Documentation for Teachers

Portal

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The Portal page is the key to navigation throughout Focus and throughout the Student Information System (SIS). Before conducting student searches, taking attendance, etc., you must learn the basics of the software. A lot can be accomplished directly from the Portal page, which includes Alerts, Upcoming Events, a Help button, and more.

The Basics of the Portal Page

When you first sign into Focus, you will be taken to the Portal page.

Portal

Click SIS to navigate through the Student Information System.

Portal

Depending on your role at the district and your profile permissions, you may have access to the ERP system as well. For more information on the ERP Portal page and basic navigation, see the Basic Navigation article. Note: If you only have an SIS profile, you will not see the SIS/ERP toggle.

Your username displays next to the school name or school pull-down (if applicable).

Portal

In the upper left corner of the screen is the Focus logo. Most districts elect to have their own logo here. This also functions as a Portal button. Clicking the logo at any time from any screen will take you back to the main Portal page.

Portal

If the logo is not displayed, a pop-up window is open (an example is shown below). Close the window to return to the main Focus screen and the Portal page.

Next you will see the Focus navigation menu along the left side of the screen. If you hover over any of the menu icons, the menu will open and the menu titles will appear.

Portal

From here, you can click on select menu item arrows for additional options (screens).

Portal

At the top of the menu is a magnifying glass (in the left corner of the screen). To search for any screens within SIS, click on the magnifying glass and start typing in the provided text box; this will pull any screens that match. Once you see what you are looking for, click the name and the screen will open.

Portal

If you have more than one type of profile assigned to you, such as, parent, admin, teacher, etc., you will see a profile pull-down; this appears under your username.

Portal

Upon signing out of Focus, the system will remember the last profile used and log back into the system with the last used profile. For example, if you logout as a Teacher, when you log back into Focus, your profile will still be set to Teacher.

Across the top of the Portal page you will also see the name of your School(s). If you have access to more than one school, this will be displayed as a pull-down.

Portal

Use the Filter text box to begin typing the name or number of the school for a quick search.

Next to your school(s) is the school year pull-down, which will default to the current school year. This pull-down is accessible at all times and can be changed as needed.

Portal

When a previous or future year is selected, the header and accent color of the screen will turn red as an alert that you are working in a different school year.

Portal

If you are teaching multiple sections, choose the appropriate section from the pull-down.

You can also choose a marking period. The marking period, like the school year, will also default to the current marking period. Note: What you see in your pull-down may vary depending on district set up and your type of school.

Portal

You will also notice your Last login listed with the day and time, as shown in the image.

Portal

A Focus greeting will welcome whomever is signed into the system. You will see your username here.

Portal

Click the Help icon (?) or hover over the menu and click the Help button to open help documents in ScreenSteps for the selected screen. The Help button is available on every Focus screen.

Portal

Clicking the Help button opens a pop-up window to the help documentation. Here you have the option to open the article in a new window and browse other articles housed within ScreenSteps.

Portal

Click the Logout icon () or hover over the menu and click the Logout button to sign-out of your Focus session. Logging out will take you back to the main login screen. Note: Closing out of the window will not sign you out. Closing the browser all together may or may not sign you out depending on your browser settings.

Portal
Alerts, District & School Announcements, and Upcoming Events

The Alerts module contains profile-specific notifications, which are automated by Focus and used to manage daily tasks. Alerts link to the corresponding screens in Focus to complete the alerted task. Teachers receive Alerts on: referrals that have been processed, students that have been added or dropped, grades that need to be posted, messages sent via Messenger, etc.

Portal

As mentioned above, clicking on any of the alerts will link to the corresponding screens. For example, clicking Period 2 - ENG 3 navigates to the Take Attendance screen. Once addressed, the Alert will disappear.

Take Attendance

Attendance Alerts link to either the Seating Charts screen, or the main Take Attendance screen depending on the last screen utilized to take attendance.

The District & School Announcements module contains profile-specific notifications or reminders from both Focus and the school/district. Messages will display on the Portal based on entered start and end dates; if no end date is specified, the message will remain on the Portal page. Typical messages include reminders for deadlines, meetings, etc.

Portal

Administrators have the ability to create their own school level profile-specific messages via Students > Communication. However, this option is dependent upon profile permissions.

District & School Announcements and Upcoming Events created via Students > Communication and Users > Calendars display depending on your permissions to selected schools via Users > User Info > Permissions tab. If you have access to all schools, the messages that display depend on the school selected from the school pull-down located in the header. If you have three enrollment records with schools A, B, and "All Schools," the portal will show all of the following: Messages/events from School A, messages/events from School B, and messages/events from the school selected from the school pull-down.

The Upcoming Events module contains reminders of the next seven events on your Calendar. Upcoming Events display until the event occurs, and the date appears in the title. Hover over the event with the mouse to display a tooltip, which contains the event's description, if one was added upon creating the event via the Calendar.

Portal

Click the View Calendar link to open Calendar.

Calendar
Focus University

The Focus University section contains several helpful links including Video Tutorials and Help & Training Docs.

1. Click the Video Tutorials link to open Focus University Training Videos for Teachers in ScreenSteps.

Portal

2. Click the Help & Training Docs link to open all help manuals and search for specific documentation.

Portal

3. To search all help documentation and videos, enter key words in the provided search engine text box and click the magnifying glass.

Portal

Search Results display in ScreenSteps.

Documentation for Teachers
District Reports

The District Reports module displays reports published with the Portal Alert enabled by administrative users.

Portal

Click the report link to open and run the report in District Reports.

District Reports
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