BACK

K-12

K-12 School Digital Records Management Tips

Parchment Staff  •  Nov 03, 2023  •  Blog
scribbles-blog-post-images-8

Digital records management is the way of the future for the education sector. But you won’t experience those benefits unless your team knows how to use your software.

We’ll share all the tips you need to start your digital records management journey off on the right foot. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of the benefits of these digital processes and how you can use them to improve your operations.

1. Establish records management policies and procedures

Establish policies and procedures immediately upon implementing digital records management (or any new-to-the-school system) software. State how and when records should be created, organized, stored, and disposed of, along with who handles each step of the process. This level of order provides peace of mind for all parties involved.

At some point, family members, students, or third parties must request access to a student’s records. With clear policies, the staff knows who needs to approve records, who may view them, and where they’re stored.

2. Ensure easy accessibility of records

When a school system manually stores documents, accessing student records is a time-consuming challenge. It’s a labor-intensive process that requires trained staff to support the request from start to finish.

For many schools, it means sifting through filing cabinets and document boxes. This is exactly why the Manatee County school district said farewell to filing cabinets for record keeping. Sometimes, staff had to drive to a separate location that held certain files. A tedious and cumbersome process like this meant documents would regularly get lost.

Installing a digital index system streamlines the document retrieval process.  When you digitize paper-based processes, the staff knows where to find records and how to access them.

Going paperless improves accessibility for staff, students, and families.

3. Archive records that meet specified criteria

Your state likely requires your schools to hold onto records for a certain amount of years. But when the time comes, you’ll need to archive those documents.

Use a system to flag the files that are ready to be archived. This helps you keep those documents organized so you can retrieve them if needed. Furthermore, it cuts down on clutter and prevents you from saving old files when you no longer need immediate access to them. This applies to physical and digital records management.

4. Establish and maintain a records retention policy

Put a policy in place for long-term records retention. Appoint a records manager who enforces that policy. Holding onto files offers insights into making better decisions. For example, studying previous requests reveals where students are transferring (virtual academies, charter schools, nearby districts, etc.). This helps schools determine potential programming changes.

The analysis of old files is a time-consuming task that requires special expertise, but electronic records management platforms open the door to reporting without the antiquated process. Going paperless makes retaining files easier, and learning from the past faster than ever.

5. Create an audit trail for record management activities

An important element of a records management policy is establishing an audit trail. This ensures your records manager can see who accessed, sent, and received documents.

Throughout the school year, you may run into discrepancies or unauthorized access, especially with paper-based processes. Use an audit trail to log this data. Conducting periodic reviews ensures all audit trails are complete and accurate. Use that data to identify gaps in your policies and continue to adjust so all sensitive information remains secure.

6. Leverage software for efficiency

Invest in the right software to boost your team’s efficiency. Records management software eases the transition from paper-based to digital processes.

Your team can capture cumulative records as students matriculate. You’ll also be able to track digital signatures and send verified student data to colleges and universities. Software automates these steps, helping to reduce the records request processing time. School systems across the country have reported minimizing the time to process request from days to minutes with Parchment solutions.

Integrating tools tailored to your institution improves overall efficiency. Streamlining processes leads to substantial time savings and enhances productivity.

7. Train staff for policy changes and new software

Once a group of staff members feels comfortable with your new policies, bring the rest of your team in. If your schools rely on paper-based processes, your staff may already hoping to go digital.

Take the time to educate your staff on updated policies and best practices with new software. Conduct workshops so staff has the opportunity to become proficient in the new software. When your team has the space to feel supported and learn the software, they’ll be more likely to use it.

8. Utilize experts and coaches for support

While digital transformation has become a necessity, it isn’t always smooth sailing. You may need guidance in helping your staff adapt to new software and processes. Build a team of internal champions who can lead the change and support staff as they make this transition.

Also consider reaching out to your vendor for support. Any extra resources or coaching to get your staff up to speed quicker is worth it.

9. Support ongoing learning and education

Learning shouldn’t stop after your team understands the software and new processes. Foster a culture of continuous learning by offering workshops on records management. Establish knowledge sharing amongst your staff so they can share best practices and tips.

Electronic systems help to prepare students for the future. School systems support their mission of setting students up for success with digital processes and tools. Keeping your staff updated on new systems will ensure your schools are educational leaders.

Create an internal expert network for ongoing support during the transition to foster collaboration and ease tool adaptation. Arrange regular training to boost skills and confidence. This fosters smooth adoption and maximizes digital transformation impact.

Conclusion: Go digital to streamline records management

Effective digital records management is paramount for educational institutions seeking efficiency, accessibility, and compliance. Embracing electronic processes not only optimizes operations but also equips schools to remain educational leaders in an increasingly digital landscape.

The Parchment platform makes this dream a reality for schools by streamlining records retrieval and transfers, enhancing security, ensuring records accessibility, and more.

There’s always more to learn.

Ready to feel the power of Parchment?

I’m a student or a learner

Order

I work at an institution or business

Get a Demo
admission-cta-reversed