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The Boston Globe

Metro

Boston teachers track attendance, grades in new online system

As students at the Kennedy Academy for Health Careers in the Fenway trickled in after lunch on a sunny Friday afternoon, teacher Frank Harris stood ready to note who was present, tardy, or absent.

“Come on guys, real quick now,” he urged them.

Comments

Before spending $4 million on a system many see as deficient, did the school department run a focus group or any other vetting process? (I didn't think so.)

The system is a complete waste of $4 million - public $ straight into the coffers of "Aspen". To put this nonsense into perspective - the not so user friendly "system" costs about $800 per teacher. I keep my grades online on "Endgrade" - for free. My Aspen "gradebook" online doesn't work. Other data tracking sites are not expensive; probably about $35-$50 bucks a year. This system is not designed to be "helpful". It's designed so management can play "big brother". At $4,000,000,- that's just silly.

We have used this system in Somerville for years. I have no idea how much it costs but to have a centralized system that all teachers, parents, and students can use to access grades, attendance, assessments, etc. seems essential.