Q ~ Why should I use Family Access?
A ~ Family Access is a web based tool designed to enhance parent/guardian and school communication. Your use of the Family Access website is voluntary.

Q ~ Does Family Access cost money or is there a fee that I have to pay?
A ~ Family Access is provided free as a service of Bainbridge Island School District.

Q ~ Why do I pick up my password and user name at my child's school?
A ~ For security reasons, we are requesting that all parents and guardians pick up their password and user name at their child's school. Passwords sent home with students, despite our best intentions, are often misplaced or can become compromised. In addition, it is important we know that those parents responsible for educational decision making receive the right password and user name. If school staff doesn't yet know you, you will have to show picture identification.

Q ~ Can other people see my child's personal information on Family Access?
A ~ Family Access is password protected. As long as you keep your password safe it is highly unlikely that anyone else will be able to access or view your child's personal information.

Q ~ Do you have a privacy policy?
A ~ Yes! We call our privacy policy the "Plain English Privacy Policy", and it goes like this...

On this web site, personal information about you is collected only when you supply it voluntarily by completing one of our forms. We make every reasonable effort possible to keep your personal information private. For instance, we do not share your personal information with any third parties except in cases that you give us permission to do so. We reserve the right, however, to disclose personal information if required to do so by law, or in good faith believe that such action is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property or safety of the public.

Q ~ Does Family Access create a lot of extra work for school staff?
A ~ Family Access does create some extra work, but not as much as you might think. In a nutshell, everything school staff do is now done in "real time". When a child charges school lunch Monday at noon, his or her lunch charge shows up on Family Access about two minutes later. Data entry by the lunch room worker is the same data entry that has been done in the past , but the data is now "real time" data. The same is true for attendance; we have always taken attendance, but now absences and tardies show up on Family Access almost as soon as the data inputted. When our secondary report cards are on line, the same data that was used before (and the same processes that were used before) will generate instant results. In many ways, there is no "new" work, just "different" work.

Q ~ I can't get Family Access to work on my computer. What should I do?
A ~ Family Access is a web based product, so it should work on your computer like any other web based application, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. First, you should check to make sure you have the right Family Access web site address or URL. You can get to the Family Access web via the following url:

http://family.bainbridgeisland.wa-k12.net

If you are still having problems, you can email us at  claiche@bisd303.org  and a staff member will get back to you as soon as possible. Please note, Bainbridge Island Public Schools do not support off-site technology or software applications; for computer or software problems please consult your computer dealer or software vendor.

Q - When I log on to Family Access, I lose my connection after three to five minutes. Why?
A - Family Access has a default security setting that will terminate your connection if your computer is idle for longer than three to five minutes. This feature is designed to protect against unauthorized access and can not be changed.

Q ~ Are all of Bainbridge Island's schools on Family Access?
A ~ Each school provides Family Access as a service to parents and guardians, but the information provided by each school will vary depending on the age of the student and the type of information available. For instance, parents of elementary school students won't have access to high school course registration information.

Q ~ I have forgotten my user name and/or lost my password, what should I do?
A ~ To ensure security and confidentiality, please return to your child's school and let them know that you forgot your password. They may ask you for ID and once they know who you are, they can let you know what your password is.

Q ~ With all the talk about Internet safety and security, how do I know Family Access is safe?
A ~ Family Access uses Secured Socket Layer (SSL) encryption as the security layer for data presented on the Web. This is the same encryption system used by sites that accept credit card numbers and other personal data that must be secure. The District's Family Access Administrator is responsible for setting security and access to student records, as determined by District procedure. Each individual, whether student, parent, or staff member, must be given a user name and password and be designated as a member of a household linked to a student in order to view Family Access information.

Q ~ What student records are displayed in Family Access, and how long are they kept?
A ~ The Bainbridge Island School District may display the following student information in Family Access, however, not all records are displayed at all schools. The length of time records are retained is shown in parenthesis:

• Food service data (deleted annually from Family Access; not retained)
• Attendance data (deleted annually from Family Access; kept on file six years as per state law)
• Discipline data (deleted annually from Family Access; kept on file for three years as per state law)
• Daily grade data (deleted annually from Family Access; retained one year)
• Student schedule (deleted annually from Family Access; not retained)
• Student demographic information (retained and kept current on Family Access as long as your student is enrolled in the Bainbridge Island Public Schools; kept on file 100 years as per state law)

Q ~ Can I get my high school student's transcript through Family Access?
A ~ Unfortunately, transcripts are not available through Family Access. They may be requested, however, from your child's counselor. Transcript records are retained for 100 years as per state law.