Welcome to OnDataSuite

This guide introduces the core architecture, layout options, reporting tools, and navigational features of OnPoint to help you quickly query, analyze, and monitor district data.

1. The File Center (Data Foundation)

Everything in OnDataSuite begins in the File Center. It serves as the single source of truth where all raw data files are uploaded by system administrators to feed the OnPoint front-end system.

• Data Sources & Automation: Data is either loaded manually or pulled automatically via TEA’s Ed-Fi IODS or the OnSync automated process.
• Longitudinal Depth: Each data point in the File Center can store multiple years of historical files. This allows you to perform longitudinal reviews and multi-year trend analysis alongside current-year data.

Suggested Links

• File Center Knowledge Base Articles
• General Trainings: OnDataSuite File Center Training
• Verifying File Center Uploads & Report Centers

2. Tab & Data Correlations

The reporting tabs across the top of OnDataSuite correspond directly to specific data uploaded into the File Center:

• Student, Staff, & Finance Tabs: Powered by uploaded PEIMS and TSDS data files.
• Assessment Tab: Directly tied to specific state, college entrance, and district assessment uploads (e.g., STAAR, SAT/ACT, TSIA2, MAP).
• Accountability Tab: Houses state and federal accountability reports calculated directly from raw loaded files using official specifications—eliminating the need to build custom calculations manually.

Suggested Links

• File Center: Associating Files to Reporting Tabs
• General Trainings Hub Page

3. OnPoint Screen Layout & Query Options

The OnPoint interface maintains a consistent layout across most reporting tabs, providing flexible ways to explore and query your data without risk of altering or damaging underlying records.

• Report Center (Ad-Hoc Queries): Allows you to build custom, ad-hoc queries from raw data tables. While it looks like a complex database query builder, it is simplified for ease of use.
• Focus Lists: Positioned above each Report Center, Focus Lists allow you to narrow a query to a specific target population before running it (acting like a WHERE clause in SQL—e.g., Query Fall Enrollment WHERE students are designated as At-Risk).
• Custom Reports: Pre-built reports designed to address heavily monitored state and local requirements. Clicking a custom report runs an instant query against the latest File Center records.
• Report Search: Located at the top of each page, this tool searches custom reports by keyword and automatically expands relevant sub-folders containing matching reports.
• Validation Reports: Located specifically under the Student and Staff tabs to help monitor Student Information System (SIS) data for potential audit triggers and compliance anomalies.

Suggested Links

• General Trainings: ODS Basics
• General Trainings: Focus List Training
• How to Use a Focus List
• Student Custom Reports Overview

4. Key Custom Report Features & Tools

Custom reports aggregate specific data elements based on defined business logic. When viewing any custom report, the Tools button provides essential utility options:

• Report Info: Displays exact calculation logic and identifies which File Center data files were used to generate the report.
• Export to Excel: Downloads report views into spreadsheet format for offline analysis.
• Filters & Bookmarks: Allows users to refine parameters or save frequently accessed reports.

Suggested Links

• General Trainings: Advanced Reporting (Custom Reports & Ad-Hoc)
• My Custom Reports Guide

5. System Hierarchy: 3-Level Drill-Down Structure

Data in OnDataSuite is structured in a 3-tier hierarchy that lets you move from macro-level district trends down to individual student or staff records:

[ Level 1: Aggregate View ] 
       │
       ▼  (Click total count)
[ Level 2: List View ] 
       │
       ▼  (Select student/staff member)
[ Level 3: Granular Dashboard View ]

1. Level 1 — Aggregate View: High-level totals and calculated metrics displayed on dashboards or summary reports.
2. Level 2 — List View: Clicking any aggregate number generates a list of the specific individual records making up that total (subject to user security access).
3. Level 3 — Granular Dashboard View: Selecting an individual student or staff member opens a comprehensive profile containing all loaded File Center data tied to that individual.

Suggested Links

• General Trainings: Profiles (Student & Staff)
• General Trainings Hub

6. Power-User Features & Workflow Enhancements

Take advantage of these core features to streamline frequent tasks:

• Bookmarks: Save frequently used reports under the Bookmarks tab. You can create custom sub-folders (e.g., CTE Reports, Special Education, Attendance) to keep saved reports organized.
• Focus Lists: Filter both ad-hoc queries and custom reports down to specific target cohorts across multiple tabs.
• Column Options: Customize List Views by joining additional data fields from across different File Center uploads into a single list view.

Suggested Links

• General Trainings: Bookmarks and Sharing
• General Trainings: Column Options Training
• General Trainings: Focus List Training

7. Core Reporting Tabs Quick Reference

Tab	Key Functionality & Scope	Target Roles	Training & KB Resources
MyDashboard	Customizable at-a-glance widgets and summary cards. Supports Focus Lists for dynamic metric tracking.	All Users, District Leadership	General Trainings: My Dashboards
Student	Comprehensive student reporting, PEIMS/TSDS data verification, SIS audit validation, and custom reports.	Principals, Counselors, PEIMS Coordinators	General Trainings: ODS Basics
Staff	Staff PEIMS data, class rosters, credentials, and campus/district assignment reporting.	HR, Administrators, PEIMS Staff	General Trainings: District Admin
Finance	Budgetary, payroll, and financial PEIMS reporting scaled by campus or district privilege levels.	CFOs, Business Office, Auditors	Finance Reporting Overview Category
Accountability	Pre-calculated state and federal A-F domain metrics pulled directly from File Center records.	Superintendents, Accountability Directors	Assessment & Accountability Knowledge Base
CCMR	Targeted dashboard and sub-reports for tracking College, Career, and Military Readiness progress and early warnings.	High School Principals, CTE Directors, Counselors	CCMR Early Warning System (EWS) Training
Assessment	Sub-menus for all state and national testing data (STAAR, SAT, ACT, TSIA2, AP, IB) with query and custom report tools.	Testing Coordinators, Curriculum Specialists	General Trainings: Dashboards & Assessment