Users can generate attendance correspondence directly from eSD, in the form of Attendance Letters to students’ parents/guardians and Attendance Reports to students’ Home Schools. Users can choose to create new Attendance Letter Templates using the Standard Attendance Letter Template, or using the Custom Attendance Letter Template.
Before correspondence can be generated, users must create Attendance Letter Templates and define Attendance Jobs (student attendance criteria that identify when correspondence will be generated).
Required Permissions:
- Menu Level: System
- Module Level: Attendance - Attendance Letter Template (Add, Edit, View, Delete)
Where to Start
- Select System.
- Select Attendance.
- Select Attendance Letter Template.
Standard Attendance Letter Template
Select New to set up a new Attendance Letter Template using the Standard Attendance Letter Template Layout.
- Enter a name for the new template.
- Use the Add icon (+) to add text fields to the Text Above, Text Below, and Sign Off sections.
- Select Available Fields to see the field and formatting options that can be used in the letter. These fields automatically populate the letter with student-specific information. Right-select in a text field to insert Available Fields and/or formatting options.
- Select Preview at any time to preview the template text and layout.
- Select Save when done.
Type each paragraph within its own text field. Add a blank text field to create space between paragraphs.
Custom Attendance Letter Template
Select New Builder to set up a new custom Attendance Letter Template using the Attendance Letter Template Builder
- Enter a Template Name.
- Select Save. The new Template will be added to the bottom of the template list.
- Select the Attendance Letter Template Builder icon to open the Attendance Letter Template Builder.
- Select Page Settings to change the orientation of the template.
- Select Add a Layout to edit the columns of the template.
More about the Column Layouts and Widgets (expandable section)
The Attendance Letter Template Builder allows users to build a custom Attendance Letter Template using a combination of column layout and widget tools. Each widget can be customized, allowing virtually unlimited Attendance Letter layout possibilities.
| Column Layouts | Widgets |
| Single column | Attendance Details |
| Two column (even width) | Cumulative Attendance |
| Two column (narrow left) | Footer (incl. Page Break) |
| Two column (narrow right) | Header |
| Three column (even width) | Image |
| Three column (wide center) | Recipient |
| Three column (narrow left) | Rich Text |
| Custom columns (up to 6) |
- The New Layout window displays the seven standard column layouts. Set the desired standard Layout to place it on the page. Users can add multiple Layouts to the page, with each new Layout placed in the specified Sort Order.
OR - At the bottom left is the Custom Layout option, allowing users to select a layout with a maximum of 6 even-width columns. For the Custom Layout, select the number of columns then select Go.
- Select Preview at any time to preview the Attendance Letter Layout. The process of generating the Preview may take a few minutes.
- Select Save when all information has been entered and the layout is satisfactory.
- Select Save As to create a copy of the template under a different name.
- Select Cancel to leave the template edited, losing all changes.
- Each Layout section has a shaded bar with a Collapse icon, Settings icon, and Delete icon at the top right. Dashed lines outline the available column(s) below.
- Select and drag the desired Widgets on the left into the Layout. Multiple Widgets can be placed in the same Layout section, and Widgets can be repeated on the Page Layout multiple times, as needed. A Collapse icon, Settings icon, and Delete icon are also available for each widget.
When editing an existing template to change a Widget’s Settings, save the Widget’s Settings and the Template.
Attendance Letter Report
Attendance letters that have already been generated can also be viewed through Reports > Attendance > Attendance Letters.
Next Steps
To learn more about custom attendance letter widgets, visit Custom Attendance Letter Widgets.