Edlio’s Data Setup tool allows district administrators to directly connect and manage Student Information System (SIS) integrations and automated file imports from inside the Edlio App dashboard. By configuring your data sync directly, school rosters, staff, students, and parent contacts stay synchronized automatically without spreadsheets or manual imports.

Edlio App Data Setup dashboard showing connected integrations

Video walkthrough: Data Setup overview

Video chapters & timestamps

0:00 - Introduction & why connect your SIS: Your SIS already knows your students, families, and staff; Data Setup lets you connect it to Edlio self-serve so the Edlio App and Mass Communication stay current without manual spreadsheets.
0:20 - Who this is for & required permissions: Usually configured by your district IT or data lead; requires the Manage Data Setup permission (on by default for "SIS Integration Only" accounts, or assignable by district admins).
0:40 - The SIS as source of truth: Any edits made directly in Edlio will be overwritten on the next nightly sync—always correct names, emails, and phone numbers upstream in your SIS.
0:55 - Choosing your path (API vs. SFTP): Click New Integration; if your SIS is in the list on the left, use a pre-built direct API connection; if not, use scheduled SFTP file exports on the right (districts can run one of each).
1:20 - Scope & system boundaries: Data Setup powers the Edlio App and Mass Communication rosters—it does not update your CMS website's staff directory.
1:35 - Updating connections without starting over: Adjust settings, update credentials, or add additional data categories at any time without reconfiguring from scratch.
1:50 - Monitoring sync health in Data Logs: Review errors and warnings over time, view plain-language diagnostic descriptions, download vendor-ready export logs, and inspect past sync runs.
2:15 - Next steps & dedicated setup guides: Choose your integration path (watch the API guide or SFTP guide next) or reach out to your project manager or Client Success team for an onboarding walkthrough.

Key takeaways from this video

Automated sync replaces manual spreadsheets: Setting up a recurring sync eliminates the need to upload CSV spreadsheets by hand and keeps mobile and mass communication contacts up to date automatically.
One integration per column: Districts can run one direct SIS API connection (left column) and one scheduled SFTP file integration (right column) concurrently.
Product scope separation: Data Setup syncs rosters to the Edlio App and Mass Communication only. It operates completely independently from the Edlio CMS website and will not overwrite or populate your website's staff directory.
Always fix data upstream: Because the SIS is the authoritative source of truth, local Edlio edits are overwritten during nightly syncs. Always update parent emails, phone numbers, or student IDs in your SIS.
Full diagnostic visibility: Once your integration is connected, Data Logs provides plain-language explanations of any data issues and exportable CSV reports to share with your SIS vendor.

Overview & access permissions

Data Setup is located on the main navigation sidebar of the Edlio App dashboard under Data Setup (/next/app/data-setup).

Visibility and management capabilities depend on specific administrator permissions:

Manage Data Setup permission: Required to view the Data Setup tab, create new API/SFTP integrations, edit credentials, and trigger manual syncs.
View Data Logs permission: Required to view sync execution history, error/warning tables, and downloaded file logs.
Account types: Permissions are configured at the User Type level in the Edlio App dashboard, and then assigned to users. The dedicated "SIS Integration Only" account type includes both permissions by default. Other administrator account types can have these permissions added at the User Type level to grant access.

💡 Best-practice adoption tip: Before connecting a live SIS sync, ensure your district SIS data fields (Source IDs, Student IDs, staff emails, and campus/school IDs) are clean and standardized. Reviewing source data beforehand prevents field conflicts, duplicate account generation, or term rollover errors.

Supported SIS connectors and file imports

Clicking New Integration opens the integration catalog, which groups data sources into two main categories: Direct SIS APIs and Standards-Based File Imports.

💡 Integration Rule — One SIS per column: In Data Setup, your district can have only one active SIS integration from each column (one direct SIS API connector from the left column, and one file/SFTP import from the right column). You cannot configure multiple competing direct SIS API connections simultaneously.

New Integration catalog showing supported Student Information System APIs and file import options

1. Student Information System APIs (Direct Nightly Sync)

Watch our dedicated video walkthrough: Data Setup via API Connection.

Direct API connectors communicate securely with your SIS on an automated nightly schedule:

PowerSchool SIS: Syncs nightly via the PowerSchool REST API. Requires installing the official Edlio plugin (.zip) in PowerSchool System Management.
Aeries SIS: Direct API sync utilizing an Aeries certificate and district/school code.
Skyward Qmlativ: Modern nightly sync using the API key and secret generated from a Qmlativ Integration Access profile.
Skyward (Classic): Legacy Skyward API connector (retained for districts still transitioning to Qmlativ).
Synergy (Edupoint): Syncs students and teachers over the Synergy API.
Veracross: Nightly synchronization using Veracross OAuth Client ID and Secret credentials.
Sylogist (formerly Wen-GAGE): Direct sync via an API User Lookup credential.
OneRoster 1.1 REST API: Universal API connector connecting to any OneRoster 1.1 compliant REST endpoint.

2. File & Standards-Based Import (SFTP)

Watch our dedicated video walkthrough: Data Setup via SFTP.

For districts without a direct API integration or using custom SIS platforms, CSV File Import Over SFTP delivers automated roster synchronization:

Automated nightly ingestion from a dedicated, secure Edlio SFTP server folder.
Supports official OneRoster 1.1 CSV bundles or custom formatted CSV files.
Also powers automated multi-channel messaging data and Auto Notices.

Connecting a new SIS integration (5-step wizard)

When you select an API connector, Data Setup guides you through a standardized 5-step setup wizard:

Step 1 of the PowerSchool SIS setup wizard in Edlio App

Step 1 — Set up in SIS: In-app instructions detailing prerequisite setup steps in your SIS. For PowerSchool, this includes downloading the official Edlio plugin (version 4.5.1), installing the unextracted .zip in PowerSchool Server Plugin Configuration, enabling read access for v1 APIs, and generating credentials.
Step 2 — Credentials: Enter your secure server connection parameters (API Base URL, Client ID, Client Secret, or certificate keys). All credentials are encrypted in transit and at rest, and used strictly in read-only mode to extract roster records.
Step 3 — Connect & Map: Tests the live connection against your SIS endpoint and displays a school matching table to associate SIS campus codes with your Edlio school organizations.
Step 4 — Data: Select which data entities to include in the sync (Students, Staff, Parent/Guardian Contacts, and Classrooms).
Step 5 — Review & Activate: Final summary of the connection parameters and mapped schools before initiating the first synchronization run.

Step 2 of the SIS setup wizard entering API URL, Client ID, and Client Secret

Managing connected integrations

Once connected, your active sync appears on the Data Setup dashboard. Clicking Manage on any integration card opens its management view (/next/app/data-setup/manage/...):

Managing a connected SFTP data integration with Sync Now, Pause/Resume, and delivery settings

Administrators can execute the following actions self-serve:

Sync Now: Triggers an immediate, on-demand synchronization run outside of the standard nightly sync window. Ideal after making roster changes or resolving data errors in your SIS.
Pause / Resume: Temporarily halts automated nightly syncs (for instance, during summer rollovers, SIS migrations, or major grade-level reconfigurations) and resumes syncs when ready.
Update Sign-in / Credentials: Update expired passwords, regenerated API secrets, or server hostnames without disconnecting the integration.
Edit Schools & Mappings: Adjust which schools are included or change how incoming campus records map to district sites.
Edit Synced Entities: Modify the roles, fields, or classroom sync options included in the recurring feed.
Disconnect: Safely disconnects the integration if transitioning to a different SIS platform or connection method.

Auditing sync results with Data Logs

Every sync execution automatically outputs a full audit record in Data Logs (/next/app/data-logs). If records fail to import or warnings are generated, administrators can review run summaries, examine specific record errors, and download report exports.

⚠️ Need integration assistance? If your district requires custom field mapping, complex relationship rules, or encounters unfamiliar sync errors, reach out to Edlio Data Integration support at [email protected].

Data Setup: Connecting and Managing SIS Integrations