STEVENS POINT, WI--(Marketwired - November 07, 2013) - Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) in Sanford, Florida, and the Dixie School District located just west of Gainesville, have increased operational efficiency since implementing the Skyward Student Management Suite. Both districts benefit from the software's simplified administrative and reporting functions, and its ability to facilitate school-to-home communication and staff collaboration.

SCPS serves 64,000 students, and prior to implementing Skyward two years ago, utilized a student system that lacked the functionality and features to stay current with state reporting requirements. Tim Harper, director of staffing and state reporting at SCPS, said he is pleased with the personal attention, collaborative partnership and streamlined process the district receives with Skyward.

"Now that we use the Student Management Suite from Skyward, the data we submit monthly to the state is incredibly accurate and multifaceted," said Harper. "Additionally, staff members love the myriad functions the system provides, and the rapport we have built with Skyward employees has exceeded our expectations. Together, we monitor the state's data reporting requirements and act accordingly, creating a true partnership."

SCPS has experienced increased efficiency with state reporting, allowing it to cut the eight-person team devoted to this process in half. Today, a three-person team focuses on extracting, scrubbing and shipping data to the state, while the repurposed staff members direct their efforts to other areas, such as web development.

With Skyward, teachers at Dixie, a district of 2,000 students, are able to collect student data and analyze key trends that influence student performance. The district also is communicating more effectively with parents, resulting in less truancy and fewer low-performing students.

"One of the biggest ways Skyward has impacted the district is through the Family Access module," said Karen E. Sapp, management information specialist at Dixie School District. "Parents can access all of their student's information, from grades and assignments to standardized testing and discipline, in one centralized location, improving communication between teachers, parents and students. Family Access is just one example of the innovative services we get from using this system."

A case study detailing the increased operational efficiency at SCPS and Dixie School District is available for download at: http://www.skyward.com/attachment.ashx/4626.

About Skyward

Skyward is a leading provider of K-12 school administrative software that surpasses districts' needs in state reporting, improves operational capabilities, and opens communication between schools and families. Today, the Skyward School Management System™ is used in more than 1,600 school districts worldwide, ranging from districts with as few as 50 students to statewide implementations supporting more than 800,000 students. Founded in 1980, Skyward serves school districts with its integrated student, finance, and human resources suite of products and is proudly made and supported in the United States. To learn more, visit www.skyward.com.