Your student’s information has always been available, but gaining access to that information meant phone calls to the school and visits with teachers – each time you wanted an update.

Now, however, all it takes is a computer and log-in information obtained from your local USD 428 school. And you are able to check as many times a day as you want.

The school district has offered Family Access, a part of the Skyward management system, since the 2006-07 school year. Even though more parents and guardians are signing up for the information each week, Jan Frenzl, USD 428 applications specialist, said she is surprised by the number of people who still do not utilize the service.

"It’s really easy to use and gives you complete access to your student’s information," Frenzl said. "It allows you to monitor their progress as much – or as little – as you want."

"More than 50 percent of our parents have passwords to log in," she said. "The log ins are not retired, so once you have access, you have it from K-12."

Information available through Family Access includes course schedules, assignments, grades, messages from teachers, attendance, tardies, discipline issues, activities the student is involved with, report cards, academic history, e-mail history and health information including all vaccinations.

Parents can request that e-mails be sent to immediately notify them if a student has an absence, if an assignment is missing or if grades are falling below a 70 percent. Discipline notifications are also sent via e-mail, so the parent is assured of receiving the information.

Dan Brungardt, business director, said information that is sent to the state, such as grades, test scores by school and teacher and discipline issues, is also accessible by parents.

"We’d like to encourage parents to sign up and check their students’ records at regular intervals," Brungardt said. "It helps keep the information between the parents, teachers and schools flowing. Of course, parents can always call to receive more specific information from those directly involved with their kids."