Upgrade to Leading Student Information System Solution Now Available

KEYSTONE 4.0 features flexible grade reporting, teacher access module, broadcast email integration and enhanced security.

Northampton, MA and Memphis, TN (PRWEB) July 17, 2006 -- inRESONANCE, a leading developer of technology solutions for schools and educational institutions, today announced availability of a major upgrade of its premier student information management solution. KEYSTONE 4.0 is a full-featured student information system (SIS) that is easy to use and can be customized by non-technical users. The new version, which features built-in HTML email broadcast, a teacher access module, and the ability to customize grade reporting and transcripts, will be shown for the first time at the 2006 Laptop Institute Conference (www.laptopinstitute.com), at the Memphis Hilton, Memphis, TN, July 16-19, at booth #29.

“KEYSTONE 4.0 is the SIS solution that school administrators select when they need something flexible to fit their unique student information needs,” said Kevin McAllister, president and CEO of inRESONANCE, Inc. “KEYSTONE is not a generic tool for big school districts. While its productivity tools save administrators and teachers many hours per year, KEYSTONE’s most popular advantage is the ability to customize grade reporting and transcripts.”

KEYSTONE manages all the data associated with SIS solutions, including student and family data, faculty and staff data, emergency contacts, courses, attendance, discipline, grades and comments, and transcripts. Administrators can output the data into a variety of formats— including graphical schedules, class lists, grade reports, student transcripts, multi-year reports, email, mailing labels and more.

The optional Teacher Access Module provides a built-in interface for teachers to access student and advisee information, input term end grades and comments and take attendance from any computer on the network.

The KEYSTONE solution also integrates with two other add-on school solutions available from inRESONANCE: the PORTAL admissions management solution; and the ADVOCATE college guidance solution.

A key feature in KEYSTONE 4.0 is that administrators and teachers can be productive without leaving the solution. Emails, letters and reports are all merged and generated directly from within the solution, without needing to export to other applications, such as Excel, Word or Crystal Reports.

KEYSTONE 4.0 is an open solution, so reports and views can be customized. Because it is based on FileMaker Pro 8, KEYSTONE 4.0 provides easy querying without requiring that administrators know SQL. KEYSTONE 4.0 is also cross-platform, supporting mixed computing environments and seamless data sharing between Windows and Macintosh users.

New Features in KEYSTONE 4.0

•    Easy and Powerful Email Broadcast Integration

Using KEYSTONE’s smart email capabilities, users can quickly send broadcast emails to any group of constituents — without exporting to an email program. Typical merges might include special events announcements, parent-teacher conferences and student schedules. The emails can contain HTML forms. These emails can dynamically refer directly to data in the database so the information is always accurate.

•    Enhanced analysis and reporting for better decision-making

KEYSTONE lets professionals view their data directly and report on it — without having to export to another application. Rapid analysis and reporting without the need for a data administrator means faster, more accurate decision-making.

•    Support for Active Directory and Open Directory

Reduce the overhead of managing user accounts and passwords using external authentication using Active Directory or Open Directory, which are supported in KEYSTONE.

•    Enhanced security

Enhanced security features include connectivity to Open Directory and Active Directory, as well as more granular control of screens and fields. Data can be encrypted on the network.

•    Faster database query and response

The improved database engine driving the KEYSTONE 4.0 application is significantly faster, even over a WAN. Without learning SQL, non-technical professionals can create and run their own queries and eliminate having to wait for reports from a database administrator.

•    Export data in nearly any format

Because data in KEYSTONE 4.0 can be exported to nearly any major office application or other enterprise database, professionals can easily transfer data to non-KEYSTONE users. KEYSTONE 4.0 even comes with both PDF Maker and Excel Maker capabilities, so professionals can convert data into PDF and Excel documents to share with people who do not have access to KEYSTONE. This means that KEYSTONE is appropriate for schools that use other systems in other offices.

•    Enhanced data entry features

The migration to FileMaker Pro 8 brings type-ahead, auto-spellchecking, drop-down calendars, and help menu pop-ups to make data entry even easier.

As with all inRESONANCE solutions, KEYSTONE 4.0 users can also take advantage of consulting and training services provided by inRESONANCE, as well as tapping into the company’s experience working directly with independent schools across the country and around the world.

"I especially appreciate the flexibility that KEYSTONE provides so we can create and change our SIS solution as our needs change," said Verne Becker, Director of Technology, Marymount School, New York, NY. "Most of the developers at inRESONANCE are former teachers or school administrators, which is evident in how user-friendly KEYSTONE and their solutions are."

Multi-Platform Solution

Because KEYSTONE 4.0 runs identically on both Macintosh and Windows computers, departments or individuals do not have to change their hardware. Users on either computer platform can now share data seamlessly with each other without any conversion or transfer.

Based on FileMaker Pro 8

The KEYSTONE 4.0 solution is based on the award-winning FileMaker® Pro 8, the #1 selling easy-to-use database platform. FileMaker Pro 8 won “Product of the Year” awards from both PC Magazine and Macworld magazine. FileMaker is a favorite among K-12 schools and universities. More than 10,000 schools worldwide use FileMaker Pro, including the largest 250 U.S. school districts. FileMaker is also used by 50 of the top 50 U.S. undergraduate universities, as defined by the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report.

Availability

KEYSTONE 4.0 will be available July 17. For more information about the solution, or to schedule an online demo, contact Peter Baron or inRESONANCE at 413-587-0236.

About inRESONANCE, Inc.

inRESONANCE (iR), based in Northampton, MA, provides technology solutions, services and web development to schools and non-profits. iR focuses on developing a long term strategic partnership with clients, providing strategic IT consulting in conjunction with solutions and training. iR provides complete CMS-based websites as well as FileMaker Pro-based databases with integrated web applications. The company has deep roots in education, with a combination of more than 40 years of experience in schools. For more information, go to http://www.inresonance.com

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