What is OpenSIS?
openSIS is a free, web-based student information system designed for schools and school districts to manage and track student data. Originally developed by Pearson Education, it was released as an open-source application in 2012 under the Apache 2.0 license.
Features of openSIS include:
- Student records - Demographics, contacts, attendance, schedules, transcripts, grades, assessments, special education, health, etc.
- Reporting and analytics
- Parent/student portal
- Teacher gradebooks
- Admin tools for managing users, permissions, data, reporting.
- Standard-based grading
- Customizable interface, workflows, forms, fields, etc.
- RESTful APIs for integration with third-party apps
As an open source platform, openSIS is commonly used by schools internationally to have more control and flexibility over their SIS instead of using a proprietary system. It can be downloaded, installed on a server, and customized to meet the specific student data needs of a district or school.
While powerful in functionality, openSIS does require some technical expertise to setup and manage. There are also third-party companies that provide commercial versions with additional features, support services, hosting options, etc. Some customization is typically required during implementation to adapt it to local data practices.