Frequently Asked Questions

Power School Parent Portal

Frequently Asked Questions

(updated 1/30/13)

Where do I get an Access ID and Access Password for my child? 

 You need to go in person to your child’s school, so they can verify your identity and give you an Access ID and Access Password. Only legal guardians may pick up access information.

Does the school setup my Parent Portal Account?

No, you set up your own account. 

Whom do I contact with general Parent Portal questions?

If these FAQs or other website resources do not answer your questions, you can contact your child’s school. 

What do I do if I forgot my PowerSchool Parent Portal login user name or password?

There is a link called “Having Trouble Logging In?” on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. It will step you through the process of requesting your account information. The information will be sent to the e-mail address you used to originally setup your account. Note: After five (5) unsuccessful login attempts, your account is disabled. Please notify your child's school via email or phone call to reactivate your login. After 30 minutes of inactivity, your session will time  out. You will need to log back into the system.

Why am I not getting a confirmation email after requesting user name or password help?

 If you do not see an email from [email protected] check inside your SPAM folder, junk mail folder, bulk Items folder or trash folder to see if the e-mail landed in any of those folders. It is recommended to add this address to your contacts list to ensure delivery.

Do I have to have a separate account for each of my children?

No, you can have one account with all of your children attached. You will, however, need the Access ID and Access Password for each of your children.

Can both parents have a Parent Portal Account?

Yes! Both parents can have their own separate parent portal account. You can also allow access for other guardians as well. Perhaps they are staying with their grandmother for a time; you can allow her to setup her own account as well.

What if I want others to have access to my child's grades (grandparents, aunt/uncle)?

If you want others to have access to your child's grades via PowerSchool's Parent Portal, you will need to provide them with the student's access ID that was provided to you by the school. It will be the responsibility of each parent/guardian to distribute (or not distribute) this access ID as they see fit. 

Another option within the Parent Portal would be to set e-mail notifications for multiple e-mail addresses. These e-mail notifications send recipients requested information such as current grades, detailed reports of assignments and scores, as well as attendance. To setup e-mail notifications, see the Email Notification section of the Parent Portal. Note: When adding multiple e-mail addresses in the E-mail notification section of Parent Portal, make sure they are separated by a comma and no trailing space. Ex: [email protected], [email protected]

Will the Parent Portal be up all year?

There may be times that the Parent Portal is inaccessible. This could happen In the event of an upgrade to the system. It will also be inaccessible at the end of each grading period and during the summer when we are updating information and scheduling for the upcoming school year.

How quickly will students’ grades and attendance be available in the Parent Portal?

As soon as a teacher publishes grades or takes attendance on your child, it shows up in the Parent Portal. Grades will be entered in a timely manner. It is not expected, however, that a test or major assignment will be graded and entered into Parent Portal the same day it is completed. Depending on the complexity of the assignment, it may take several school days before the grades are posted into the Parent Portal. Please be patient.

Even though I can see my child's grades online, will students still receive mid-term progress reports and report cards?

Yes. A paper report card will be distributed each grading period. However, to receive a summary report of grades at any time, parents must sign up through their Parent Portal account.

Whom do I contact with a question about my child’s grades?

Contact your child’s individual teacher with specific grading questions.

How often will my student’s grades be updated?

You will need to discuss this with your child’s school. There is no policy of how often the grades must be updated.

Will I be able to make changes to my child's information via the Parent Portal?

Not at the current time. Future updates might include such features, but right now, the only thing you can change via the Parent Portal is your account information and your e-mail preferences.

Do all teachers post grade and attendance information to the PowerSchool Parent Portal?

First through twelfth grade teachers will enter grades. Remember, the teacher's grade book is a "snapshot in time" and not necessarily an accurate reflection of the student's overall progress or performance. Similarly, the student's grade average may change depending on the weight or value of graded work.

What should I do if I do not want a particular person to have access to my child, but I already given them the Access ID and Password?

Check with your school principal.

Will I still be able to access the Parent Portal if my child transfers to another school?

If a student transfers to another school within SBCSC, parent/guardian accounts will still be valid. No further action will be required of the parent to access his/her account.

What happens to my account if my child transfers out of the South Bend Community Schools?

This access is a service offered to all parents/guardians of currently active students. Once a student is withdrawn or graduates from the SBCSC, the Parent Portal account will be inactivated.

I lost my original Parent Portal Information letter, how can I get another copy?

The letter is typically not needed once you create your account. But, if it is needed, you must pick up a copy at your child’s school. Be prepared to provide a photo I.D.

What are the system requirements for the Parent Portal?

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, OS X 10.4 or higher, Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher, Firefox 3 or higher, Safari 3 or higher, Java 1.5 - 1.6.

Does SBCSC have any locations where a computer is available that permits a parent to use the portal?

Each school library has computers that may be used for this purpose. Please check in at the office first, however. Public libraries have computers which may be used to access the Internet. There is also a computer in the lobby of SBCSC's Administration Building at 215 South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. which is available during normal building hours of 7:44 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.