SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STUDENT ATTENDANCE MANAGEMENT

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

installing a site-resident data collection module in a site location, the site-resident data collection module including instructions executing within an executable environment of the site location, the site-resident data collection module further including a first data interface enabling data communication between the site-resident data collection module and a legacy data processing system of the site location;

using the site-resident data collection module to collect student information, attendance data, and other site data from the site location;

transferring the site data to a host location;

performing, by a data processor, data transformation and normalization operations on the site data to convert the site data to a common format, the data transformation and normalization operations including district-specific data transformation rules;

performing, by the data processor, district configuration operations to configure rules specifying how and when alerts can be sent to recipients based on the site data;

performing, by the data processor, scheduling and reporting operations to generate and distribute alerts, including attendance letters, to recipients based on the site data and the configured rules; and

creating and sending custom text messages to recipients based on the site data.

2 . The method of claim 1 including enabling the editing of content of a text message via a user interface.

3 . The method of claim 1 including using a text message to schedule a conference.

4 . The method of claim 1 including providing a student overview page including information related to concerns corresponding to a particular student.

5 . The method of claim 1 including providing a student overview page including information related to concerns corresponding to a particular student, the student overview page including text message correspondence with the student.

6 . The method of claim 1 including providing a student oversight dashboard including information related to student attendance trends on a periodic basis.

7 . The method of claim 1 including providing a student oversight dashboard including information related to student attendance trends on a periodic basis, the dashboard providing a drill down feature enabling access to more detailed information for a specific topic.

8 . The method of claim 1 including providing a virtual meeting type for scheduling virtual meetings.

9 . The method of claim 1 including enabling a user to copy a chart to the user's clipboard.

10 . A system comprising:

a data processor;

a network interface, in data communication with the data processor, for communication on a data network; and

a student attendance management system, executable by the data processor, to:

cause installation of a site-resident data collection module in a site location, the site-resident data collection module including instructions executing within an executable environment of the site location, the site-resident data collection module further including a first data interface enabling data communication between the site-resident data collection module and a legacy data processing system of the site location;

interface with the site-resident data collection module to collect student information, attendance data, and other site data from the site location;

cause transfer of the site data to a host location;

perform data transformation and normalization operations on the site data to convert the site data to a common format, the data transformation and normalization operations including district-specific data transformation rules;

perform district configuration operations to configure rules specifying how and when alerts can be sent to recipients based on the site data;

perform scheduling and reporting operations to generate and distribute alerts, including attendance letters, to recipients based on the site data and the configured rules; and

create and send custom text messages to recipients based on the site data.

11 . The system of claim 10 being further configured to enable the editing of content of a text message via a user interface.

12 . The system of claim 10 being further configured to use a text message to schedule a conference.

13 . The system of claim 10 being further configured to provide a student overview page including information related to concerns corresponding to a particular student.

14 . The system of claim 10 being further configured to provide a student overview page including information related to concerns corresponding to a particular student, the student overview page including text message correspondence with the student.

15 . The system of claim 10 being further configured to provide a student oversight dashboard including information related to student attendance trends on a periodic basis.

16 . The system of claim 10 being further configured to provide a student oversight dashboard including information related to student attendance trends on a periodic basis, the dashboard providing a drill down feature enabling access to more detailed information for a specific topic.

17 . The system of claim 10 being further configured to provide a virtual meeting type for scheduling virtual meetings.

18 . The system of claim 10 being further configured to enable a user to copy a chart to the user's clipboard.

19 . A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

cause installation of a site-resident data collection module in a site location, the site-resident data collection module including instructions executing within an executable environment of the site location, the site-resident data collection module further including a first data interface enabling data communication between the site-resident data collection module and a legacy data processing system of the site location;

interface with the site-resident data collection module to collect student information, attendance data, and other site data from the site location;

cause transfer of the site data to a host location;

perform data transformation and normalization operations on the site data to convert the site data to a common format, the data transformation and normalization operations including district-specific data transformation rules;

perform district configuration operations to configure rules specifying how and when alerts can be sent to recipients based on the site data;

perform scheduling and reporting operations to generate and distribute alerts, including attendance letters, to recipients based on the site data and the configured rules; and

create and send custom text messages to recipients based on the site data.

20 . The machine-useable storage medium of claim 19 being further configured to provide a student overview page including information related to concerns corresponding to a particular student.