PowerSchool

PowerSchool

PowerSchool's parent view, showing a student's grades and attendance
Developer(s) PowerSchool Group, LLC
Initial release April 1999 (1999-04)[1] (Founded 1997)
Stable release 9.2.0.0 (December 21, 2015 (2015-12-21)) [±]
Development status Active
Written in Java (programming language)
Platform Microsoft Windows Oracle Database
Type Student Information System
License Proprietary commercial software
Website www.powerschool.com

PowerSchool is an education technology platform owned by PowerSchool Group LLC. The sale of PowerSchool by Pearson makes it the largest American-owned SIS.[2]

About PowerSchool

PowerSchool is the #1 leading education technology platform for K-12, serving more than 40 million users, 31 million parents, 17.5 million students, and 1 million teachers across 70 countries around the world. PowerSchool provides best-in-class, secure, and compliant online solutions, including student information systems, registration and school choice, assessment and analytics, and special education management. PowerSchool empowers teachers and drives student growth through innovative digital classroom capabilities, and engages families through real-time communications across any device. Each user (administrator, teacher, student and parent) using PowerSchool has a unique password-protected user account enabling access and functionality. Information entered by administrators and teachers is immediately accessible to all other users through their account.[3]

History

Logo used in 6.x

PowerSchool was established in 1997 by Greg Porter and purchased Master Scheduler from Nordex International, Inc.[4]

PowerSchool was purchased by Apple Inc. on March 13, 2001.[5][6][7]

On May 25, 2006, Apple Inc. and Pearson Education announced that Pearson was to acquire PowerSchool, "Apple’s award-winning student information systems (SIS) division. Once a school district purchases PowerSchool, accounts can be set up for administrators, counselors, office staff, teachers, students and parents. PowerSchool makes it easy for teachers to record grades, take attendance, and check student profiles. Also, it's convenient for parents to check all of their child's grades as soon as they are posted." [8]

On February 27, 2015, Pearson initiated a process to explore a possible sale of PowerSchool and its other Student Information Systems businesses including PowerSchool SMS, Gradespeed, and eSIS Forms. [9]

On June 17, 2015, Pearson announced that it has agreed to sell several of its SIS businesses, including PowerSchool, to Vista Equity Partners. [10]

On August 1, 2015, PowerSchool Group LLC was formed as an independent company, and subsidiary of Vista Equity Partners, as the sale of PowerSchool was completed.[11]

References

  1. "Web-based school management system released", MacCentral Online, archived from the original on May 12, 2000, retrieved August 24, 2012
  2. "PowerSchool SIS--PowerSchool". Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  3. "Waukee Community School District >>PowerSchool.". Waukee Community School District. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  4. "PowerSchool Expands National Presence with Acquisition of Nordex; Master Scheduler Enhances PowerSchool Student Information System.". The Free Library. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  5. "So, What Exactly Is PowerSchool, And Why Did Apple Buy Them?". The Mac Observer. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  6. "Apple Renews K-12 Commitment with PowerSchool". MacNewsWorld. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  7. "Apple Gains on Education Purchase". E-Commerce Times. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  8. "Pearson to Acquire PowerSchool". Apple. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  9. "Pearson 2014 results". Pearson. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  10. "Pearson to sell PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners". Pearson. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  11. "PowerSchool Group LLC, now a stand-alone company, announces new CEO Hardeep Gulati" (PDF). PowerSchool Group LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2015.


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