How to transition from classic to course-based report cards?

Intro

This article explains the steps necessary for transitioning the grade reporting module from the old classic mode into the new course-based mode.

Reasons to Switch

• Course-based report cards were created to reduce the labor required by admins to create, maintain, and roll over report cards to the next academic year. Classic mode report cards are labor intensive.
• Course-based report cards support standards-based grade (SBG) reporting. Classic mode does not support SBG.
• Course-based report cards can be managed at the district level for larger school districts. Classic mode can be set up at the school level only.
• Course-based report cards generate PDF files that are easier to transfer and print. Classic mode generates printable HTML pages that may print differently on different computers, printers, etc.
• Classic mode is being phased out of the system. There are no knowledge base articles about classic mode report cards.
• Course-based report cards work the same way for teachers as classic mode. The enhancements built in course-based report cards benefit admins that manage them.

Overview

To complete the transition you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Set up grade reporting options
2. Copy report card
3. Copy report card item lists
4. Assign report card item lists to courses
5. Assign courses that will not show on report cards

Set up Grade Reporting Options

1. Go to Admin Main > Grade Reporting > Options > Edit
2. Set report card mode to course-based
3. Save

Copy Report Card

1. Go to Admin Main > Grade Reporting > Define Report Cards > Copy Report Cards
2. Copy from should be last year
3. Check the check box next to any report card you would like to use in the new mode
4. Copy to should be the new academic year
5. Copy

If additional report cards are needed, then read the following knowledge base:

• How do I create a report card?

Copy Report Card Item Lists

1. Go to Admin Main > Grade Reporting > Report Card Item Lists
2. Click copy report card items
3. Copy from should be last year
4. Check the check box next to any report card item list you would like to use in the new mode
5. Copy to should be the new academic year
6. Copy

If you would like to make additional changes to the way report card grades are displayed for certain courses, then the following KB will be useful:

• how do I create a report card item list?

Assign Report Card Items Lists to Courses

1. Go to Admin Main > Grade Reporting > Report Card Item Lists > Assign to Courses
2. Options to set
• Select the report card item list you would like to assign to course(s)
3. Check the check box next to all courses that should use the selected report card item list
4. Save
5. Repeat these steps until all courses that should print on the report card have report card item lists assigned to them

Assign courses that will not show on report cards

1. Go to Admin Main > Grade Reporting > Report Card Item Lists > Assign to Courses
2. Options to set
• Show on report cards: No
3. Check the checkbox next to any course that should not show up on report cards
4. Save

Further Reading

After the completion of the steps mentioned above you should read the following KB in order to learn how to manage the new report cards:

• How do I manage report cards?

Then you view the report card(s) using the new visual layout and make changes if needed:

• How do I change the appearance of the report card?
• How do I change the order of courses on the report card?

Here are additional report card knowledge base articles that could be useful:

• How do I add attendance to the report card?
• How do I make report cards visible to parents?
• How do I set up weighted GPAs?

If you need further help with course-based report cards, please email us at [e-mail].