1. FASTER Processing in Skyward
Megan VanDeventer
State and Federal Compliance

2. This session will cover recent FASTER updates and walk through FASTER transcript processing in Skyward.
Recent Updates
FASTER Configuration
FASTER Processing

3. Recent Updates
PR FASTER and the printed Transcript were updated to skip the student entry/withdrawal record from Home School (Function/Setting set to "H") when determining the Withdrawal Code/Date.
Withdrawal Code/Date will pull from the most recent entry/withdrawal record without the Function/Setting set to “H”.

4. Recent Updates
PR /18 Cutover Changes – Practice/Production options removed from Bright Futures
Previously, Practice or Production Options were available in Bright Futures Template to determine Practice or Production File Type

5. Recent Updates
PR – New FASTER process that can be used to send multiple students at once. Setup is similar to the setup for Bright Futures, except that the Destination is selectable.
Can be used instead of “Send By Student” area

6. Recent Updates
PR The option is now available in FASTER configuration to enter a specific Graduation Requirement Subject code in the FASTER configuration screen to be extracted in the FASTER transcript as the Course Subject Code instead of the Grad Requirement Code.
Serves as an Override to the Graduation Requirement Code

7. Recent Updates
PR The FASTER process has been updated to use the Community Service Hours Override on the Student Profile when calculating if the requirement has been met or not.

8. Recent Updates
Community Service Hour Requirement is set under WS\ST\PS\CF\SH
Can be set to 0.00 if your district does not have a community service hours requirement

9. Recent Updates
PR The FLEID has been added the to FASTER transcript file.
Not currently being validated by FASTER
Useful for colleges/post-secondary institutions requesting this information

10. FASTER Configuration - Validation
FASTER Validation option – defaults the option to Validate fields sent through FASTER in the ‘Send Student’ area
FASTER Validations work similarly to Survey Processing Validations – Report prints with error and student information to easily and quickly correct error

11. FASTER Configuration – Data Configuration
Determine where to pull Course Title (Course Long or Short Description)
Determine if you wish to withhold grades for in-process courses
Determine how to pull Subject Area for Elective (EL) Grad Req code
Determine Subject Area for courses with specified Grad Req code

12. FASTER Configuration – Automatic Processing
Automatic Import: Master Schools, Private Schools, and Post-Secondary Schools can be unchecked because these do not come in through Automatic Import; these are maintained by Skyward in FL-ALL-SCHOOLS-LIST (SYS-FL- CTM)
PR – will remove the checkboxes for Master Schools (MSID), Private Schools, and Courses.
Can cause the Retrieve Lists process to fail, preventing other data from the Participant Status to be downloaded.

13. FASTER Configuration
Application Server Info usually does not need to be changed once setup is complete
F.A.S.T.E.R. Mainframe Configuration usually does not need to be changed once setup is complete
File Names usually do not need to be changed once setup is complete
JCL Files usually do not need to be changed once setup is complete

14. Configure Student Test Export
Determine Testing information to include in Interdistrict, Secondary, and Bright Futures FASTER Transcripts
Each page MUST be saved individually

15. F.A.S.T.E.R 1. Send Student Info 2. Request 3. Approve/Deny Requests
Sending Student Info
View Outgoing Transmissions
2. Request
Requesting Student Info
3. Approve/Deny Requests
Retrieve Incoming Files

16. F.A.S.T.E.R. Send Student Info
Steps on FASTER Send Student Info Template
1. Select individual student
2. Select Transfer Type
3. Select Source & Destination
4. Select Sending Message and Priority
5. Choose data to include
6. Enter in any comments related to courses
7. Select GPA Method
8. Enter in any other necessary comments
9. Click Send

17. F.A.S.T.E.R. Send Student Info
Sample Validation Report
If an error record is created, the FASTER file is not created or sent.

18. F.A.S.T.E.R. Send Student Info
Correct error and re-send
Report states that export file was created

19. F.A.S.T.E.R. - Request 1. Enter which school is making request
Select Destination and Type
Select Message and Priority
Select if current student (information already entered in profile), or manually enter student demographic information

20. Retrieve Incoming Files
This step is necessary to receive FASTER files
Regenerate files before downloading option: not required to be checked

21. Reports – Outgoing Transmissions
List of Sent Transcripts
Individual transcript selection options
Print Transcripts
Edit a job
Delete a Transcript
Activate
Multiple transcript selection options
Delete Checked
Set Checked to ASAP
Set Checked to Night
Set Check to Hold
“Send ASAP Responses” will send any ASAP Pending Transcripts. To view Edit Report, access through F.A.S.T.E.R. Reports area

22. Reports – By Student Can print FASTER transcript
By range or individual

23. Reports - F.A.S.T.E.R. Retrieve Reports
Select which reports to request from FASTER Mainframe
Beneficial for troubleshooting purposes

24. Reports – Activity Log
Activity Log displays information related to communication between Skyward system and FASTER system
Useful for troubleshooting purposes