Getting Started

In this guide, you will learn

• Your first steps in your Spark school as a small school
• Your first steps as the admin of a large school
• Your first steps as a staff member in a school

Getting Started for Admins of Small Schools

Starting a small microschool, tutoring program, or other alternative education program — and you're the main teacher and leader?
Follow these simple steps to set up your Spark school and get started strong!

ℹ️ Click on the links in each step to see Help Docs for more information!

1. Create a Term

Spark uses Terms to organize your school year. Things like assignments, reports, and classrooms are grouped by Term, so this is your first step!
→ Go to School → Terms and click + Add New Term.

2. Set Up Enrollment

You can collect student applications, enroll students in the platform, and even create billing accounts all from one place.
→ Go to Enrollment, create your program, and share the application link.

3. Use Communications

→ Build a Contact List and create email templates to keep everyone in the loop.

4. Create Forms

Need more info from families?
→ Use the Forms feature to ask questions, gather documents, or follow up after enrollment.

5. Add Students and Guardians

You can add people through the People section, or bring them in automatically from applications.
→ Give them access to their Student or Guardian Portal, and send invites!

6. Set Up Billing

→ Link to online payments.
→ Create billing accounts for families.
→ Add installment plans or schedule invoices.
→ You're ready to receive payments! 💸

7. Build Your Classrooms

→ Create Classrooms and Subjects to organize students and assignments.

8. Set Attendance Schedules

→ Set the days and times your school meets so you can track attendance.

9. Set Up Your Gradebook

→ Go to the Grades tab to create your gradebook.

🎉 Now you're ready to:

• Add assignments and activities
• Plan school events
• Let students start using their portals!

Need help? Follow the Help Doc links for more tips.

Getting Started for Admins of Large Schools

Have several staff members helping you out? Follow these steps to get your school up and running.

Most of these steps can be done in any order — feel free to adjust to fit your workflow!

Don't hesitate to reach out to the Spark team with questions or to schedule a training session for you, or anonboarding sessions for your staff!

ℹ️ Click on the links in each step to see Help Docs for more information!

1. Create a Term

→ Go to School → Terms and click + Add New Term to define your academic year.

2. Add Your Staff

→ Go to Admin → People → Staff to add staff and give them portal access.
→ Set their permission levels to decide what they can do in Spark.
→ Email staff the Getting Started for Staff checklist (below) to help them get going in their Spark portal.

3. Create Classrooms

→ Set up your school structure with Classrooms.
→ Assign staff as teachers — you can roster students later.

4. Set Up Enrollment

→ Go to Enrollment, create your program, and share it.

• You can roster accepted students to classrooms automatically.
• Students and guardians can be added to the platform through their application, and billing accounts can be created too!

5. Use Communications

Start building your school’s contact list!
→ You can create email templates to share news with interested families, supporters, or staff.

6. Create Forms

Need more info from families?
→ Use the Forms feature to ask questions, gather documents, or follow up after enrollment.

7. Add Students and Guardians

→ Create them from enrollment applications or directly in the People section.
→ You can import in bulk or add one-by-one.
→ Give them portal access and send invites.
→ Roster students in classrooms — either manually or automatically via Enrollment.

8. Set Up Billing

→ Link to online payments.
→ Create billing accounts for families.
→ Add installment plans or schedule invoices.
→ You're ready to start collecting payments! 🎉

Need help? Follow the Help Doc links for more tips.

Getting Started for Staff

You’re a teacher or staff member? Here’s what to do first!

ℹ️ Click on the links in each step to see Help Docs for more information!

1. Accept Your Invite

→ Look for an email from Spark inviting you to join your school.
→ Click Accept. If you don’t see it, ask your admin to resend or check your spam folder.

2. Explore Your Classroom

→ Once you're in Spark, go to your Classroom to manage students, assignments, grades, and more.

3. Get to Know Your Students

→ Go to the Roster to view student info.
→ Print or download the roster if needed.

4. Email Guardians

→ Click Email Guardians to share info about your class.

5. Upload Files

→ Add files in your Classroom’s Files tab.
→ Choose whether to share them with guardians.

6. Set an Attendance Schedule

→ Add your class meeting days and times so you can take attendance.

7. Set Up Your Gradebook

→ Go to the Grades tab to create your gradebook.

8. Start Creating!

→ Add Courses, Assignments, and even a Reward Store if your school is using that feature.

9. Make Sure Students Have Portal Access

→ Check in their profiles or ask your admin to grant access.

10. Get Ready to Roll!

→ Once school starts, track attendance, collect assignments, and keep grades up to date. You’ve got this! 💪

Need help? Follow the Help Doc links for more tips.