Tutorials for New School Year Setup

31 STEPS

1. This tutorial shows how administrators set up a new school year and copy information from the previous year. These steps are not for customers using Custom Data Integration/CDI; those customers should work with their Renaissance consultant.

2. Only district-level administrators or school-level administrators can follow these steps.

3. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

4. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

5. Select Manage Apps & Users.

6. Select Set Up School Year / Copy Options on the right.

7. If the new school year hasn't been added yet, select Add a School Year. Only district-level administrators can do this.

8. On the Add School Year page, select the date range field.

9. If you need to change the default start and end dates, select each date in the calendar. Select Apply.

10. Select the first date that students will attend classes.

11. Use the arrows to go to a different month.

12. Select the date in the calendar.

13. Select Apply.

14. Select the last date that students will attend classes.

15. In this case, use the left arrow to go back one month.

16. Select the date in the calendar.

17. Select Apply.

18. Select Save to add the new school year.

19. The new school year is at the top of the list. Select Back to go back to the main Manage Apps and Users page so that you can go back to school year setup.

20. Select Set Up School Year / Copy Options again.

21. Use the drop-down list under #1 to select the school year that information will be copied to. After you do this, the school year that you are copying information from will be shown.

22. In this example, the newest school year is being selected.

23. Next, select the School drop-down list and check the schools that need information copied. Each school can only have information copied once per school year.

24. In this example, the check mark will be removed for one school.

25. If the page shows a message about what can't be copied, an administrator may already have started entering marking periods, days off, or classes for a school year. If so, some information can't be copied. See the message for details.

26. Under Choose What to Copy, check Copy days off if you want to copy those days to the new school year. Copied days off will be on the same day and month in the new school year. They can be edited later.

27. Next, choose the information to copy. Besides marking periods, some options copy class teachers, products used, and students enrolled. Choose the option that best matches the classes in the new school year. You can edit the copied classes later.

28. Select Copy.

29. Read the reminders and information in the popup message. Then, select Continue. (If you need to make changes, select Cancel; select Copy again after making those changes.)

30. See the status in the Copy Status table. Copying can take some time. Come back to the page later to see when it is done. To avoid problems or duplicate information, don't add or edit days off, classes, or marking periods until copying is done.

31. This is the end of the activity.

23 STEPS

1. This interactive tutorial shows how to check school marking periods, days off, and screening windows. Only district administrators or school administrators can change the dates.

2. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

3. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

4. Select Manage Apps and Users.

5. Select School Calendar on the Manage Apps & Users page.

6. On the School Years tab, if the new school year has not started yet, select Work In for the new school year so you can see the dates and classes for the new school year.

7. The Working in message at the top of the page reminds you that you are not working in the current school year. The future school year selection applies as long as you are on most pages in the Manage Apps & Users section of the software.

8. Next, select the Marking Periods tab.

9. Use the drop-down list to choose which schools to see marking periods for.

10. Check the schools whose marking periods you want to see.

11. If marking periods were copied from the previous year, or if they have already been added, those marking periods will be listed.

12. To add more marking periods, select Add a Marking Period.

13. To change a marking period, select Edit in the marking period's row.

14. Next, select the Days Off tab.

15. If days off were copied from a previous year or have already been entered, the days off for the selected schools will be listed.

16. To change days off, select Edit in the row.

17. To add more days off, select Add Day Off.

18. Select the Screening Windows tab to check those dates.

19. Each school year automatically has Fall, Winter, and Spring district screening windows with the date ranges shown here.

20. If separate school screening windows have been created for reporting, they are listed below the district screening windows. For schools that don't have school screening windows, the district screening windows are also used as the school windows.

21. You can create or edit district screening windows, or you can create separate school windows if you want to use different windows for school-level reporting.

22. When you are done, select Back to go back to the Manage Apps & Users page. This is the end of the activity.

23.

57 STEPS

1. This interactive tutorial shows how to import students, teachers, courses, and classes for one school. Only district administrators and school administrators can import data. If you have questions or need help, contact Renaissance Support.

2. If your site is set up with Custom Data Integration or CDI, do not follow these steps; instead, contact your Renaissance representative to import data.

3. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

4. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

5. Select Manage Apps & Users.

6. Select Upload Your Roster on the right side of the Manage Apps & Users page.

7. Select Download File Template to get a copy of the template. Open the file and enter information about the students, teachers, courses, and classes to import. Be sure to include required information. See the Tips and Examples or the Requirements.

8. Save the file as a CSV file and drag it into the field for the completed template.

9. Use the School drop-down list to choose the school to import the data into.

10. Select a school. This tutorial uses School 1.

11. Use the School Year drop-down list to choose the school year to import the data into. This is important because the grade levels and classes in your file only apply to the school year that you select.

12. Select the school year.

13. Select Next.

14. In the next step, check the row types in the first column to make sure the header row is identified and other rows are marked as Data to Import. If there are rows that you don’t want to import, select Ignore this row from the drop-down list.

15. Select Next to go to the next step.

16. Check the column headings to make sure each column of data has been identified correctly. If necessary, use the drop-down list to change the data description for a column. Scroll to the right to see more columns.

17. Columns of data that can’t be identified are orange. Use the drop-down list to identify the column or set it to be ignored.

18. Select Next.

19. In the Review Data step, review the summary of the data and check for any errors. If an error requires you to modify your file and re-upload it, a link for uploading the new file will be shown.

20. Use the check boxes to choose the data to import – student, personnel, and/or course and class data. If you import course and class data, choose whether to include student enrollments and assigned teachers for the classes.

21. Select Next.

22. Next, use the drop-down list to choose how to match students in the file to those already on the site.

23. Choose matching criteria.

24. The Add more matching rules option lets you choose more criteria for matching students.

25. Use the drop-down list to choose the additional criteria.

26. For example, User name will try to match students by their user names as well as the criteria specified in the first drop-down list.

27. To delete the additional rule, select Delete this matching rule.

28. Using the check boxes, choose whether students must have the same grade and/or school to be considered a match.

29. Select Preview Student Matching Results.

30. The preview shows how many students will be updated because a match was found and how many new students will be created. For matched students, it shows which information will be updated. This helps you confirm the data will be imported as intended.

31. Use the check boxes to choose whether to update information for matched students and whether to create new students if no match is found. Base your choices on what you want the import to do: update students, create students, or both.

32. Select Next.

33. For personnel, use the drop-down list to choose the criteria for matching personnel in the file to those already on your site. As with students, you can add more matching criteria.

34. The drop-down list includes these options.

35. Use the check box to choose whether personnel must be assigned to the school that you’re importing data into in order to be considered a match.

36. Select Preview Personnel Matching Results.

37. The preview shows how many personnel will be updated and how many new personnel will be created.

38. If personnel in the file have the same email addresses as users on the site, but they weren’t matched to those users, edit the file to make sure all email addresses are unique. Select I'm ready to retry the import to start the import process again.

39. Use the check boxes to choose whether to update matched personnel with information from the file and whether to create new personnel when no match is found.

40. Select Next.

41. In the Match Courses step, use the drop-down list to choose whether to match courses by ID or name.

42. This tutorial will use Course Name.

43. Select Preview Course Matching Results.

44. The preview shows how many courses will be updated and how many new courses will be created. For matched courses, the preview shows which information will be updated.

45. Use the check boxes to decide whether to update matched courses with information in the file and whether to create new courses when matches aren’t found.

46. Select Next.

47. In the Match Classes step, use the drop-down list to choose whether to match classes to those already on your site by ID or name.

48. This tutorial uses Class Name.

49. Select Preview Class Matching Results.

50. The preview shows how many classes matched and will be updated and how many new classes will be created.

51. Use the check boxes to choose whether to update matching classes with information from the file and whether to create new classes when matches aren’t found.

52. Select Next.

53. In the Review and Import step, carefully check the summary of the information that will be imported and the matching options you chose.

54. Read the notice; then, check the box to acknowledge it.

55. Select Start this Import.

56. You will see the status of the import.

57. When the import is done, select View Import Log to see more information about what was imported.

This is the end of the activity.

27 STEPS

1. This tutorial shows how to review student and personnel information and make changes if necessary. Only district administrators or school administrators can change student and personnel information.

2. If you use Custom Data Integration or CDI, do not make changes to student or personnel accounts in Renaissance.

3. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

4. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

5. Select Manage Apps & Users.

6. Select Users on the Manage Apps & Users page.

7. Use the drop-down lists to choose search options. You can also search for specific students by name, user name, or ID. To see a list of all of the students, simply leave "All" selected without entering student information and select Search.

8. This tutorial uses the Grade option. You can also search by school, teacher, or class.

9. For many options, a second drop-down list appears so you can specify what to search for.

10. In this example, Grade 4 is being selected.

11. Select Search.

12. Review the list of students.

13. Note that the grade shown for students depends on the school year that you are working in. Students are automatically promoted to the next grade in each new school year.

14. To see more information about a student, or to change the student’s information, student characteristics, or enrollment, select the student’s name.

15. To add a student, select Add Student above the search fields.

16. If you see duplicate student records in the list, select Merge Students and select options to merge those records.

17. To see the next page of students in the list, select the “next” arrow.

18. Next, select the Personnel tab to review personnel.

19. Use the drop-down lists or the search field to search for personnel, or simply leave “All” selected and select Search to see a list of all personnel on the site.

20. This tutorial uses the School option.

21. The second drop-down list appears so you can specify the school.

22. Select a school.

23. Select Search.

24. To see more information about a staff member, or to change the person’s information, assigned schools, or permission group, select the person’s name.

25. To add personnel, select the link that reflects the person’s role: Add School Personnel or Add District Personnel.

26. Select Back to go back to Manage Apps & Users.

This is the end of the activity.

27.

39 STEPS

1. This tutorial shows how to review classes for a school and make changes if necessary. Only district administrators or school administrators can change classes.

2. If you use Custom Data Integration or CDI, do not make changes to classes in Renaissance.

3. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

4. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

5. Select Manage Apps and Users.

6. Classes are associated with school years. If the new school year has not yet started and you want to check classes for that school year, select School Calendar.

7. Select Work In for the new school year.

8. The Working In message appears at the top of the page. Select Back.

9. Select Classes and Courses on the Manage Apps and Users page.

10. Use the School drop-down list to choose the school that you want to see classes and courses for.

11. To search for specific classes and courses, use the Search by drop-down list and enter information in the search field. To find all classes in the school, leave the defaults. Select Search.

12. The matching classes in the school will be listed. Review the list.

13. To see only those classes that are missing teachers, students, or assigned products, select the Only show classes not set up toggle. Classes missing any of this information cannot use the software until their setup is finished.

14. To assign products to classes, check the classes in the list.

15. Then, select Assign Products.

16. Check the products that you want to assign.

17. Remove the check marks from products that the class won't be using.

18. In this example two boxes are being unchecked.

19. Select Assign Products.

20. The products that you assign are listed in the Products column.

21. To add or change a class name, teacher, products, or students, select the class name.

22. To choose or change the teachers, select Add/Remove Teachers.

23. Enter the teacher’s name.

24. Select the magnifying glass.

25. Check the teacher that you want to assign.

26. Select Assign Teachers.

27. To remove a teacher, select Unassign in the row for that teacher in the table. If the class has more than one teacher assigned, select Lead next to the lead teacher.

28. Select Done.

29. Check the products that the class will use.

30. To add or remove students in the class, select Add/Remove Students.

31. To search for students to enroll, select a grade and/or enter the name of a specific student.

32. Select the magnifying glass.

33. Check the students to enroll in the class.

34. Select Enroll Students.

35. The student you added is now in the list on the right. To remove a student from the class, select Unenroll in the row for that student in the list.

36. When you have finished adding or removing students, select Done.

37. Select Save to save the changes to the class.

38. Select Back to go back to the Manage Apps and Users page.

This is the end of the activity.

39. That's it. You're done.

29 STEPS

1. This tutorial shows how to restrict the dates and times when students can take Star assessments or Accelerated Reader quizzes and how to restrict student work from home. Only district and school administrators can perform these tasks.

2. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

3. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

4. Select Edit Preferences.

5. The preferences for date and time restrictions are school preferences. Select one of these preferences to set restrictions.

6. You will see a row for each of your schools. To limit activity by date for a school, check the first box.

7. Then, select the date field.

8. In the calendar, administrators set the start and end date of the range when activity is allowed. In this tutorial, the administrator opts not to set date restrictions. If you set date restrictions, note that these must be updated every school year.

9. The administrator removes the check mark.

10. To limit student activity to weekdays, check the second box.

11. To limit activity to certain times of day, check the third box.

12. Move the first circle to choose the earliest time when activity is allowed each day.

12b. Drop

13. Move the second circle to choose the latest time when activity is allowed each day.

After selecting the circle on the preference page, you can also use the arrow keys to move it more precisely.

13b. Drop

14. If you want to allow anyone with the monitor password to override these restrictions, check the last box.

The monitor passwords for each class are set in the Class preferences.

15. Repeat the settings for the other schools, or select Set All to apply changes to all schools. When you're done, select Save Changes.

16. Select Back.

17. Repeat these steps in the other Dates and Times preferences if you want to set restrictions for those activities.

18. If you want to prevent all student quizzing or assessments from home, set IP restrictions. Only the district-level administrator can set these restrictions.

First, select your initials at the top of the page.

19. Select Manage Apps & Users.

20. Select Product Administration.

21. Select IP Addresses & Product Access.

22. Enter the external IP addresses or IP range for school computers that students can use to access Renaissance software. Be sure to include all computers that students may use at school.

23. To see examples of IP address entries, move the mouse over the information button.

24. To add individual computers one by one, open this page from each computer and select Add this Computer’s IP Address and save your changes.

25. Check the products that you want to be restricted. If Accelerated Reader is checked, students can’t take quizzes from home, but they can still see their progress using Renaissance Home Connect.

26. If Star 360 is checked, students can’t take Star Reading, Star Math, or Star Early Literacy assessments from home. This applies to both English and Spanish assessments.

27. If Star Custom is checked, students can’t open Star Custom assignments from the Assignments list when they log in from home.

28. After changing the settings, select Save Changes.

This is the end of the activity.

29.

26 STEPS

1. This tutorial shows how to transfer students from one school to another for the new school year. Wait until the school year has ended to avoid interfering with student work in their old school. Only district administrators can follow these steps.

2. If your site uses Custom Data Integration or CDI, do not follow these steps; school enrollments are handled through CDI.

3. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

4. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

5. Select Manage Apps & Users.

6. Select Users.

7. Select Edit Multiple Students on the Users page.

8. Select Edit School Enrollments.

9. Select the link after “Show students within” to choose the school that the students are currently in.

10. In the window that opens, select the school that the students are currently in.

11. Select Apply.

12. Next, use the drop-down list to choose the grade of the students who will be changing schools.

13. For this tutorial, select grade 6.

14. The students in that grade and school are listed. Check the box next to students who will be changing schools.

15. To select all students in this page of results, check the box at the top of the list

16. If the list of students is split into more than one page, select the Next arrow to find and select more students.

17. Check those students as well. Repeat this step for each page of results.

18. The number of selected students is above the table.

19. Using the drop-down list, choose whether to simply enroll the students in a new school or to enroll them in the new school and unenroll them from their current school.

20. For this tutorial, select the option to enroll students in the new school and unenroll them from the old school.

21. Select the Select School button.

22. In the window, select the students’ new school.

23. Select Apply.

24. To finish changing the students’ enrollment, select Apply to Students.

25. Select Done when you have finished changing students’ school enrollments.

This is the end of the activity.

26.

12 STEPS

1. This tutorial shows how to choose the learning standards that are used by your software. Learning standards are used to show mastery; they are also used for Planner and Star Custom. Only district administrators can follow these steps.

2. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

3. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

4. Select Manage Apps & Users.

5. Select Product Administration.

6. Next, select Learning Standards.

7. Learning standards should only be set once a year at the beginning of the school year. Do not change learning standards during the school year so that you do not interfere with reporting or student assignments.

8. For each subject, use the drop-down lists to select the standards to use.

9. Select a set of learning standards from the drop-down list.

10. When you are done, select Save Changes.

11. Select Back.

This is the end of the activity.

12.

10 STEPS

1. This tutorial shows how to check preference settings. Check these settings each year once the new school year starts.

2. If the site has the Home page, select the initials.

3. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select the user icon.

4. Select Edit Preferences.

5. District preferences stay the same from one year to the next until a district administrator changes them. District administrators should select each district preference and review the settings.

6. School preferences also stay the same when the school year changes. School or district administrators should select each preference to review the current settings for each school and make changes if necessary.

7. If date restrictions have been set for Accelerated Reader quizzes and Star assessments, you need to update the date settings to reflect the start and end of the new school year.

8. The default class preference settings are used for your new classes. Select each preference and review the settings for each class. Administrators can change settings for any class; teachers can change settings for their own classes.

9. Individual student preferences carry over from one school year to the next. To check or change them, select each preference, select a class, and then select the students to see their settings.

10. This is the end of the activity.

18 STEPS

1. This tutorial shows how to check benchmarks for Star Reading, Star Early Literacy, Star Math, and Star Spanish. Benchmarks should be reviewed at the beginning of each new school year.

2. If the site has the Home page, select Star Reading, Star Early Literacy, Star Math, or Star Spanish.

3. Then, select Manage Goals & Benchmarks in the menu that opens.

4. If the site has Renaissance Next for Leaders, select Star on the left.

5. Select Star Reading, Star Early Literacy, Star Math, or Star Spanish.

6. Then, select Manage Goals & Benchmarks in the menu that opens.

7. Select View or Edit Benchmarks.

8. Select the drop-down list to choose the product whose benchmarks you want to see or change.

9. Select a product. In this tutorial, select Star Reading.

10. District-level administrators can select Edit Default Benchmark to choose which benchmarks to use by default.

11. Select the default benchmarks to use for each product. The selected benchmarks will be used for reports for all schools.

12. Select School, District, or State/Linked Benchmarks. In this tutorial, select District.

13. Select Save.

14. To view or edit district or school benchmarks, select the appropriate tab.

15. Depending on your role, you may be able to edit the benchmark structure or the cut scores.

16. If the selected product has state benchmarks, select the third tab to review them.

17. The state benchmarks for each grade are shown. State benchmarks cannot be changed.

This is the end of the activity.

18. That's it. You're done.