Student Information Systems Flashcards
7 cards from real PowerSchool Aptitude Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Student Information Systems flashcards as text
In PowerSchool SIS, which data element is used as the unique system-generated identifier that persists across re-enrollments at the same school?
Answer: DCID (Database Identifier)
The DCID (Database Control ID) is a system-generated primary key in PowerSchool that uniquely identifies a record and persists even if the student re-enrolls.
A district wants to prevent teachers from modifying final grades after the grading window closes. Which PowerSchool setting controls this?
Answer: Grade Submission Lock
The Grade Submission Lock setting closes the grading window so teachers can no longer modify or submit final grades after the deadline.
Which PowerSchool feature allows a school to group multiple attendance codes under a single category for reporting purposes?
Answer: Absence Category Groups
Absence Category Groups allow administrators to cluster individual attendance codes (excused, unexcused, tardy) into broader categories for summary reports.
In PowerSchool, what is the function of a 'Section Enrollment' record as distinct from a 'School Enrollment' record?
Answer: It records a student's membership in a specific class/section
A Section Enrollment record ties a student to a specific course section taught by a teacher, while School Enrollment records reflect the student's school-level membership.
What is the recommended PowerSchool process for correcting a student's date of birth that was entered incorrectly at enrollment?
Answer: Edit the DOB field directly in the student demographics screen with proper authorization
Authorized administrators can directly edit the date of birth field in the student demographics screen; deletion and re-enrollment is unnecessary and risks data loss.
Which PowerSchool feature supports the 'No Child Left Behind' and IDEA compliance by tracking students with Individualized Education Programs?
Answer: Special Programs
The Special Programs feature in PowerSchool tracks students enrolled in special education and other federally mandated programs, supporting IDEA and NCLB compliance.
In PowerSchool, when running a DDE (Direct Database Export), what is the primary risk an administrator should be aware of?
Answer: DDE can expose sensitive student PII if not properly secured
DDE provides direct access to raw database tables, meaning unprotected exports can expose personally identifiable information (PII) in violation of FERPA.