Overview
Version 12 is the latest major upgrade to the Focus system. All districts will complete this upgrade prior to the start of the 2023-24 school year. This article covers important changes for non-instruction staff.
Selecting Student/Staff
You can quickly select a student or user and view their record without conducting a search using the Select Student/Staff pull-down available at the top-left corner of every screen.
Note: Select Student/Staff does not search all schools.
If you have conducted a recent search, the Search Results tab is selected by default. To use the filters and results of your last student and user search, leave the tab selected. For example, if you searched for students in the 11th grade, the results of that specific search will display in the Select Student pull-down when Search Results is selected. If a student search has not recently been conducted, the Search Results tab does not display.
Click the Search Results tab to remove the Search Results from your latest student/user search. Once, disabled, the tab turns gray.
To search for students only, click the Students tab. Click Inactive Students to display inactive students from which to choose, as well as active students.
To search for users/staff only, click the Staff tab. Click Inactive Staff to display inactive users from which to choose, as well as active users.
Select the Match all check box to display students/users that are listed in the Search Results of your latest student/user search AND assigned to the selected school.
Note: Selecting Students and Staff will show all students at the selected school and all staff. Selecting the Match All check box will show zero results because there are no students who are also staff members.
Selecting Search Results, Staff, and Students displays the results of your latest User search and Student search OR all users and students assigned to the selected school.
Scroll through the listed students/users for the student/user you want, then click the student/user name to open the record in Student Info or User Info.
OR
Start typing the first name, last name, student ID, or EIN in the Filter... text box, then click the student/user name to open the record in Student Info or User Info.
Once the student/user record is in open in Student Info or User Info, the pull-down reflects the selected student/user information along with additional features:
Hover over the student's photo to view additional student information.
Click the blue envelope icon to message the student via the Communication screen.
Hover over alert icons for additional information. Click alert icons to open the screen, tab, and field for which the information is housed.
Click the red and white X to close the student and navigate to the main Student Info screen where you can conduct a search or pick a new student from the Simple List.
Click the left and right arrow to navigate to the previous (left) and next (right) student in the list.
Click Back to Search Results to return the latest search results screen.
Demographics Screen
Version 12 improves the design and layout of the student info/demographics screen. There is now a new top category in the left menu called Primary Info which contains basic student information like the name, username, password etc.
The new column layout quick select allows you to choose if you would like to see the fields in one column, two columns or three columns. The default layout can still be set in Users > My Preferences.
Each category on the left side now has icons/colors assigned my your MIS staff.
Certain fields, such as ethnicity, race and gender, will display as radio buttons now instead of pull-downs, this is also configurable by MIS staff.
Communications
In v12, Focus has combined all communication features into one screen. The Communication screen allows users to compose messages and post announcements for select profile users. Emails, Files, SMS, and Phone Calls can be attached to messages and announcements, as needed. Messages can also be scheduled to be sent at a later date or saved as a draft; all incoming and outgoing messages are also housed here.