In PowerSchool SIS, Tracks in Calendar Setup are used to identify which student calendar groups are in session on a specific date.
Tracks are not course sections, grading terms, semesters, or school years. They are calendar-based groups used when different students within the same school follow different attendance calendars.
For most schools, only one track is used because all students follow the same school calendar.
Tracks determine whether students assigned to a specific calendar group are considered in session on a given date. If a student’s assigned track is not in session, the student should not be counted absent for that day.
This article applies to PowerSchool SIS calendar and attendance workflows that use tracks to define in-session days.
- PowerSchool SIS
- Calendar Setup
- Tracks
- Attendance
- Membership days
- ADA/ADM calculations
- State reporting attendance totals
Use this guide to understand what tracks are, when multiple tracks should be used, and how incorrect track setup can affect attendance and reporting.
Tracks identify student calendar groups that are in session on specific calendar dates.
Most schools use only the default or main track when all students follow the same school calendar.
Multiple tracks should only be used when different student groups follow different attendance calendars.
Track setup affects attendance, membership days, ADA/ADM calculations, and state reporting attendance totals.
A track is a calendar group for students who follow a specific set of in-session days within the same school.
- Track A
- Track B
- Track C
- Track D
- Track E
- Track F
These track labels are used to determine which groups of students are considered in session on each calendar date.
A school may have multiple groups of students with different calendars.
On each calendar date, PowerSchool asks which tracks are in session.
Tracks affect attendance and reporting because PowerSchool uses the calendar to determine whether a student is expected to be in school on a given date.
- Attendance
- Membership days
- ADA/ADM calculations
- State reporting attendance totals
- Whether students are expected to have attendance taken on a specific day
If a student’s assigned track is not in session for a date, the student should not be counted absent for that day.
The track names A, B, C, D, E, and F are standard PowerSchool labels.
In most cases, these labels cannot be renamed directly on the Calendar Setup page to custom names such as:
- Regular
- Summer
- Program 1
- Alternate Calendar
The school or district should document internally what each track means.
Most schools do not use multiple tracks.
If all students follow the same regular school calendar, the school usually uses only the default/main track, commonly Track A.
Tracks B through F should only be used if the school intentionally has groups of students with different in-session days.
A school has two student groups:
- Track A students start school on August 15.
- Track B students do not start until August 20.
On the Calendar Setup page for August 15, the calendar should show:
On August 20, both tracks may be selected if both groups are now in session.
Use multiple tracks only when the school has students with different attendance calendars.
- Different program calendars within the same school
- Year-round calendar groups
- Alternate start or end dates
- Special program schedules
- Summer school groups with different in-session days
- Grade levels or cohorts with different attendance calendars
Do not use multiple tracks simply to separate grade levels, sections, teachers, or courses unless those groups truly follow different attendance calendars.
Do not use Tracks B through F when the school does not intentionally track separate in-session calendars.
- All students attend on the same dates.
- The school has one standard calendar.
- The difference is only course schedule, teacher, or section assignment.
- The difference is only grading term or semester.
- The difference is only attendance conversion.
- The school does not intentionally track separate in-session calendars.
Using unnecessary tracks can cause attendance and membership reporting issues.
Review calendar setup before the school year begins and again before running attendance, ADA/ADM, or state reporting reports.
- Use only one track if the school has one calendar for all students.
- Document what each track represents if multiple tracks are used.
- Confirm student track assignments before taking attendance.
- Verify in-session days before state reporting.
- Review calendar setup before the school year begins.
- Review calendar setup again before running attendance reports or ADA/ADM reports.
- Do not check tracks on dates when those student groups are not in session.
- Do not leave a track unchecked for a date if students assigned to that track should be counted in session.
Use the following checks when attendance, membership, or track behavior does not match expectations.
Check whether the student’s assigned track is marked as in session on the calendar date.
If the track is not checked, PowerSchool may treat the student as not in session.
Confirm whether the student’s track should have been in session on that date.
If the student’s track was checked incorrectly, PowerSchool may expect attendance for that student.
This is normal. PowerSchool provides standard track options. If the school uses only one calendar, use the main/default track and ignore the others.
The track labels are standard PowerSchool labels. If custom names are needed, document the meaning of each track outside the Calendar Setup page.
Tracks in PowerSchool Calendar Setup identify which student calendar groups are in session on each date.
For a regular single-calendar school, only the default/main track is typically needed. Tracks B through F should only be used when different groups of students follow different in-session days.
Correct track setup is important because it affects attendance, membership days, ADA/ADM calculations, and state reporting attendance totals.
Include screenshots, the school name, and the page or process where the issue occurs so PureData Support can help review the issue and guide you through the next step.
PureData Support can help review PowerSchool SIS Calendar Setup, track configuration, attendance expectations, membership calculations, and state reporting attendance totals.