Exploring the Features of the Aeries Student Portal in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

The Aeries Student Information System (SIS) is a comprehensive platform used by numerous K-12 school districts in the United States. Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) leverages Aeries SIS to manage student data, streamline daily operations, facilitate communication, and even aid in fundraising efforts. This article delves into the features of the Aeries student portal within OUSD, highlighting its impact on communication, data management, and overall efficiency.

Aeries SIS: The Backbone of OUSD's Data Management

With 26 years of experience in the K-12 sector, Aeries SIS serves as a central database for student information within OUSD. The system powers various critical functions, including daily operations, student portals, and communication platforms. The district's adoption of Aeries Communications, powered by ParentSquare, has further enhanced its ability to connect with families and staff.

Aeries Communications Powered by ParentSquare: A Unified Communication Platform

OUSD utilizes Aeries Communications, a unified school-home communications platform powered by ParentSquare, to ensure secure, two-way communication. This platform provides parent engagement tools that extend from the district office to individual classrooms, supported by comprehensive metrics and reporting.

Efficient Health Screening

The district's adoption of Aeries Communications began with piloting the platform's COVID-19 health screening tool at three school sites. This tool enabled the district to efficiently monitor the daily health status of students and staff. As Joanna Powell, staff attorney for Oakland USD, explained, the district needed a "higher-tech health screening process" when bringing staff and students back to school during the 2020-21 school year.

The health screening process involves each student or staff member answering three key questions:

Read also: Unlocking Aeries for Students

Are they COVID-19-positive?
Have they been exposed to someone with COVID-19?
Are they experiencing symptoms from a provided list?

Parents can submit screening information for their children, and school staff can submit it for themselves and their children, if applicable. This efficient system allows for quick identification of potential health risks, contributing to a safer school environment.

Enhanced Communication

Aeries Communications powered by ParentSquare has significantly improved communication within OUSD. According to Joanna Powell, the district is "well on our way to achieving the goal of efficient and effective communication with students’ families." ParentSquare is used by millions of educators and families in 44 states, indicating its widespread reliability and effectiveness. The platform streamlines communication, ensuring that parents and guardians are informed about important updates, events, and student progress.

Aeries Mobile Portal: Accessing Data on the Go

The Aeries Mobile Portal app allows users to access Aeries student data from their mobile devices. This app is available for both iOS and Android platforms, providing convenient access to student information for parents, students, and staff. With Aeries Mobile Portal, it's easier than ever to check grades, attendance, assignments, and other vital data.

Improved App Stability

Recent updates to the Aeries Mobile Portal app have focused on improving stability and performance. Critical crashes during login and general navigation have been resolved, and the "Something went wrong" error and database issues occurring after app updates have been fixed. These improvements ensure a smoother user experience and better performance, especially for users with multi-student accounts.

Data Privacy

Aeries Software Inc. emphasizes data privacy, stating that the developer does not collect any data from the Aeries Mobile Portal app. This commitment to privacy is crucial for maintaining the trust of users and ensuring the security of sensitive student information.

Read also: Accessing Student Information

Key Features and Benefits of Aeries SIS

Aeries SIS offers a range of features and benefits that contribute to its effectiveness in managing student data and supporting educational operations.

Aeries Online Enrollment

Aeries Online Enrollment revolutionizes the enrollment process, saving valuable time for attendance clerks, office managers, office staff, and parents. By streamlining the enrollment process, Aeries SIS reduces administrative burdens and improves efficiency.

Aeries Analytics

Aeries Analytics provides unparalleled insight and transparency into areas of growth and development, from individual student progress to site-wide trends. This data-driven approach enables educators and administrators to make informed decisions and tailor interventions to meet the specific needs of students.

Personalized Communication

Aeries SIS facilitates personalized communication through real-time updates and effortless multi-channel communications. This ensures that everyone stays informed and engaged, fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration.

Testimonials

Several educators and administrators have praised Aeries SIS for its effectiveness and impact on their districts.

Read also: How to Check Your GPA on Aeries

Jason Hill, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Redlands USD, CA: "I have introduced various software platforms and companies to achieve our district’s goals."
Quyen Nugyen, Director, Research and Evaluation, Alvord Unified School District: "Aeries has always been the leading SIS when it comes to state reporting requirements. When new CALPADS or state reporting changes are announced, Aeries is consistently one of the first vendors ready with accurate, on-time updates."
Kari Button, Director of Curriculum at Van Vleck Independent School District in Texas: "Once we started looking more into Aeries, we realized how much better it was than the program we were using."
Ed Hilton, Chief Technology Officer, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District: "The ability to run robust queries directly in Aeries allows us to pull exactly the data we need, in the format we need it, without jumping through hoops."
Ricardo Recinos, PreK-12 Technology TOSA / World Languages TOSA at Hacienda La Puente Unified School District in California: "By tapping into the powerful synergy between Aeries and external tools, educators can simplify their workload, keeping their attention on teaching instead of administrative duties."

These testimonials highlight the versatility and effectiveness of Aeries SIS in addressing the diverse needs of school districts.

Navigating the Aeries Student Portal

The Aeries student portal is an online platform designed for U.S K-12 school districts, enabling parents and students to access academic details. To log in, users need to navigate to their specific portal, such as FUSD, SAUSD, or IUSD. However, the general Aeries portal can be accessed through https.www.aeries.com login.

Data Confirmation

Data Confirmation is a critical process that creates the returning student’s Emergency Card for the new school year. Parents are required to review annual notifications and update student information by clicking on the banner. Completing “Data Confirmation” ensures that the student’s Emergency Card is up-to-date and accurate.

The Data Confirmation process involves acknowledging annual notifications regarding:

Parent/Pupil Handbook Notification of Rights
eDocs “paperless” Program
Human Reproduction Education (secondary schools only)
Myers-Stevens Student Accident Insurance
Native American Program

By completing these steps, parents ensure that the school has the necessary information to support their child's safety and well-being.

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