Training & BJA-Specific Info/Expectations

FACTS Training

(log in to FACTS and open HubHelp before clicking the links below)

Questions or Problems?

  • FACTS status report: current status of various system components
  • Chat Support: contact FACTS support directly (app menu at the upper right corner when you’re logged into FACTS)
  • HubHelp: written/video trainings (when you’re logged into FACTS, from the app menu at the upper right corner OR the “?” at the top center)

BJA-specific FACTS info & expectations

  • Gradebook
    • Grading Codes 
      • P=Pending: missing assignment & you still expect work to be turned in (no calculation)
      • E=Excused: exempt student from doing the assignment (no calculation)
      • M=Missing: calculates as zero
      • Notes
        • While FACTS does allow other codes to be created, those codes don’t actually show to the parent/student. Only these pre-built codes/actions function well.
        • These codes should sync from Google Classroom to your FACTS gradebook.
    • Report Cards
      • Graded Subjects: have all grades up to date in your gradebook
      • Skills: review process in Fundamentals for Teachers (see minute 29:30)
      • Elementary subjects not graded this quarter and Related Arts classes: similar to skills. (Subject’s classroom gradebook|Report Card (right menu)|Fill drop-down (check that you’re in the correct grading period)
        • For subjects not graded: Type NG|Apply|Save
        • For Related Arts: Enter correct grade|Apply|Save.
          • You can edit an individual grade that is different from the fill grade. Be sure to save again.
    • Tips 
      • Autosave: check that it did autosave the last student on the list (may need to click elsewhere to get it to autosave)
      • Quarters and semesters in gradebook: in gradebook based on date of assignments–choose appropriate quarter to add assignments (check school calendar for beginning and end of quarters/semesters)
        • K3—grade 5: quarters; quarter grades are not averaged
        • Grades 6—12: semesters; grades will accumulate from “Q1/S1 (Sem 1)” through “Q2/S2 (Sem 1)” to give a final Semester 1 grade in December; the process is similar for Semester 2
          • Note: To add assignments that come after the end of the current quarter, switch to the next quarter (upper left corner of gradebook, under class title). However, when you do that, the overall semester grade will temporarily disappear for the semester until the first grade in the upcoming quarter is entered.
  • Communication with parents about grades/upcoming assignments 
    • Tuesdays: FACTS gradebooks up to date with grades for completed assignments
    • Fridays (grades 6—12): homework/tests/quizzes for the following week showing on FACTS assignment calendar (select “Publish to lesson plan” when creating assignment in FACTS)
    • What they see in FACTS
      • On their homework calendar: only the assignments you set as assigned to a particular date (“due” never appears unless it’s also “assigned” on the same date)
      • On their homework page: the assignments you set as assigned to a particular date AND the assignments you set as due on a particular date (assignments show up two dates if you set one assigned date and a different due date)
      • See for yourself
        • Your view: Lesson Plans tab, scroll down to the Assignments area
        • Their view:
          • From your home page in FACTS: select a student in your class.
          • Select their Demographics tab (right side) then General tab (top) then scroll to the bottom and click “Family Portal”
          • In the pop-up of the student’s Family Portal view
            • Calendar (left side) and My Homework (top)
            • Student (left side) and Homework (left side)
      • Unless there’s a compelling reason to do otherwise, set both assigned and due for the date due. Suggestion: in your standard wording in the assignment description include something like “Before class” or “Bring to class” to be most clear.
  • Attendance Codes (In ParentPortal, parent immediately sees code, description, and comment.)
    • A=Absent – Pending: use for most absences
    • AE: Absent – Excused: after decision is made
    • AU: Absent – Unexcused: after decision is made
    • A/2=Absent 2+hr/10+min – Pending: MS/HS students 10+ minutes late to class
        • PC/ES offices: student 2+ hours late/early leaving
    • A/2E=Absent 2+hr/10+min – Excused: used after decision is made
    • A/2U=Absent 2+hr/10+min – Unexcused: used after decision is made
    • T=Tardy: up to 10 minutes late to class
    • Training for office staff/support committees; video (start around 9:30); missed attendance report
      • Recording absences for one student or a group of students
      • Converting tardies to absences
      • Reports (Some reports are based on codes; others include descriptions and comments–comments field is able to be sorted in some reports).
  • Discipline violations
    • Training video (and related articles)
      • Recording demerits
        • Level: BJA not using at this time
        • Sanctions: e.g., suspension, which will be determined as needed by principal or support committee
        • Reports: useful for support committee members
      • Communicating to parents (send the infraction to custody and correspondence)
    • See parent/students handbook for demerit details at BJA
  • Emailing from FACTS (Communication area)
    • Compose
      • CC: carbon copy yourself results in your receiving a copy of each email you send in a batch; consider adding yourself as an email recipient rather than using the CC feature
    • Filter
      • Families: normally select correspondence/custody, not mother, father, etc. (watch Fundamentals for Teachers training video for reasons)
    • Review recipients before sending message so you confirm the people and email addresses the message will be sent to.
  • Lunch (PC, ES, MS) 
    • Teacher: submit student lunch requests by 8:30 a.m.
    • Office staff: for students who come in late, submit lunch orders at Cafeteria>Confirm Cafeteria Order