Parent Communication of Student Learning

OVERVIEW

Communication between parents and teachers, and between home and school, is critical to student success. Parents are essential partners in their child’s learning journey, and regular communication between home and school helps to foster a strong sense of community and collaboration. This communication can take many forms, including parent-teacher conferences, progress reports, and regular updates on student progress. By involving parents in the educational process and keeping them informed about their child’s progress, teachers can help to create a supportive learning environment that meets the unique needs and strengths of each student. This collaborative approach is at the heart of progressive education, which recognizes that students thrive when there is a strong partnership between students, teachers, and parents.

BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT RESULTS 

Benchmark assessments are valuable tools that provide a snapshot of student progress at a point in time. These assessments help teachers to identify areas where students are excelling and where they may need additional support. They also inform instructional decisions by providing data that can be used to tailor teaching to meet each student's unique needs and strengths.

The District currently uses the following platforms to gather student learning information: aimswebPlus, mCLASS, and NWEA MAP.  The insert below depicts each grade level and which assessments are given. 

2025-2026 Assessment Calendar

Where can I access Benchmark Assessment Results?

The Winnetka Public Schools aims to support a connected, informed, and collaborative school experience for families through the use of several communication platforms. By providing streamlined access to documents, data, and communication through the PowerSchool Parent Portal and Otus, the District demonstrates its commitment to an approach that reflects the values of transparency, consistency, equity, and family engagement.

Ongoing communication and support resources will be provided as these tools are launched and integrated into school routines.

PowerSchool: Document Library

Your hub for official school documents

What It’s For

PowerSchool is the district’s official platform for delivering important school documents, including:

• Progress reports
• Attendance and behavior notices
• Intervention records
• Benchmark assessment results

What Parents Can Expect

• Automatic notifications when new documents are posted
• Download, print, and sign documents directly from the Parent Portal
• Mobile-friendly access with multilingual support
• Secure and FERPA-compliant delivery of sensitive information
• Single place to access all official school records year-round
   

How to Use It

Log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal Document Library regularly to stay updated on new documents. All documents will also be stored in your student’s Parent Portal Document Library for easy future reference. View a step-by-step tutorial here.

Otus: Access to Assessment Data

Visual, ongoing insight into student performance

What It’s For

Otus is a data dashboard where families can view results from:

• Academic benchmark assessments (e.g., MAP, mCLASS DIBELS, aimswebPlus)
• State assessments (IAR, ISA)
• Social-emotional screeners (e.g., SSIS)
• Additional student data (e.g., Attendance, AAPPL, ACCESS)
   

What Parents Can Expect

• Clear, visual reports on academic and SEL progress
• Data from multiple sources in one centralized platform
• Updated after each assessment window (with brief downtimes during testing periods)
• Supports meaningful, data-informed conversations with your child’s teacher
   

How to Use It

1. Create a parent account on Otus (instructions will be emailed on September 8, 2025).
2. Link your child using the unique student code provided.
3. View assessment data anytime to monitor growth and learning trends.
4. Need help? Access step-by-step parent guides here.

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Assessment Type: District

Administered three times a year:  September-October/January/May

Assessment Type: State

Accessing Student Reports Via PowerSchool

In PowerSchool, you will be asked to submit a digital signature after viewing your child’s report. First, click on the current report to view it.  Once that opens, click “Submit Digital Signature” to confirm receipt of your child’s report.  Starting in the 2024/25 school year, Progress Reports for students in Kindergarten - 8th grades will be shared via PowerSchool only. Trimesterly Progress Reports for students will no longer be printed and mailed home. This will allow families to have access to information in a more timely manner. Families who prefer to have a printed copy may do so by clicking the “print” button included in the image below. 

 

Please click this LINK for specific information on accessing your child’s progress report in PowerSchool.