MN K12 Tech Coordinator Tips & Tricks
HistoryEdited Nov 3, 2009 2:15 PM by Joel Anderson…

Blog Article: PowerSchool & MCA Data "the old story"

Spent nearly my entire day today working on getting MCA test results into PowerSchool.

My process so far is this:
  1. Export students from PowerSchool
    1. include at least PowerSchool's student ID, and MARSS ID
  2. Import this data into a FileMaker database
    1. I am using FileMaker to automate and simplify as much of the process as possible
  3. Import the MCA Test Results into the FileMaker database
    1. The FileMaker database will then eliminate test result data for students no longer in system
    2. Eliminates the fields not needed (which also prevents PowerSchool from choking on the import file)
    3. Format the date field so that PowerSchool understands it
    4. Truncate the long test scores numbers
    5. Match the PowerSchool ID to the MARSS ID
  4. Export the test data from FileMaker
    1. This may have to be done by building
  5. Import the test data into PowerSchool

Lots of problems to overcome, some easier than others:
  • The MARSS data does not always include the PowerSchool ID
    • Resolved with FileMaker database
  • PowerSchool seems to not want to import multiple test records into one student file in one import process
    • Still thinking about this one...
  • It looks like PowerSchool cannot import Test Scores at the district level
    • This implies we will have to parse the test data by building and perform multiple imports
    • What are the implications for student who have switched buildings?
  • The state stores their data in fields labeled "Score1", "Score2", "Score3", etc. However, these fields do not mean the same thing for all tests. So for example "Score6" for a Grade 4 Math test, is not necessarily the same thing as "Score6" for a Grade 3 Math test.
    • This is going to make it practically impossible to have the data displayed in a meaningful way in PowerSchool.
    • Are we going to have to resort to creating separate Test Scores for each grade level and subject? If so that will make the export/import process even more complicated, as well as more cumbersome for teachers and counselors to navigate the big picture (lots of clicking back and forth between screens.
      • I wonder if I should abandon the Test Scores feature in PowerSchool, and roll my own?
  • FileMaker cannot import multiple records for a single record (duh) without either creating repeating fields or a related database
    • Certainly not impossible to overcome, just makes it more complicated...
    • I used two related tables instead of repeating fields
MCA Importer

Newly identified issues:

  • PowerSchool reports cannot include ALL test scores! It can only include "first", "last", or "best" results.
    • This means that if you wanted to create a simple Reading Test and Math Test, you would only be able to view data from one of the tests, not the test results from grade 3, 5, and 8 for example.
  • The usefulness of "first""last" and "best" conditions implies that you will have to create a Test Score type for each grade and subject area (14 of them so far)
  • You apparently cannot create an import template that uses test score data, making an EXTREMELY tedious job of matching import fields to test score fields on EVERY import.
    • This problem is amplified by 14 test types by separate imports for each building, making this a VERY tedious process.
    • If you have four buildings, you would find yourself manually matching up 26 fields, 56 times!
  • When we tried to import reading results, PowerSchool would not create a pull down menu on the field matching page for one of our fields, making it impossible to important data



Comments

Scott Anderson (unauthenticated)
Oct 10, 2008

This is very useful data.... thanks for posting... I think we can all benefit from this type of blogging... So do we each start our own blog with solutions we find? I think so then we can each have our own style and keep the blog clean.... but subscribe to the RSS to learn from our peers....

Joel Anderson
Oct 10, 2008

That would be one way to do it. Or I could open this site up to other contributors. Or it could move to the MNTechies site. Although I like this system better for editing/adding/tagging stuff. Also thinking of moving it to FirstClass, because that works well also, better in some ways, worse in others. I put the blog in this format as a testing ground to see where it's (OS X wiki/blog) strengths and weaknesses are comparative to FirstClass. So, it is basically an experimental learning experience for me.

Scott Anderson (unauthenticated)
Oct 10, 2008

I think if it was opened up to contributors, there would bemore time cleaning up post to match a person style... I still think we each have our own and subscribe... we subscribe to many others why not local information also? Then the work on each blog/wiki/First class is unique to them... If we blog for personal reason, then there is not a focus on who is not doing something.... it is up to the individual.

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Try my iPad Quick-St...Falsejoel2011-10-27T05:51:48+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00hot/groups/tech/search/index.rss?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcomelist/groups/tech/search/?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcomeRecent ChangesRecentChangesListUpdates?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcome0/groups/tech/sidebar/RecentChangesListmodifiedDateallRecent ChangesRecentChangesListUpdateswiki/welcomeNo recent changes.reverse5searchlist/groups/tech/calendar/Upcoming EventsUpcomingEventsListEvents1Getting events…