BC News

District set to pilot Web-based parent portal in January 2009
Release Date: Nov. 10, 2008

In the second half of this year, the district will pilot a Web-based communication tool that promises to strengthen communication between home and school by offering anytime online access to personalized information about a student’s academic program and progress to parents and students.

Assistant Superintendent for Educational Programs Jody Monroe and program developer Peter Kowalski of the district’s Technology Department gave the Board of Education an overview of the new program, known as BC @ Home, at its Nov. 6 meeting.

Parents will be receiving a letter next month describing the pilot phase of the program with detailed instructions about how to register and log-in.

The program has the capability for teachers to post a class calendar, upcoming assignments and assignment grades, 5-week reports and report cards, and an assortment of study materials, as well as to facilitate electronic communication between parents, students and teachers. However, in the pilot phase beginning in January 2009, parents of students in grades 6-12 can only expect that 5-week reports and report cards will be available through BC @ Home. Elementary students will, at this time, receive report cards as they have in the past. Some teachers, both in grades 6-12 and at the elementary level, may make use immediately of the more advanced capabilities of the system.

Ms. Monroe presented BC @ Home to interested faculty members on the Tuesday, Nov. 4 Conference Day and reported broad interest, particularly at the secondary level.

“This will be a really great tool to strengthen communications between home and school,” she said. “It is our hope that through the pilot phase, teachers will familiarize themselves with BC @ Home and explore what it has to offer their students and their families. And, we’d like feedback from everyone so we can be sure it is as effective as possible as it is used more broadly across the district into the future.”

BC @ Home is a secure system, meaning that parents and students don't have to worry about student information being available to any users other than them. The letter that parents receive next month will include a 16-digit code and username for their initial log-in, and then they will be prompted to enter an email address and to establish a secure password.

BC @ Home was developed by Peter Kowalski of the district’s Technology Department, under the direction of Ms. Monroe and Superintendent Michael Tebbano. Dr. Tebbano noted at Wednesday’s Board meeting that by having the expertise in-house to undertake such a project, the district saved money compared with purchasing a commercially available parent portal system. And, he added, by developing it in-district, the program can be continually customized to the needs of the district.

“We have heard from parents who would like access to more information so they can support their child’s learning; we are committed to doing everything we can to help parents take such an active role,” Dr. Tebbano said. “This system shows great promise, and I encourage our faculty and district families to explore it during this pilot phase.”

 

 

 

[top of page]