Overview

Attendance Categories help organize Attendance Codes used throughout openSIS.

Each category contains one or more attendance codes that define the attendance statuses available during attendance entry.

Attendance Categories allow institutions to structure attendance workflows according to their operational and reporting requirements.

For most institutions, a default category such as Student Attendance is used to manage student attendance codes.

Accessing Attendance Categories

To access Attendance Categories:

Settings > Attendance Settings

Attendance Categories appear at the top of the Attendance Settings screen.

Administrators can:

• Create categories
• Edit categories
• Delete categories
• Organize attendance codes within categories

Why Use Attendance Categories?

Attendance Categories help institutions:

• Organize attendance codes logically
• Separate attendance workflows when needed
• Simplify attendance management
• Improve attendance reporting consistency

Each attendance code belongs to a specific attendance category.

Adding a New Attendance Category

To create a category:

1. Navigate to:
   
   

   Settings > Attendance Settings
2. Click:
   Add New Category
3. Enter:
   • Category Title
4. Click Submit

The new category becomes available immediately.

Category Title

The Category Title identifies the attendance group.

Examples:

• Student Attendance
• Elementary Attendance
• Secondary Attendance
• Special Programs Attendance
• Alternative Learning Attendance

Use names that clearly represent the attendance process being managed.

Editing an Attendance Category

To modify a category:

1. Locate the category.
2. Click the edit icon.
3. Update the category title.
4. Save the changes.

The updated title is reflected throughout Attendance Settings.

Deleting an Attendance Category

To remove a category:

1. Locate the category.
2. Click the delete icon.
3. Confirm the deletion.

Before deleting a category, ensure that any attendance codes associated with it are no longer required.

Deleting a category may affect attendance workflows that rely on its codes.

How Categories Work with Attendance Codes

Attendance Categories act as containers for Attendance Codes.

For example, a category called Student Attendance may contain:

• Present
• Absent
• Tardy
• Late
• Half Day
• Excused Absence
• Unexcused Absence

When attendance is entered, users select from the attendance codes configured within the active category.

When Should Additional Categories Be Created?

Most schools only require a single attendance category.

Additional categories may be useful when:

• Different attendance policies exist for different programs.
• Specialized attendance tracking is required.
• Separate attendance workflows must be maintained.

Institutions should create additional categories only when there is a clear operational need.

Benefits of Attendance Categories

Attendance Categories help institutions:

• Maintain organized attendance settings
• Support multiple attendance workflows
• Simplify attendance code management
• Improve reporting consistency
• Support future attendance customization

Best Practices

• Use clear and descriptive category names.
• Avoid creating duplicate categories.
• Review attendance categories periodically.
• Keep attendance structures simple whenever possible.
• Create additional categories only when operationally required.