PowerSchool Data Exchange (DEX) for SIMS

What is the SIF and SIF Unity?

SIF (Schools Interoperability Framework) is a standardized framework for sharing educational data across different systems. It ensures that student information systems (SIS), learning management systems (LMS), and other educational tools can communicate effectively.

SIF Unity is the latest version of the SIF Implementation Specification and builds on the school interoperability standard (SIF).

It has:

• A comprehensive K-12 data model

• Modern transport technologies (e.g., APIs)

• Enhanced privacy and security controls aligned with the Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC)

• Compatibility with other standards like Ed-Fi, CEDS, and LTI.

Unity allows districts to evolve their SIF infrastructure without losing existing data investments.

What is SIMS?

The SIMS system is the student record tracking and reporting platform for the Massachusetts State Department of Education.
Districts use tools like the SIF Dashboard to monitor and manage data published to the SIMS operational data store (ODS).
The dashboard shows the data (SIF Objects) sent, when it was sent, and whether it was successfully published.
Massachusett has adopted SIF 4.3, which is part of the Unity specification, for the 2026–2027 school year.

What is PowerSchool Data Exchange (DEX)?

PowerSchool Data Exchange is an electronic data interchange (EDI) plug-in built for PowerSchool SIS. This framework enables PowerSchool SIS to send and receive data to and from external data sources securely near real-time. It supports various data formats and integrates with external data models like:

• Ed-Fi Data Standard provided by the Ed-Fi Alliance

• https://www.in.gov/health/immunization/children-and-hoosiers-immunization-registry-program-chirp/

• School Interoperability Framework (SIF) provided by Access 4 Learning Community

• https://ceds.ed.gov/

Data is securely transferred between PowerSchool and the education agency's systems using secure HTTP with security credentials as specified by the education agency. It uses the OAuth 2.0 Web Authorization Protocol for digital authentication.

DEX supports:

• Downloading data into PowerSchool

• Publishing data from PowerSchool

• Syncing data between PowerSchool and education agencies

External agencies like state education agencies (SEAs) have no way of initiating contact or sending data requests to PowerSchool SIS. All data is published, like state reports, as configured and scheduled from within PowerSchool SIS.

DEX for SIMS

PowerSchool DEX with SIF Unity enables Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to sync PowerSchool SIS data with the SIMS ODS near real-time. This includes organization information, schedules, student and staff data, attendance, program participation, and other information. It gives school districts the control to publish data to the state and process errors ahead of submission deadlines.