lee and DRA/EDL data can only be entered directly into AIMS (and then transferred to Schoolnet), but at this time, this data cannot be entered directly into the Schoolnet system. This should be added to our next steps with Schoolnet - timeline TBD. With regard to the curriculum, currently, only the YIs are posted in AIMS, since we knew teachers would need access to these documents for planning purposes prior to their access to Schoolnet. Curriculum Road Maps are only in Schoolnet. As soon as Schoolnet is accessible by every teacher (after Aug. 15 & 17 training) we will delete the YIs from AIMS -- by the end of August -- so that teachers will shift to Schoolnet to access the curriculum documents.
  • How long will we have Schoolnet?

    • AISD is committed to providing a strong Instructional Management System. A team with representatives from the Office of Academics, MIS, Office of Educator Quality, Program Evaluation, & the Office of Accountability worked diligently to identify the best system and continues to work to build full functionality to support instruction, assessment, & student achievement.

  • How is SchoolNet being funded?
    • Through a grant from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
  • How do I log into SchoolNet?
    • Type my.austinisd.org in the address field of your internet browser which will take you to the AISD Cloud, and then log in with your network user name and password.
  • Who do I call if I need help with SchoolNet?
    • Call the Helpdesk (414-8324). If they cannot resolve the issue, they will direct you to someone who can and then follow up to make sure it is resolved.
  • How will teachers be trained to use SchoolNet?
    • Campus facilitators will be trained the first 2 weeks of August. They will receive a Teacher Training Module that they will use to train teachers during the week of Aug.15th.
  • Will SchoolNet work with my Lexmark printer?
    • Yes.
  • What historical data is currently (as of July 2011) in SchoolNet?
    • The student demographics, enrollment, attendance, grades, special program participation (i.e., Sp Ed, LEP, etc.) and discipline from SY 2008-09, SY 2009-10 and SY 2010-11.
      The TAKS, TPRI, Tejas Lee and TELPAS results from SY 2007-08, SY 2008-09, SY 2009-10 and SY 2010-11.
  • Will other historical data be loaded into SchoolNet?
    • Yes, the results from the SY 10-11 district developed BoYs, MoYs AND EoYs, as well as SY 10-11 Flynt-Cooter and TAKS R results will be available in SchoolNet on or before Aug. 15TH.

      • SY 10-11 PSAT, SAT, ACT, DRA/EDL AND DIBELS results will also loaded into SchoolNet but probably not before the first day of school year SY 11-12.

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  • What instructional tools are currently (as of July 2011) available in SchoolNet?
    • Yearly Itineraries (YIs): ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Early Childhood, PE, ESL/ESOL, and Health
    • Curriculum Road Maps: 1st Grading Period ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, ESL/ESOL, and Early Childhood
    • ELA Street Views: 1st Grading Period ELA Elem & MS by 7/30/11
  • Will other instructional tools be loaded?
    • Curriculum Road Maps: 1st Semester ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, ESL/ESOL, and Early Childhood by 8/30/11, 2nd Semester ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, ESL/ESOL, and Early Childhood by 12/30/11
    • ELA Street Views: 1st Semester ELA Elementary and Middle School by 9/15/11
    • Administrator Overviews: ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Early Childhood, and ESOL
  • What do I do if I see an error in the data or instruction tools in SchoolNet?
    • Call the Helpdesk (414-8324).
  • We have a lot of new data systems and many of them contain the same information. When will there be a single integrated system?
    • There is no single data system that meets the needs of all of our users. And while each of our systems has a different primary purpose, there will be overlap in their capabilities so that users have access to basic data and reporting tools. However, by accessing SchoolNet through the AISD Cloud, users will be able to move between various systems, such as TEAMS, DEEDS, SEEDS, LPAS, GradeSpeed, MyReporting and SchoolNet after logging in only once.
  • Now that we are using SchoolNet, what is the plan for using AIMS in school year 2011-2012?
    • AIMS will remain in place until it has outlived its usefulness. Users will continue to enter Primary Reading Assessment (PRA )results into AIMS, at least initially, but those results will also be available in SchoolNet.
  • Now that we are using SchoolNet, what is the plan for using TMSDS in school year 2011-2012?
    • AISD has received permission to integrate the TMSDS tests and items into SchoolNet. Assessment staff are working to replicate the pre-constructed diagnostic and “mini” tests in the SchoolNet system and to transfer the test item banks from TMSDS to SchoolNet as quickly as possible.

  • Since “Special Ed. Resource Teachers” don’t have a class roster, is it possible to have access to all students on campus?

    • Yes. The principal needs to submit a TSR in order to give a staff member a different role.

  • Teachers that serve students through Special Education, SCORES, or Reading specialists do not get to see all kids they serve. How do they gain access to students they serve even if they are not in an assigned class? Will they be able to gain access?

    • Educators who do not currently have the access they need may request access through their principal. The principal will need to submit a TSR.

  • If all teachers could see all the data, wouldn’t it make our jobs more efficient and effective?

    • Due to confidentiality laws, educators may only have access to students in which they have direct contact with (e.g. on their roster, case load, etc.).

  • How do Gradespeed and Schoolnet connect?

    • Gradespeed feeds Schoolnet grade data.

  • Do you take attendance on Cloud?

    • Gradespeed is available through the Cloud. It is located under the Administration menu.

  • Will the system be slow when we all have to use it (similar to how Gradespeed is slow when many access it)? Is Schoolnet tied to report cards or progress reports, beyond the report card display under student profile?

    • The Schoolnet system should not be slow due to a high number of simultaneous users. Schoolnet is not currently tied to report cards or progress reports. A report card task force has been formed to consider this and other related issues.

  • Where are the PreK Curriculum Road Maps?

    • Being addressed - resent 9/7 to Schoolnet to upload.

  • Can we input and store lesson plans in Schoolnet?

    • The lesson plan feature in Schoolnet is active. Training will be provided later in the fall.

  • Why are the First 20 Days missing in the materials section for grades 2, 3 and 4?

    • They were available on the curriculum share and are being corrected in Schoolnet by the Curriculum Dept.

  • Currently when teachers search for materials, the default subject is Elective Activities. Can this be changed? It should not be the default.

    • This issue is being investigated.

  • Will all the curriculum documents be available through SchoolNet? There are no street views, science portfolios, or many other resources that are available on the curriculum navigation site.

    • Currently documents in question are housed on AISD servers. Teachers will click on a link in the Curriculum Road Maps to access additional resources.

  • How are the Cloud and the shared drive going to connect?

    • The shared drive is available in the Cloud under the Desktop menu as myFiles.

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Assessment Answers

  • What item banks are available for use by teachers and campus administrators in SchoolNet?
    • As part of the base SchoolNet procurement, the Intel Assess item bank, consisting of 15,000 items in reading, mathematics, and science for grades 2-11, was also purchased. While the item bank was only available in English, AISD will translate and/or “trans-adapt” test items for grades 2-5 into Spanish. Because AISD has obtained access to the state mathematics and science item banks (TMSDS), the Intel Assess translation effort will initially focus on reading passages and test items.
  • Assessment ProtocolWhat review process is being used to ensure the quality and alignment of test items in the SchoolNet item banks (e.g., Intel Assess), Benchmark assessments and the short-cycle assessments (SCA)?
    • The review process is detailed in the Assessment Development Protocol shown at the left (click on image to download the document). All review processes are documented to record reviewer name(s), adjustments, why feedback was used/not used, date in/out, etc. The Assessment Department is working in collaboration with the Performance office, the Curriculum office, and teacher reviewers to implement this protocol to ensure that AISD benchmark assessments are high quality.
  • How will the district developed benchmark assessments be delivered?
    • The 5th and 8th grade Science BoYs will be printed and sent to campuses. MOY I, MoY II and EoY will be available in print or online (for pilot campuses only).
  • How will district developed short cycle assessments (SCA) be delivered?
    • Each teacher’s SchoolNet calendar indicates his or her specific SCA testing window. Teachers access a specific SCAs by clicking on the link in their calendars.
  • Do the SY 11-12 district developed assessments differ from the SY 10-11 district developed assessments?
    • Yes, the BoY assessments for grades 5 & 8 Science that will only cover below grade level standards. The MoY assessments will cover only taught curriculum and be divided into the following: MoY 1 (12 weeks) and MoY 2 (23-25 weeks). The 6-week tests will be replaced by Short Cycle Assessments based on the curriculum units.

  • When you create a SchoolNet assessment, can you save it as a document to later upload to Google.docs to share with your team?

    • Yes, SchoolNet assessments can be downloaded as both a PDF or work documents by opening the test and then going to the Actions, Download Test.

  • Why are the Short Cycle Assessments having format issues when they are printed?

    • We have found that tests print fine using Adobe Acrobat Pro 9 and it is on district laptops, so it should be a district upgrade. The problem also is if you have both Adobe Reader 9 and Adobe Acrobat Pro 9, the default program used is often Adobe Reader 9. Teachers should open and print the tests using Adobe Acrobat Pro 9.

  • What are the details about DRA, Tejas LEE, and TPRI data (how to enter, view, etc.)? Right now only the Kindergarten TPRI can be viewed.

    • Teachers will continue to enter DRA and TPRI/Tejas Lee data in AIMS as they have in the past. This assessment data will be transferred to SchoolNet.

  • Are SpEd Short Cycle Assessments available on SchoolNet?

    • District developed benchmarks and short cycle assessments are not being modified for SY 2011-12. Teachers are encouraged to modify via administration according to the student's IEP (e.g. more time, small group, etc.), not the content of the tests. Additional information regarding administration of benchmarks and SCAs for Special Ed students is being distributed via the Principals Weekly for week of 9/19/11.

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Reporting Answers

  • Will SchoolNet have an "Accountability Student Group Report" so that teachers and administrators can monitor the performance of currently enrolled students who were also enrolled on the PEIMS Snapshot date (in the non-mobile subset)?
    • Yes, AISD has contracted with SchoolNet to develop this "custom" report.
  • I have a reporting need that is not currently addressed in SchoolNet. How can I get a new report added to SchoolNet?
    • Please send a detailed description of your report request to SchoolNetSupport@AustinISD.org.
  • Can you add a filer for homeroom teacher in the “generate a report option”? Currently it is there, but it only gives N/A. This would be helpful for teachers who see multiple groups of students.

    • This issue was reported to SchoolNet and has been fixed.