POWERSCHOOL/MACSCHOOL COMPARISON SHEET

General Benefits

MacSchool PowerSchool

Internet enabled	Internet-based
Multiple servers	One server for district
District-wide standardization of entry	District standardization with ability to allow for grade-level differences
One-Time data entry	Real-Time Data Entry
Query System for student data	Query System for student data
Security for Users and Groups	Security for Users and groups down to page access. Secure Socket Layer encryption capability built in.
Integrates with other systems using ASCII	Integrates with other systems using ASCII, DDE, Autocom/Autosend
Limited fields can be added	Easy addition of fields – no limit
Mac OS 9.2	Mac OSX client, and OSX server
Multiple database	Single database, multiple views.
Module concept – extra license and support of each module, which may not work with consistent command structure.	Single module – all functionality is consistent throughout the product and is included in initial cost.
	Parent phone/link
Training at Canada site 8^th Day Consulting – Local Classes	Training in Utah, CA or Boston, MA., plus regional offerings at various times.
Implementation onsite	Implementation online (cost savings plus follow up at now additional charge)
Enrollment must be off line and then imported into system.	Enroll students live, no down time from server
Cross platform with two products	True cross-platform with one product.

Gradebook

Mac School PowerSchool

Cross-platform access from school or home with export import.	Cross-platform access from school or home which automatically synchronizes with the server (no export/import)
Automatic grade calculation with multiple gradescales	Automatic grade calculation which allow multiple gradescales
Custom grade reports, transcripts, etc. only for a fee	User can customize grade reports, transcripts, once trained. Templates provided. PowerSchool customization quotes available, as well.
NA	Drag and drop standards linking to assignments
NA (works with iPlanet)	Web linking (syllabus, etc) to assignments.
	Gradebook charts and graphs
	Attendance can be taken from the Teacher Page, PowerGrade roster or PowerGrade seating chart.
NA	Student pictures can be dragged and dropped onto seating chart place.
NA	Easily created teacher reports, including “Missing Assignments” and progress reports.
	School and personal comment banks available
Teachers must entire class information onto MacSchool Gradebook	All student roster information “pushed” by school to PowerGrade.
Updates must be manually done for each workstation	Automatic updates from server.
	Five fields available for teacher-specific reports.

Attendance

MacSchool PowerSchool

Attendance consolidated	Attendance reporting real-time down to district-level.
Instant notification of student absence reasons to teachers within school only.	Instant notification of student absent reasons to teacher from attendance office and immediately visible from district office.
NA	Office-modified attendance data cannot be modified by teachers.
NA	Instant report for teachers who have not taken attendance
Attendance data must be submitted daily to district office.	Data is submitted to district office real-time.
Police must be mailed attendance daily	Police have direct access via Internet

Master Scheduler

MacSchool PowerSchool

Build scenarios must be performed only while system is off line	Build scenarios can be performed while system is running
Optimization of resources (teachers, rooms, etc.)	Optimization of resources (teachers, rooms, etc.)
Accuracy average 80%	Accuracy possible to 98%
Conflict analysis	Conflict analysis
Limited	Contraints – Teachers can avoid certain students, Students can avoid students.
Year-round, summer school, quarters, semesters trimesters, etc.	Year-round, summer school, quarters, semesters trimesters, etc.
NA	Scheduling set up by sections

Reporting

MacSchool PowerSchool

State Reporting	Regularly updated state reporting
For detailed reports, Crystal Reports is needed	Built in reporting Engine
Exports to spreadsheets	Exports to spreadsheets
	Utilizes DDE (Direct Data Exchange)
Only through for-fee process	User ability to easily create new fields and then report on them.
NA	SEOP Reports (counselor). Provides a student portfolio with K-12 assessment info, awards, grades, etc.
Attendance reports by period or day.	Attendance reports by minute, period or day.

Discipline

Conduct reporting available. Conduct Log available	Conduct log, which can be reported on for date, issue and author
Unknown	Discipline tracking for drug and safety reporting.
Identifies at-risk students	Identifies at-risk students
NA	Federal Gun Safe Schools Act Information

Health

Health tracking available.	Health log, which can be reported on by date, health issue and health personnel name.
	Emergency Health Screen which provides all needed contacts and related information.
NA	Health alert for health and safety issues regarding medical conditions, etc.

Demographics

Student Schedules	Student Schedules
Heath Information	Heath Information
Health Logs	Health Logs
Grades and Attendance	Grades and Attendance
Family linking information	Family linking information
Custom screens only available through contract with Chancery	Custom screens
NA	Family representative
Not real time	Truancy record and reports
	Transportation information to and from school including bus number , routing, etc. Alternate vehicle Information
Student ID	Locker id, Separate Student ID

Parent/Student Access

Multiple parent access and passwords to parent page	Multiple parent access and passwords to parent page.
Daily updated views	Real-time snapshots of assignments, attendance and grades
Web access, not email access to student data.	Email progress reports and attendance reports
No email access to teachers	Instant email access to teachers.
Separate module for I-Planet, with separate pricing.	Included in product.

Lunch Program

MacSchool PowerSchool

Three-step process to provide some data, difficult to track.	Report on student eligibility for free and reduced meals with audit trail.
NA	Lunch ID cards: ID number can be entered into the system or scanned
NA	Receives lunch, breakfast and milk counts from classroom or office
NA	Integrates free reduced or full pay codes into the program and then links this data with the id number.
NA	Tracks deposits and calculates deductions for each meal.
NA	Daily tallies
NA	Full reporting on free, reduced lunches and milk, plus audit trail.