API Questions and Answers (PowerSchool)

What does the PowerSchool API do?

We are able to integrate the CENTEGIX Visitor Management (VM) System with PowerSchool to save you time and money! In fact, this integration can save a single school 2 hours of data entry per day. This can add up to $5,000 in savings per school per year!

CENTEGIX Visitor Management is an approved PowerSchool ISV partner with access to all PowerSchool API integration tools.

Once districts are on the Enterprise Edition of VM, they have the option to add on the PowerSchool API connection to the district’s School Information System (SIS). This allows VM and the district’s SIS to share the following data in real time:

1. Student roster data and attendance codes are automatically exported from PowerSchool to our system and kept current. All student names and attendance codes will be stored in your Default Settings of your Manager.
2. Student Tardy and Early Departure data is automatically exported from our system to PowerSchool. Student information, the attendance code selected and the time will all be posted back into the attendance table for Period and Daily attendance.

How secure is this connection? You have access to our student information now.

Very—PowerSchool has created a secure API and has assisted us in this connection to send and retrieve information in the most protected way. Always be assured our system is secure even without this API connection. CENTEGIX ensures our system is FERPA compliant. Our API is the only one for Visitor Management systems to receive the Seamless Data Exchange Badge – to use the PowerSchool API for seamless, secure data exchange; read and write-back capabilities allow bi-directional data integration with PowerSchool.

What do I need to get the PowerSchool API?

You will need to purchase the Enterprise Edition of our software with the added PowerSchool API connection. Enterprise Edition is only available to school districts and private schools that are not connected to a school district. Individual schools cannot purchase Enterprise with PowerSchool connection on their own. You will always have the manual import/export from PowerSchool to CENTEGIX apps until the API is put in place.

Along with your purchased license, you will need a compatible thermal printer and tardy slip rolls if you wish to print tardy passes, as listed here.

Who should I speak with at my district to get this implemented?

You will want to start with the person who purchased or manages the visitor management system at the district level. If you do not know who this person is ask your visitor management local Director. Look for your Directors of Safety or Security, Directors of Technology and involve your PowerSchool Administrator at the district level to have them review and approve the API.

Can we have more than one station tracking students?

Yes. Each school can install as many CENTEGIX Visitor Management systems as they would like!

Will this work in Elementary, Middle and High Schools?

Yes. Our API will send all attendance back for tardy to school for meeting and daily, as well as class-by-class tardies for meeting attendance. Schools are able to log all tardies, early releases, and even returning students.

Can I run this as a Kiosk or only by a school attendant?

You can run in the kiosk or attendant mode. Our system will import all student names and attendance code descriptions. Think about how you monitor attendance now and what codes are used. If you can limit the codes selected for attendance to unexcused only and handle exceptions manually once you receive a note, then your school can use the system as a kiosk. This will allow all students or parents to process tardies and early releases on their own without the need for a staff member to do this task.

If you need all attendance-coded descriptions within our system, we would suggest having an attendant track the tardies and early releases. They could select the name and appropriate attendance code to go into PowerSchool.

Will I still be able to track the reason they are late and all other additional information?

Yes! You will still have additional information fields 1 and 2 to track other information your school may need for your records, like reasons for tardies and early releases. All information entered during the tardy or early release, including the timestamp, will be added to the comment box of the attendance class.

What do I need to track the tardies? Will this print a pass for the student?

You will need a compatible thermal printer, as detailed on our Compatible Hardware page. You will also need tardy slip rolls. You will be able to print tardy and early release slips as needed for your school with student name, check-in/out time, and reason.

Will the Tardy override what is there if they were already marked absent?

Yes. If a student has already been marked absent and a student comes in as tardy, the attendance code description selected will replace the codes for the classes selected. Also, if a student leaves early, such as for a doctor’s appointment, and then returns, you can mark the student unexcused with a note from the doctor and present for the remainder of the day.

Already have our PowerSchool Connection and having issues?

Most issues with our system syncing into PowerSchool are a result of incorrect settings. Please make sure you are selecting a name from the pre-loaded Students list and selecting an attendance code description in additional information 3 or 4. If you are still having issues or need the API Documentation, please email us at support@centegix.com or call 1-800-950-9202 Option 2.