Overview of School Data Sync

09/30/2017
4 minutes to read
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School Data Sync

School Data Sync (SDS) is a free service in Office 365 for Education that reads the school and roster data from a school's Student Information System (SIS). It creates Office 365 Groups for Exchange Online and SharePoint Online, class teams for Microsoft Teams and OneNote Class notebooks, school groups for Intune for Education, school administrative units for Minecraft for Education, and rostering and SSO integration for many other third party applications.

School Data Sync helps to automate the process of importing and synchronizing Student Information System (SIS) data with Office 365. The tool also gives application developers a single cloud API to use for creating applications that integrate with multiple SIS providers, along with single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. App developers can use the API to access section, student, teacher, school, and class roster information to personalize experiences for teachers and students who use their apps.

To access SDS, simply log in to sds.microsoft.com, or open SDS from the Office 365 Admin Center. Microsoft provides free, one-on-one support to deploy School Data Sync. Sign up for free deployment support today.

To learn more about School Data Sync please visit https://sds.microsoft.com.

Choose a deployment method

There are several methods available for syncing SIS information with Office 365: Using comma separated value (CSV) files, including CSV files in the SDS format, CSV files in the Clever format and OneRoster CSV files, or using an API such as PowerSchool or OneRoster. Regardless of the method you choose, the same requirements apply.

School Data Sync requirements

An Office 365 Education tenant
Global Administrator Permissions

Deployment methods using API

An API connection is a direct connection to the SIS. School Data Sync supports using the PowerSchool API and the OneRoster API.

Deploy School Data Sync using PowerSchool API

PowerSchool is a SIS provider that works with School Data Sync (SDS) to help import and synchronize SIS data with Office 365. SDS connects directly to the SIS and synchronizes data using the REST-based APIs provided by PowerSchool. Using this method, you can avoid exporting and managing CSV files from the SIS database. Instead, you create a synchronization profile in SDS and sync directly from your PowerSchool SIS.

How to deploy School Data Sync by using PowerSchool API

Deploy School Data Sync using OneRoster API

OneRoster is an industry standard and format that SIS providers leverage, which works with School Data Sync (SDS) to help import and synchronize data to Office 365. SDS connects directly to the OneRoster formatted SIS and synchronizes data using the OneRoster APIs. Using this method, you can avoid exporting and managing CSV files from the SIS database. Instead, you create a synchronization profile in SDS and sync directly from your OneRoster API accessible SIS.

How to deploy School Data Sync by using OneRoster API

Deployment methods using CSV Files

The CSV method requires the creation and/or export of data from the SIS into one of the supported CSV formats listed below.

Deploy School Data Sync using SDS format CSV files

You can use School Data Sync formatted CSV files to help import SIS data into Office 365. Using this method, you'll export or create SDS format CSV files for School Data Sync based on your SIS data, set up a synchronization profile, and upload the CSV files into SDS for processing.

How to deploy School Data Sync by using SDS format CSV files

Deploy School Data Sync using Clever format CSV files

Clever is an identity management and rostering solution. School Data Sync allows you to use CSV files in the Clever format to import and synchronize SIS data with Office 365. Using this method, you'll export or create Clever Format CSV files for School Data Sync based on your SIS data, set up a synchronization profile, and upload the CSV files into SDS for processing.

How to deploy School Data Sync using Clever format CSV files

Deploy School Data Sync using OneRoster format CSV files

OneRoster is an industry standard for SIS data formatting. School Data Sync allow you to use CSV files in the OneRoster format to import and synchronize SIS data with Office 365. Using this method, you'll export or create OneRoster Format CSV files for School Data Sync based on your SIS data, run them through a conversion process to the appropriate SDS format, setup a sync profile, and then upload the converted CSV files into SDS for processing.

How to deploy School Data Sync by using OneRoster format CSV files

How to deploy School Data Sync by using CSV files

School Data Sync Format for CSV Files

How to deploy School Data Sync using CSV files in the Clever format

Clever Format CSV Files

How to deploy School Data Sync by using OneRoster CSV files

One Roster CSV Files

How to deploy School Data Sync by using PowerSchool API

Install the School Data Sync Toolkit

School Data Sync errors and troubleshooting

School Data Sync Helper Scripts