Fresno Unified Student Portal: Empowering Students Through Technology

Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) is committed to providing all students with access to technology and the skills necessary to thrive in today's high-tech world. This commitment is reflected in the district's robust technology infrastructure, innovative software, and comprehensive support systems, all designed to meet the needs of students and their families. The student portal serves as a central hub for students to access resources, track their progress, and engage with their education.

Fresno Unified's Commitment to Technology

Fresno Unified recognizes the importance of technology in preparing students for a global, high-tech, information-rich society. To this end, the district invests in state-of-the-art devices, reliable connectivity, innovative software, and comprehensive support to ensure all students can effectively use technology.

Family Learning and Technology Support Centers (FLATS)

Fresno Unified operates six Family Learning and Technology Support Centers (FLATS) to provide assistance to students and families with devices, the ATLAS Student and Parent Portal, and other technology-related subjects. These centers support both on-campus and distance learning environments.

Key Features of FLATS:

Accessibility: FLATS are open Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 4 PM, year-round, including during school breaks (Spring Break, Winter Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Summer Vacation). They are closed only on district holidays.
Device Provision: Students can obtain a FUSD-issued laptop by visiting any FLATS location. No appointment is necessary.
Technical Support: FLATS provide assistance with technological issues related to Fresno Unified laptops, such as white or blue screens and charging problems.
Payment Options: If a student is unable to pay for a replacement device at the time of service, the amount due can be added to the student’s account.
Locations: 600 E. Florence Ave, Fresno.

Accessing the Internet

Fresno Unified provides various options for students to access the internet, including affordable high-speed internet at home and mobile hotspots.

Comcast Internet Essentials

Comcast offers affordable high-speed internet at home through its Internet Essentials program. Financial assistance is available to eligible families.

T-Mobile Hotspots

The district provides T-Mobile hotspots with up to 100 GB of data per device.

ATLAS Student and Parent Portal

ATLAS is Fresno Unified's Student Information System (SIS), designed to provide teachers with smart data dashboards that display a student’s grades, attendance, and behavior in an easily understandable format. Data is updated instantly, allowing teachers to make informed decisions about how to support their students. ATLAS also flags students whose attendance, grades, or behavior have declined, enabling administrators to respond proactively to student needs.

Parent Portal Features

Creating a Parent Portal: To create a parent portal, parents need the Family Account Login information for each student they wish to add.
Language Preference: Parents and guardians can specify a preferred language, and the ATLAS Parent Portal will be translated accordingly.
ATLAS Inbox: The ATLAS Inbox displays announcements received by the parent or guardian.
ATLAS Connect: ATLAS Connect is a direct messaging feature within the Parent Portal, facilitating communication between parents and teachers.
Portal Access Tab: Primary guardians can access the Portal Access tab to manage student information.

Student Portal Features

Summary: The Summary page is the first page that appears when a student logs into their account, providing an overview of their academic progress and activities.
Strides: Strides is a gamified system that allows students to earn virtual achievements and compete with peers based on attendance, GPA, and engagement.
Assessments: Students can view the results of district and state-mandated tests in the Assessments section.
My Devices: The My Devices page displays district devices checked out to the student and the issue date.
Digital Curricula: Students can access their digital curricula through the Student Portal.

Strides: A Gamified Approach to Student Engagement

Fresno Unified has implemented "Strides," a game-like app integrated into the student portal, to encourage student engagement and track academic progress. Strides tracks points students earn for various activities, including attendance, grade-point average, and engagement with the app itself.

How Strides Works:

Positive Reinforcement: Students never lose points; Strides focuses on positive reinforcement.
Five Pillars: Points are balanced across five pillars: attendance, grades, logging in to the student portal, participating in after-school activities, and positive behavior in class.
Badges and "Cred": Students earn badges or "cred" for various accomplishments, such as classroom participation, academic improvement, and attendance.
Leaderboard: Students can see their standing in relation to their schoolmates on a leaderboard, fostering friendly competition.

Benefits of Strides:

Increased Engagement: Strides encourages students to check their educational stats more often.
Improved Attendance: Students are more likely to attend school daily to earn points.
Positive Feedback: Strides provides students with feedback about their academic performance, helping them make informed decisions about their education.

Potential Concerns:

Motivation: Students lower on the leaderboard might lose motivation.
Extrinsic Motivation: Over-reliance on extrinsic motivation may diminish intrinsic desire to learn.

Digital Tools and Resources

Fresno Unified provides a wide array of digital tools and resources to support teaching and learning.

Clever

Many curricula and online learning applications are available through Clever, providing a single sign-on (SSO) portal for students to access various learning platforms. Edgenuity, for example, can be added to a student's Clever portal by their Edgenuity teacher.

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Microsoft Teams EDU

Microsoft Teams is a central hub for digital learning, offering features such as:

Class Teams: Teachers can create class teams to share content, post assignments, and collaborate with students.
Calendar Meetings: Educators and students can schedule and join meetings.
Channels: Each class team has channels for general postings and specific topics.
Assignments: Students can view, submit, and receive feedback on assignments.
Loop Component Integration: Channels can be transformed into collaborative spaces with live-editable tables, checklists, and Q&A boards.

Microsoft Office 365

Fresno Unified students can install Office 365 on up to five non-FUSD computers. The suite includes applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.

Other Digital Tools

Adobe Express: A multimedia app for creating graphic designs, presentations, and video projects.
Clipchamp: An easy-to-use video editing app included with Microsoft 365.
Edcite: An online assessment tool for creating CFAs and collecting data.
Forms: A tool for creating custom surveys and quizzes.
Immersive Reader: A tool that supports reading through translation, playback, and more.
Whiteboard: A blank canvas for drawing, typing, and collaborating.

Cyber Safety and Digital Citizenship

Fresno Unified emphasizes cyber safety and digital citizenship to prepare students for college, career, and life. The district recognizes National Cyber Security Awareness Month every October and conducts a Cyber-Safety Week for students in grades K-12. Resources from Common Sense Media, Netsmartz, EVERFI, and Google Interland are available to teachers.

Technology Support and Professional Development

Fresno Unified provides ongoing technology support and professional development for educators.

Educational Technology Conference

The district hosts an annual Educational Technology Conference focused on digital tools in service of instruction and learning.

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EdTech Webinar Series

Fresno Unified offers a series of monthly professional learning opportunities designed to empower educators with the skills to effectively integrate technology into instruction.

Key Technology Initiatives

Personalized Learning Initiative (PLI)

The Personalized Learning Initiative (PLI) focuses on providing professional learning opportunities and distributing devices to teachers and students to enhance personalized learning experiences.

Coder Girlz

The "Coder Girlz" program engages female students in coding through clubs and activities, encouraging them to explore STEM fields.

Device Management and Security

Fresno Unified uses Software Center to manage Windows devices. The district does not remotely monitor location, turn on services, or access the device camera with these management solutions. The district provides grade-level appropriate content and other resources on the device.

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