Frequently Asked Questions

For help with accessing and navigating a report or dashboard, users may contact the ITD Help Desk. For questions about the content of a dashboard, contact the owner (which can be found in the back of the dashboard user manual). 

Download this job aid on how to request help with the application. 

If you cannot sign into Focus using your SSO username and password, please request access using EZ Access. 

Log into https://ezaccess.lausd.net and click LAUSD Employees. Then, click Focus Reporting & Dashboards to request access using the Focus Reporting & Dashboards application. 

Note: Your site administrator must provide approval using the Access Approval section. 

Follow-up requests regarding applications that have been submitted can be emailed to focus@lausd.net. 

Unfortunately, you must re-apply for access via EZ Access. This is due to the fact that with a new role, you have a new supervisor and we must obtain approval from that individual for you to receive access to more data. 

Please see the above question, How do I get access to Focus, for instructions on how to submit an application via EZ Access. 

Implementing the new ad hoc reporting tool will improve the experience of generating reports using data found in MiSiS. Some of the major benefits include:

  • Flexibility – Provides more flexibility in ad hoc reporting at LAUSD, now allowing users to create reports at the local district and LAUSD levels if they have access to that data.
  • Self-Service Approach – Eliminates the need to request new reports to be created by IT – users can create and personalize their own reports.
  • Dashboards – Provides dashboards for various types of users (administrators, central office staff, school officials, etc.) consisting of the information those users need to have to succeed.
  • Historical Data – After integrating with MyData, will provide the ability to produce reports on historical student data, so users can look at information on a student’s previous enrollment and course history.
  • Up-to-Date Data – Data will be updated nightly; some data, such as select attendance and scheduling data, will be available in real-time.

 

Starting December 4, 2017, Focus is available via this URL: https://Focus.LAUSD.net. 

Focus includes job aids and videos that define the components of Focus and provide instruction on how to use the application’s features. To view job aids or videos within the application, go to the Job Aids and Videos section on the Welcome Page or any Subject Page (Note: job aids and videos on the Subject Pages pertain to the displayed Subject only).

The Basic Ad Hoc Reporting Class, an instructor-led training class, is available for registration in MyPLN. This class provides instruction on how to create and manage reports using Focus Reporting and Dashboards, including how to perform basic calculations and create a basic pivot table.

  • What's New

    Beginning 6/29/18, Focus Reporting & Dashboards is updated with software fixes and/or enhancements every two weeks on Friday nights. Browse the notes below to learn about all updates released since November 2016.

  • October 11, 2018

    Posted by Focus Reporting & Dashboards on 10/12/2018

    Dashboard Updates

    Customization Now Available on Dashboards – On all dashboards, users have the option to save customizations, similar to MyData. Users can make selections in the filters at both the dashboard and report level and then save those settings as a customization. Users can choose to set that customization as their default view whenever they access the dashboard. This functionality is useful for users who find themselves setting the same filters each time they visit a dashboard. For example, PSA Counselors who frequently access the Attendance Dashboards may want to filter for a specific group of students (English Learners, SPED, etc.) each time they visit the dashboards. For more information on how to use customization on a dashboard, refer to the job aid Customize Dashboard Views. 

    Focus Customization

    Report Updates

    New Reports: Compare Student Scores by Year for Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Math and English Language Arts (ELA) – Two new reports are available to compare a student’s SBAC performance between years. This helps to determine if students have improved from the previous to the current year. The report displays the students’ data along with the ELA and Math teachers for the previous year.  These teachers can see the progress their students made. The report also displays the student’s final mark in ELA and Math. The first report, SBAC Math and ELA Scores – 2 Year Comparison, provides a comparison between the latest and previous year scores for elementary and middle school students. The second report, SBAC and ELA Scores – 8th and 11th Grade Comparison, provides a comparison for secondary students who took the SBAC in 11th grade and displays both the 11th grade and 8th grade scores.  Last year’s ELA and Math teachers can see the results of their instruction. In addition, this report shows the course marks and any AP classes and AP test results. To access the reports, go to Summary > Monitoring Reports > SBAC 2 Year Comparison or SBAC 8th and 11th 2 Year Comparison.

    SBAC comparison Focus

    Student Search: ELPAC Results Now Available – The Student Search Dashboard in Demographics now includes ELPAC scores for each individual student who is an English Learner. On Student Search, filter for a set of students and then click a District ID to view all available reports, including ELPAC. Click the Info button at the top of the page to download the Student Search job aid.

    Ad Hoc Reporting Subject Area Updates

    Teacher Comments from Old Elementary Report Card Now Available in Marks – Elementary Academic Subjects – Teacher comments that were recorded on the retired elementary report card are now available in the Marks – Elementary Academic Subjects Subject Area so that users may assess and compare behavior and performance between the current year and past years. To find this column in the subject area, open the Academic Subject Marks folder and double-click Comments.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Comments (-1)

  • September 28, 2018

    Posted by Focus Reporting & Dashboards on 9/28/2018

    Known Issues

    403 Forbidden Error – If the user receives a 403 Forbidden error upon log-in attempt, follow the directions in this job aid.

    Dashboard Updates

    Parent Portal Campus View Dashboard: PINs Assigned to Parents – To create a Parent Portal account, parents are now assigned the PIN instead of the student. This mitigates any issues with parents who have more than one child enrolled in LAUSD.

    Parent Portal Focus   

    Report Updates

    New Monitoring Report: Elementary Sending Roster – A new report is available for Elementary schools to identify the previous and current school and teacher for each currently enrolled student.

    elementary sending roster focus

    Job Aids & Videos Updates

    Job Aids & Videos “See All” Now Listed in Alphabetical Order – When the user clicks “See All” in any Job Aids & Videos section throughout the application, the subjects are organized alphabetically, with the General Content available at the top of the list.

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  • About Focus Reporting & Dashboards 

    Available now, Focus Reporting & Dashboards (Focus) is a web-based reporting application that strengthens LAUSD’s reporting capability by integrating major systems used in the District. Focus consists of subject-specific dashboards, canned reports, and an ad hoc reporting capability. In addition to MiSiS, Focus consists of data from other systems used by LAUSD employees, like Welligent, Cafeteria Management System (CMS), and Adult Ed. During the 2018-2019 school year, new data and dashboards will be released periodically. 

    See the most common Frequently Asked Questions below, or go to the FAQs page for more information.